Top Gs Like Me at Royal & Derngate, Northampton Review
Photo by Manuel Harlan
Written by Hollie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
This production contains: Bad language, flashing lights, loud music, themes of misogyny and discussions of sexual encounters.
Graffiti, rap music, and swearing. You’re probably already thinking of gang culture, badly behaved teens, and the likelihood that they might end up in prison someday. Am I right or am I wrong? Like many people in society, we often rely on stereotypes to help us understand others and the world around us. But we don’t truly know what happens behind closed doors or the background each person has that has shaped who they are today.
Stereotypes and themes of misogyny, radicalisation, and the influence that technology and the online world can have on all of those today in 2026 are the themes that are explored in this incredibly timely but comedic Made in Northampton production, ‘Top Gs Like Me.’
As audience members enter the completely transformed auditorium at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate Theatre, they are met with mini half-pipes and ledges as audience members sit on either side of a graffiti and litter-strewn skate park.
Bounding round the skate park on his scooter, we are introduced to the main protagonist, Aidan, played by Daniel Rainford, who is wearing his green Morrison’s polo shirt as he browses and scrolls through the internet on his mobile phone. Listening to TikTok videos, reading news articles, and playing Zelda, the video game, as he dons noise-cancelling headphones, he is constantly exposed to society’s expectations of success and money at whatever cost.
Feeling lost, alone and desperate to change his life, Aidan has lived in Northampton his whole life and has two jobs so that he can support himself and his Mum. He is friends with Mia, played by Fanta Barrie, who he has known since they were both little children. Mia has matured and decided that she wants to go to university, a concept that Aidan really struggles with as he doesn’t feel as though he has the same opportunities.
In his ear offering him advice on how to behave and better himself is controversial character Hugo Bang, played by Danny Hatchard (Eastenders, Ridley Road) who cleverly conveys his character with precision and in a slick manner. Wandering in from the other side of the skate park is homeless alcoholic Dave, played by David Schaal (The Inbetweeners) who has seen Aidan grow over the years and knows who he truly is. He offers him support and guidance throughout the story and Dave and Daniel’s rapport with each other was my favourite relationship to watch during the production.
The messages and videos that Aidan sees online are portrayed on stage by the ‘Internet Ensemble’ a group of third year acting students from the University of Northampton. They all added a lot to the show with their clever choreography and comedic moments and it makes this show a true community production. I hope to see them all in future productions in Northampton and across the country.
As comparison culture and banter become a large part of his life the audience can’t help but feel compassion for this lost teenager who has his whole life ahead of him. He is unable to see the influence of what he consumes online on him and struggles to understand the consequences of his actions.
Royal and Derngate’s very own Artistic Director Jesse Jones directs this production, and after the success of his direction on some of Royal and Derngate’s most popular productions from last year, including ‘Breaking the Code’ and ‘Moby Dick’, I was really excited to see how this production would be depicted. Along with Set and Costume Designer Rebecca Brower, this production and the skatepark auditorium portray the concept of misogyny and influence in an empathetic and informative manner.
A Street Art exhibition which explores positive masculinity is also presented in the lobby and bar areas of the Royal and Derngate Theatre. 13 schools and community groups across Northamptonshire took part in creating graffiti-inspired artwork, and their workshops were led by two local street artists, Dpendz and SUEDE. This production has a real local feel, and the work that has gone on behind the scenes, both with the local schools and the University of Northampton, to teach young people about the themes the production covers is commendable.
This production of ‘Top Gs Like Me’ continues at the Royal and Derngate Theatre until Saturday 7th March 2026.
★★★★
