REVIEW: GHOSTS OF WEST HOLLYWOOD @ ETCETERA THEATRE

🎭 Ghosts of West Hollywood

📍 Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street, London, NW1 7BU

🗓 Wednesday 3rd June 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

NEON DREAMS, DARKER TRUTHS

It feels like I have practically moved into the Etcetera Theatre lately. Tucked away right above the bustling Oxford Arms on Camden High Street, this brilliant little fringe venue has truly become a second home to me recently, with last night marking my third visit in under three weeks. There is a specific kind of magic to grabbing a drink, climbing those stairs, and settling into a space that consistently champions raw, exciting new work. And its latest offering is no exception.

There is something utterly intoxicating about the mythology of Los Angeles. We are fed a steady diet of neon-drenched dreams, Hollywood starlets, and the glitz of the West Coast. But what happens when you pack your bags, leave London behind, and head straight into the belly of the beast, only for the dream to chew you up and spit you out? That is the exact premise of GHOSTS OF WEST HOLLYWOOD, a deeply personal new solo show by Tino Orsini, currently having its world premiere in Camden.

The play dives headfirst into the gritty, unvarnished reality of Orsini’s own youth. It tracks his journey from an aspiring young actor training at the prestigious Stella Adler Conservatory to his eventual, dramatic expulsion from drama school. From there, the narrative spirals into the complex maze of US immigration, family secrets, and the hedonistic, sometimes treacherous 1990s queer scene. It is a story heavily steeped in identity crises, sexuality, and a bruising battle with addiction and subsequent recovery.

From the second the lights go down, Tino walks out and immediately creates a relaxed atmosphere. There is zero ego here. It is as if he completely trusts the audience right from the jump, which in turn means that we trust him completely. It creates this wonderfully warm and friendly atmosphere in the room that you rarely get in traditional theatre spaces.

Honestly, this is less of a big dramatic play, and more of an intimate moment, listening to a friend telling his story over a pint. The fact that these are his genuine, lived experiences really shows in every line. At times, it is incredibly moving; you can see him physically remembering each specific moment he is describing on stage, pulling the memories right out of the ether.

But the real heart-stopping emotional core of the piece comes when Tino takes us into the darkest days of the 1990s HIV/AIDS epidemic. He speaks with harrowing honesty about finding himself in a relationship where his partner was HIV positive. In an era dictated by so much fear, stigma, and loss, the stakes couldn't have been higher. When Tino recounts the moment he discovered his own test results were negative, the room falls completely silent. You can feel the ghost of that immense, paralysing relief right there on the stage. Yet, there is no sense of triumph in his telling. Instead, he offers a beautifully grounded, humble reflection: testing negative didn’t make him any better or more virtuous than anyone else in our community. He was just incredibly lucky. It is a profoundly moving moment of perspective that stays with you long after.

If you are looking for high-octane drama, look elsewhere. This isn’t a big theatrical experience, but rather a gentle piece of storytelling. There is no flash, no bang, no grand theatrical gimmicks - just a trusted friend telling his story with an absolute, unwavering sense of vulnerability. There is a huge feeling of honesty in the words. Orsini offers no holding back and absolutely no sugarcoating of his darkest days, which makes the comedic beats land with a beautifully sharp, dark wit.

My only real gripe is that the piece seemed to wrap up just a bit too quickly. All of a sudden, I could tell we were firmly on the way to the story's conclusion, and it felt like the brakes were applied a bit too fast. I think I would have liked at least another 10 minutes of stage time just to allow the ending room to breathe and not feel quite so rushed.

That minor pacing issue aside, it is a very good piece of theatre overall. It is a brave, beautifully understated premiere that proves you don't need a massive budget to make a massive impact.

GHOSTS OF WEST HOLLYWOOD runs at the Etcetera Theatre, Camden until Sunday 7th June. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Ghosts of West Hollywood was gifted by Tino Orsini who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY:

Tino Orsini

RUNNING TIME (approx):

40 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Distressing or potentially triggering scenes; Strong language; References to drug use, addiction, and recovery; Discussions surrounding identity crisis, family secrets, and the adult queer scene

AGE GUIDANCE:

14+

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