one4review | On 04, Sep 2026

You can tell a lot about a person from the contents of their suitcase. It’s essentially a tiny, travelling version of their own home, containing all the things they need to live. Suitcases tell stories. At least, that’s the premise for Trick of the Light Theatre’s Suitcase Show.

Starring and written by Ralph McCubbin Howell, Suitcase show is a delightfully dark and comic collection of poetic short stories which Howell brings to life with carefully crafted miniature sets and props contained within a selection of suitcases. Framed as an inspection at an airport by a disinterested but pernickety customs official (played by Hannah Smith who also directs), the show covers everything from a shadow puppet play about a deposed dictator trying to flee his country, to a pair of (literal) hand puppets arguing about getting access to a swanky first-class lounge. And as Howell’s unnamed traveller opens each new case things get slowly darker and more sinister until the audience is forced to ask why he’s carrying these stories with him and where did he find them.

There’s a lot to admire about how skilfully this show has been put together. The performance from both on stage and the writing are fantastic and Howell is clearly a masterful storyteller. What stands out most, though, are the visuals. In particular the light and shadows are used to create truly breathtaking effects with the limited props on stage, from torches to miniature projectors. The smallness of the stories in the suitcases creates a wonderfully intimate atmosphere though I did wonder how good the view from the back of the theatre might be at times.

I should also note that, while the stories have their serious points and there is a spooky atmosphere, that doesn’t mean that the overall show isn’t also very funny and, somewhat contradictorily, light-hearted. Howell is a captivating and entertaining storyteller and his natural humour and witty jokes make sure that even in the darkness things never get too bleak or pretentious.

An immaculately made and produced show that, appropriately, is perfectly sized and I believe will travel very well.

*****
reviewed by Tom
Assembly Roxy