The Joker and the Thief at theSpace @ Niddry Street Review
Comedy duos have been a staple in light entertainment for decades. Set in 1980, this story sees a former duo reunite at the Edinburgh Fringe - one of them is still a star, the other's star is fading. Can they recreate the old magic or will the secrets from their past dull the spotlight? It's written by a duo - young theatre makers Dylan Kauper and Will Grice, following last year's offering, Cody and Beau: A Wild West Story. I saw this play when it came down to London and wrote that I was keen to see what they did next. Fast forward a few months and my wish is granted!
Kauper plays Larry – the big success, about to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival to an audience of 2,000 in the city’s most prestigious theatre. He’s even got royalty in the audience in the form of Prince Edward (a few years before his short-lived “career” as a production assistant for Andrew Lloyd-Webber!). Grice is former comedy partner Sid, who is performing his stand-up at the Fringe, in a cellar with capacity for around 20 people.
Their awkward reunion happens backstage, just before superstar Larry’s big gig – and is overseen (refereed even) by Larry’s agent, Howard, played by Rufus Goodman, who slots in perfectly with Kauper and Grice.
The writing shows a maturity beyond the years of this young team – it’s well researched to place it in its 1980s setting (Prince Edward!) and the dialogue between the former partners feels very natural and as if it’s built on their years of partnership and acrimonious split. Seemingly on the sidelines, Howard becomes a key player in the break-up – it’s very well structured. The action doesn’t focus on the history of Sid and Larry as a duo, but on the moment it all fell apart. As their meeting progresses, we learn that each has a reason to blame the other. Did Larry sabotage their performance or did Sid betray Larry? The differences between the two men offer a strong observation on the entertainment industry and whether money or art is king. Larry has a team of writers now and has made millions, Sid proudly writes his own material but performs to tiny audiences. But which one of them is truly satisfied with their life?
As the recriminations build and the truth starts to come out, the scene descends into a brilliantly choreographed fight sequence involving the three actors – they all deliver committed and impressive physical performances, again all appearing very natural and not at all staged.
By the end of the play, my mind had changed a few times as to who was the joker and who was the thief, that’s part of its appeal. It’s a very well crafted journey, although at the end the conflict felt as if it had reached an easy resolution given the increasingly dramatic build up that led to it.
It’s a very entertaining hour of theatre that has plenty to say about fame, friendship, betrayal and seeking closure. Dylan and Will have produced a strong story about the breakdown of a long-term and close working relationship – one that I sincerely hope never applies to this promising creative team.
The Joker and the Thief is at theSpace @ Niddry St until Saturday 29th August.
★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.