REVIEW: MEET FRED @ THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH

🎭 Meet Fred

📍  The Drum, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2TR

🗓 Monday 23rd February 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

HILARIOUS POIGNANT SATIRE

I had the great privilege of meeting Fred and may have fallen a little in love with him. He is feisty, brave and somewhat potty-mouthed. Like all of us he wants a happy life complete with love, a job, preferably as an astronaut, and financial security. There are, however, a couple of stumbling blocks in his way. He is two feet tall and he is a puppet made of cloth. 

Our introduction starts as Fred wakes. As he completes his morning routine it dawns on him that others are with him, moving his limbs. After a brief but exhausting struggle to rid himself of them, the chilly realisation that he is a puppet always in need of support sinks in – urgh. At this point he is unsure exactly who he is, we have all had those mornings, and what he is to do with himself. An unpleasant visit to Jack at the Job Centre gives him yet another rude awakening. Things are not going well for Fred. 

Despite this bleak scenario, MEET FRED is side-achingly funny. The puppetry is perfection and the interaction with the non-puppet cast members is entirely convincing. Dammit Fred is just made of calico, the guy doesn’t have a face, yet the emotions portrayed through his body and the words draw every ounce of empathy from the audience. His impotent fury and the consequent flow of expletives will strike a chord with most of us who have dealt with red tape. His interactions with his hysterical, unhelpful Director had me crying with laughter. Almost stealing the show was Martin the stagehand. His side eye walk past behind the Director’s back in response to verbal abuse still has me giggling now! 

The set is a mind map of frustration, familiar to anyone caught in the benefits system. Ostensibly the script for the show, it is a clear demonstration of the choices, or lack of, available to those wrestling with the DWP, Department of Work and Puppets!

MEET FRED was created 10 years ago in response to the austerity measures by the then Tory government which threatened benefit changes for, amongst others, the disabled and neurodivergent artists involved. It led to discussions about how to cope when this support is withdrawn and the puppet took shape. It is a poignant, very relatable analogy that distressingly is as pertinent today now that cuts and access to work are back on the agenda. 

Hijinx are a professional theatre company that works with actors with learning disabilities and /or autism. The show is one of the most accessible I have seen for a while. It is captioned and expressively BSL translated.  

Due to the language and subject matter MEET FRED is unsuitable for those under 14. I urge everyone else to see it on its whistle-stop tour. Hilariously funny, brilliantly performed and thought-provoking, go and meet Fred. 

There's one more chance to meet Fred in Plymouth tonight. Click here to secure the last remaining tickets.

Rosie Sharman-Ward

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 Meet Fred was gifted by Theatre Royal Plymouth who invited me to watch the show on behalf of Pink Prince Theatre 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.

CAST LIST:

Owen Pugh as The Director; Lindsay Spellman as Lucille/the Maker; Niclas Halliwell as Puppeteer & Fred; Gareth John as Martin; Iwan Jones as Jack; Jennie Rawlings as Puppeteer; Llŷr Williams as Puppeteer

BSL Interpreter: Tony Evans

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 25 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS: 

Strong language; Adult themes; Puppet nudity 

AGE GUIDELINE:

14 +

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