Friends Help You Move at Etcetera Theatre Review
It is that sparkling time of year again when the Camden Fringe is bustling and there are plenty of amazing shows all over London. Friends Help You Move is the latest offering at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden. This play won Best Original Script at the FEATS 2024 festival of European theatre in Antwerp and came second in the UK National Drama Festival last year. Produced by Yeah Yeah Productions and written and John Ward this is a one act black comedy of roughly 50 minutes.
The show focuses on two rather strange and inept Irish criminals who are dreaming of making it out of the small time and into the big leagues whilst dreaming and scheming of a huge heist. It is an excellent example of the quick-witted and darkly absurdist Irish humour that is easily beloved. The audience was laughing and chuckling throughout. The discussions show excellent banter and examples of male camaraderie and sincere friendship. Although the duo (John Ward, Daire O’Doherty) are not the sharpest knives in the drawer, with one literally robbing his local chipper with a screwdriver. However they do care deeply about each other and are dreaming hard of escaping their lack of opportunities in order to enjoy the big leagues of crime, regardless of whether they have the stomach for that. Things go wrong when they kidnap a local hard man (played with style by Will Fihn Ramsay) and he ends up unconscious on their floor. There are discussions of the moral implications, dilemmas and graphic threats on both sides. The play ends on a tentatively positive note filled with optimism and enthusiasm that the duo might finally get their lucky break.
Overall this is an interesting dark comedy that emulates gangster movies but in a tongue in cheek form. It is both an homage to dark gangster comedies and its own form of joy. Although it ends on a cliffhanger the audience has a strong idea of how it will all go wrong despite their dreams. If you enjoy funny plays, great casts and irreverent Irish humour then this is the perfect play for you.
★ ★ ★
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.