Cockfosters production image.Following the story of holidayers James and Victoria (Sam Rees-Baylis and Beth Lilly) making their way from Heathrow back to Cockfosters (the entire Piccadilly line route), Cockfosters is one part rom-com, three parts sketch show. Supporting cast members Emily Waters, Natasha Vasandani, Liam Horrigan and Jimmy Bryant switch in and out of playing a range of characters who are the last people you’d want to run into on the tube: buskers, manspreaders, a university enemy, your ex, and, of course, tourists. Waters is the stand-out performer, disappearing convincingly and hilariously into a variety of archetypes- I’ll never think of the maze tile on underground platforms the same way again. Rees-Baylis and Lilly are charming as Cockfosters’ central couple, watching the chaos unfold around them.
Clayton’s play also includes a spangly quiz-show segment, and surreal moments such as an inspired section where tube adverts come to life. Cockfosters’ biggest strength is its mockery (sometimes affectionate, sometimes aggravated) of these recognisable elements of the frustrations and mundanity of tube travel- they drew huge laughs from the audience. However, Clayton has an infuriating over-reliance on dick jokes and, “F*ck off,” as a punchline. The play comes in at just over an hour, of which the last twenty minutes run out of steam (or should that be electric traction?)- though it does have a killer punchline in its final moments.
Cockfosters’ overall look and feel is pretty student-theatre, which some audiences may see as cheap, while others will find endearingly knockabout. Despite this slightly amateur look, Clayton and producer Tom Woffenden have committed to TfL chic, with the play’s programmes and pre-show announcements also being in the style of the underground. These small, inventive touches elevated the show by adding another level of in-joke.
Despite its overlong run-time and some lowest-common-denominator humour, Cockfosters in a winningly-chaotic, amusingly-performed play which combines silliness, satire, slapstick- oh, and songs! And while it’s definitely not one for tourists, Cockfosters will raise at least a chuckle, and probably a couple of guffaws, from anybody who knows the importance of Mansion House at a pub quiz, or who has endured a sweaty, cramped journey beneath London’s streets.
Playing at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 17 May 2025.
