one4review | On 21, Aug 2025

A tale of the escape from Stalag Luft III doesn’t sound like it should be much fun, even in spoof form, but Early Doors Productions look like they’re having a great time performing this daft and delightful piece, so the audience does too. You don’t necessarily need to have seen the film or know the story – though you might follow along better if you have – there’s plenty in here to sit back and enjoy.

Spoof is definitely word here, maybe even camp, in the style of the best Carry-on films. There are a lot of characters involved, and though the props and the accents are helpful, it’s sometimes a little hard to keep track of who’s who. It doesn’t detract from following the general arc of the plot – which isn’t particularly complicated: POWs try to escape – or from the humour, which is often childish, incongruous, very good fun, and in some places there because the cast likes it so much.

The gravity of the subject is held gently and carefully, a hallmark of EDP: this is a spoof, and meant to be fun, but it doesn’t cross the line into mocking the dead. Character deaths are treated with respect, but briefly, and there’s a short but resonant moment of horror at the execution of re-captured escapees. But in balance to that sadness there’s much to laugh at. Light-hearted and fun doesn’t mean poorly delivered or badly produced: this is a great show which hits all the right notes.

Reviewed by Laura
21:00 (50 mins)
Greenside Riddle’s Court (Willow Studio)
Until 23rd