one4review | On 19, Aug 2024

A new show from Fringe First winning creators of Labels and Fanboy and developed and directed by Katharina Reinthaller, It’s the Economy Stupid is an hour of ‘fringe theatre does economic lecture’ performed by Joe Sellman-Leava and Dylan Howells.

The backdrop to the stage is a display of cardboard boxes that play an integral role in the drama, doubling as characters, props and screens for various projections. Sellman-Leava describes himself as a millennial and takes 1990 as his starting point, comparing the prices of certain goods with house prices and average wages. His interest in economics began with games of Monopoly with his parents, where he was desperate to be the banker, and the fact that, in real life, his shopkeeping parents were ultimately driven to bankruptcy. Along the way we are asked to consider the theories and writings of Adam Smith and Maynard Keynes and their role as the backbone of economic policy. He questions how we’ve managed to get the world economy into such a mess and into a position where the world is as unequal as it’s been for over a century, with vast wealth now concentrated in the fewest number of hands. Sellman-Leava is clearly enthusiastic about his subject, especially when discussing his prime culprits – capitalism, Mrs Thatcher and his absolute bête noir, privatisation. Howells’s role is described as a stagehand, but he also keeps Sellman-Leava in check when he goes ‘off on one’. He is effectively the straight man in the double act, but does also perform some very impressive magic tricks, which add a bit of light relief.

It is debatable, at times, whether this is a play or an economic lecture, but it is nevertheless an interesting and enjoyable fringe hour with welcome injections of humour, and the audience seemed thoroughly engaged throughout. Both performances are excellent, with Sellman-Leava demonstrating his obvious passion for the subject, but I would personally have preferred a bit more magic.

****

Reviewed by Howard

Pleasance Dome, Jack Dome
13.10 (1hr)
Until 26th August (not 21st)