Crybabies: The Scaring at Soho Theatre ( Dean Street) Review
Crybabies: Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones. Photo: Mihaela Bodlovic.
Straight off the back of a highly successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Crybabies have brought their new show, The Scaring, to London’s Soho Theatre. The sketch comedy trio is made up of Michael Clarke, James Gault and Ed Jones. Instead of presenting a series of unconnected sketches, their shows have a clear story arc. Taking inspiration from the big screen, they’ve previously covered sci-fi and war. Now they’re back with an absurd and hilarious take on the horror genre.
The Scaring follows the fortunes of former priest Arthur Holland who checks into a hotel and finds himself teaming up with Gerry, the ghost of a long-dead guest, to investigate spooky goings on – all whilst being watched by the hotel’s manager, Mr Lyle, serving plenty of Norman Bates realness.
The show is technically excellent. Designer Cecilia Carey has dressed the stage with various items of furniture draped with dust sheets that are gradually removed to reveal the sets for the sketches that make up the story, with some great props that add to the atmosphere. Lighting from Bethany Gupwell is very effective, video projection, designed by Nina Dunn, draws us into the story, whilst Ed Lewis’s sound effects are precisely timed with the action.
The show commits to its horror vibe from the start, with a blackout accompanied by a dramatic clash of chords, repeated effectively throughout the performance to suddenly bring the lights back up on the next genuine jump scare. The Crybabies have our attention.
The script is expertly crafted by the trio who play the three main characters, as well as some supporting roles that initially feel unrelated to the plot but, as clever callbacks later on will reveal, are not included just for padding. The humour ranges from very very silly to utterly absurd. The three completely commit to each sketch/scene and play this chaotic larking about with totally serious energy. There are some very clever ideas, from the one that priestly exorcisms are carried out with the intensity of a police stake-out (reminding me of the equally excellent Police Cops shows), to recurring jokes, including the perception that the most mundane comments could constitute swearing to the sensitive ears of a man of the cloth. That’s one that has a very satisfying pay-off.
Director Jon Brittain has done a great job bringing this already strong script to the stage – with fantastic pace, timing and some brilliantly choreographed sequences. The trio have excellent chemistry and some sequences that, on paper, shouldn’t work are made even funnier by the delivery – with director and cast instinctively understanding how far to push a joke.
The trio are all fantastic comic actors, and each has their chance to shine. Michael Clarke plays our reluctant hero, back in the dog collar for one last mission, with all the earnestness of a man who can’t quite shake off his holy orders, despite his career change into the immersive stag do industry (another seemingly throw away line that comes back into play with some laugh-out-loud physical comedy and wordplay to match!). Ed Jones is seriously creepy as the hotel manager who loves his business a little too much, also showcasing impressive vocals in a random cabaret number in the second half of the show (again, it shouldn’t work but it really does!). . And James Gault is quite brilliant doubling as confused Northern Irish ghost Gerry and the terrifyingly funny spooky child “Slimothy”, taking full advantage of his height to milk every last laugh out of the “little” lad.
There is so much going on in The Scaring that there’s always the danger that you’ll blink and miss a nugget of comedy gold. It’s a show with so many layers that it would stand up to repeat visits, no doubt revealing a new favourite moment each time. For fans of horror, comedy and well crafted theatre that is so intelligent it seems unhinged, it’s a must see show. Grab a ticket and enjoy a brilliant hour of scaring.
Crybabies: The Scaring runs at Soho Theatre (Dean Street) until Wednesday 23rd September 2026.
★★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, September 2026.