REVIEW: RETROSPECTIVE @ BARONS COURT THEATRE

🎭 Retrospective

📍 Barons Court Theatre, 28a Comeragh Road, London, W14 9HR

🗓 Saturday 23rd May 2026

⭐️ 2 Stars

ALL FRAME, NO PICTURE

Oh, London in the heat! There I was, melting on a scorching afternoon, only to find the Underground up to its usual tricks with Bank Holiday weekend maintenance works. After a long, sweaty trek on foot to Barons Court, I was absolutely gasping for a gripping, sharp piece of theatre to make the journey worthwhile. If anything could lift my spirits, it was my destination. Barons Court Theatre is easily one of my favourite London pub theatres, hidden away so atmospheric-like beneath The Curtains Up pub, and I was long overdue a revisit to its lovely, intimate space.

The premise of T.J. Elliott’s RETROSPECTIVE sounded like just the ticket to mark my return. A dark comedy following Rory McGrory, a self-absorbed painter trapped in a purgatory-style art gallery filled with blank canvases, confronted by the ghost of his ex-wife and a couple of past rivals. It promises a deep dive into legacy, ego, and the heavy emotional toll of a life spent chasing fame. The ingredients were all there for a really great night.

Unfortunately, for me, the writing here was seriously lacking. It felt as if there were just far too many ideas trying to be explored all at once, cluttering up the canvas. I went in expecting a witty, fast-paced story, but the evening just dragged. There were a few polite, scattered laughs from the audience throughout the room, but I personally struggled to find any genuine wit in the words. At 90 minutes with no interval, the piece felt far too long, and I found myself - dare I say it - bored. My mind kept wandering, and I became restless as I had to really fight to refocus my attention. There were a lot of words being thrown around, but Elliott’s writing didn't ultimately feel like it had anything substantial to say.

The tonal choices also threw me off. I found it quite weird how unfazed Rory seemed by the sudden appearance of his ex-wife, who had died 25 years beforehand. Equally bizarre was the mechanism where his burning questions were answered by "mystical winds" using the other characters as physical vessels. As the actors started doing silly dances around the stage while pre-recorded answers were given, I completely zoned out.

The saving graces of the evening undoubtedly came from the members of the company playing the female roles. Both gave deeply committed, believable performances in an otherwise surreal landscape. The absolute standout for me was Sarah Pearcey as the deceased ex-wife, Pippa, who brought a grounded warmth, a touch of maternal patience, and a much-needed emotional truth to the stage, navigating the script's eccentricities with total grace.

Overall, though, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. To make such an epic effort to get to the theatre in the heat, and face the long journey home again, for such a disappointing play was a real letdown. I still love this venue dearly, and there is a clever concept buried somewhere in these blank frames, but this time around, the picture just didn't come together.

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 Retrospective was gifted by Matthew Parker 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.

CAST LIST:

Noah Huntley as Rory; Sarah Pearcey as Pippa; Jasmine Dorothy Haefner as Z; Benjamin Parsons as Clint

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 30 minutes, with no interval

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