REVIEW: HOLE! @ SOHO THEATRE

🎭 Hole!

📍 Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE

🗓 Friday 17th July 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

A GLORIOUSLY DERANGED QUEER MASTERPIECE

Right, let’s be completely real for a second. Before heading over to Soho last night, I had just sat through what I can only describe as one of the absolute worst, soul-crushing shows I have seen all year. I walked out of that first theatre in a state of mild panic, in desperate, frantic need of some truly fantastic entertainment to salvage what was left of my evening.

Thank the lord - or more accurately, the gay daddies upstairs - because HOLE! at the Soho Theatre did exactly that. It injected a massive, much-needed dose of pure joy, unadulterated frivolity, and glorious gayness straight into my veins. Honestly, who knew that a musical explicitly centered around butt plugs was precisely the theatrical antidote I needed? It is a production of sheer, unbridled happiness that radiates from the stage and completely envelops the audience. I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as the sheer madness unfolded in front of me.

For those unaware of the wonderfully unhinged premise, the show follows a strict religious sect in Nebraska whose members wear butt plugs at all times. Why? Because they believe a wrathful God will suck the unplugged up to burn on the sun, backside-first. But when an apocalyptic event called "The Great Sucking" actually happens, it turns out they were completely right. Only they - and anyone else caught in the middle of doing butt stuff - survive. What follows is a chaotic, wildly original coming-of-age journey that beautifully celebrates queer joy, chosen family, and love.

This is fringe comedy at its most beautifully camp and subversively clever. The storytelling is exceptionally sharp, and the songwriting is genuinely brilliant - hitting you with catchy hooks while remaining incredibly smart and satirical.

The sheer talent on stage is an absolute tour-de-force. Jake Brasch is a total madman, at one point playing three keyboards simultaneously without missing a single beat. Meanwhile, the phenomenal Nadja Leonhard-Hooper creates every single sound effect completely live on stage. Both of them effortlessly cycle through multiple roles throughout the 80-minute runtime, and their performance chemistry is just mesmerising to watch. On top of their frantic multi-rolling, their vocals are absolutely incredible. They treat us to some of the tightest, most impressive harmonies I've heard in ages, locking in perfectly together even while delivering the most chaotic choreography imaginable. Their athleticism, timing, and commitment completely demand your attention.

As someone who watches a lot of theatre, the technical nerd within me was just so incredibly happy throughout this entire performance. The lighting and sound designs were absolutely exquisite. Sound, in particular, can be an notoriously difficult thing to get right in an intimate space, especially with live elements, but this production proves that it just takes proper technical know-how to pull it off flawlessly. Every cue was crisp, every level was perfectly balanced, and the audio landscape elevated the storytelling to a whole new level.

What makes the sheer brilliance of the show even more impressive is how impossibly slick it all feels. Word on the street is that their set didn't even arrive in the UK until the literal morning of the show, yet the execution was utterly seamless. You would think they had been tech-ing in that space for weeks.

HOLE! is a stunning, soulful, and completely outrageous piece of art that needs to be seen by everyone. It raises the bar for what fringe musical comedy can achieve.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I laughed quite this much at the theatre. My cheeks were aching by the curtain call. HOLE! plays a limited run at Soho Theatre until Saturday 1st August. CLICK HERE for tickets.

Following this limited London run, HOLE! is heading up to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, playing at the Underbelly Cowbarn Wednesday 5th - Sunday 30th August. CLICK HERE to get your tickets now, before you're sucked into orbit!

Let me tell you right now: if you are planning a trip up to Edinburgh this August, you immediately need to add this to your must-see list. Do not walk, run to book your tickets. It is going to be the absolute talk of the Fringe.

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 reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Hole! was gifted by About Grace PR 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 AND PERFORMED BY:

Jake Brasch and Nadja Leonhard-Hooper

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Scenes of a sexual nature; Sexually explicit themes; Strong language; References to drug use; Apocalyptic themes

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

16+

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