Garry Starr: Classic Penguins at The Other Palace Review
Damien Warren Smith as Garry Starr. Photograpny: Austin Ruffer.
Following hugely successful runs in London, at the Edinburgh Fringe, Adelaide Fringe and, most recently, Off-Broadway, Garry Starr returns to London with his most ambitious project yet – he’s going to save literature!
Garry is the creation of multi award-winning Damien Warren Smith.He has studied clowning at the highest level but if you’re expecting a red nose and custard pies in the face, think again. But it does get a bit messy … He is an absolute master of physical theatre and Garry Starr is a brilliant creation – bringing a charming naivety, a ridiculous amount of energy, exceptional comic timing and absolutely no boundaries!
Previous shows have seen Garry attempt to save theatre by performing every genre and, with a nod to his heritage (except a DNA test revealed he’s 0% Greek!), performing all of Greek mythology in order to save Greece from economic ruin.
This time, he’s going to take us through the entirety of the Penguin Classics catalogue in just 70 minutes, well some of them. If you’re looking for a high-brow hour of literary criticism this is probably not the show for you. But if you want to see an absolutely hilarious one man show, written and delivered by an outstanding performer at the top of his game, this library is most definitely open! Cal McCrystal’s direction sees Garry bounding around the stage, very rarely standing still, it’s fast-paced but so well-structured, directed and performed that you don’t miss a thing.
The open stage is set with just a bookcase containing the books we’ll be exploring, there’s a projector on it and each book will be revealed on a screen at the back of the stage. As the show begins, Garry sits facing upstage on a leather swivel chair. Then he turns to face the audience revealing his costume which consists of his trademark Elizabethan ruff, a black top hat and tail suit jacket and – this is a show about penguins after all – a pair of flippers. Nothing else. It’s a testament to the genius of the content and performance that it takes no time at all to forget that this is a show that includes full frontal nudity throughout. It’s not remotely awkward – even when he’s climbing over the seats to chat to somebody a few rows back, or crowd surfing across the audience.
Classic Penguins is a masterclass in writing, clowning and physical theatre. The energy level never drops as we move through a selection of classic novels, some interpreted via short sketches, others by a throw-away one liner that has the audience howling with laughter. And some of the titles combine to support a seemingly unrelated running joke with slick and exceptionally well structured transitions. The combination of Dracula, The Handmaid’s Tale and Around the World in 80 Days has to be seen to be believed. Sufficce to say, we’re all OfGarry now!
There is some audience participation, but our host/hero has an instinctive knack of knowing who will be up for getting involved (which is quite the achievement as some of it is quite intimate!), and he never sets an audience member up to be the butt of a joke. The invitation “do you want to come and play” makes any participation feel accessible and Garry approachable. Warren-Smith’s stamina, energy and charisma is off the scale – he has the ability to charm you into doing something you wouldn’t contemplate before falling under his spell. We’re all in it together and the more Garry reaches out, the more we love him for it and secretly hope to be chosen next!
Classic Penguins is the best show yet from Damien Warren-Smith and his hilarious alter-ego Garry Starr, deserving every accolade it receives. Such is his brilliance that his performance seems effortless, his intentions genuine and his natural charm and warm personality winning over even the most nervous of audience members. It’s hugely original and creative, a combination of world class physical theatre and exceptional comedy, and one of the funniest and most entertaining shows you’ll see this year.
Classic Penguins is at The Other Palace until 3rd January 2027.
Content Guidance: Includes full nudity, smoke haze, sudden loud noises and flashing lights. Strictly 18+.
★★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, October 2026.