REVIEW: RIKI LINDHOME - DEAD INSIDE @ SOHO THEATRE

🎭 Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside

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

🗓 Wednesday 1st April 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

FROZEN EGGS, WARM HEARTS, AND FILTHY SONGS!

I’ve often been accused of being a bit "dead inside" myself - I’m not exactly the type to wear my heart on my sleeve or get misty-eyed in a darkened room - but Riki Lindhome’s London premiere at Soho Theatre didn’t just nudge me; it hit me right in the core. It is, quite simply, a masterclass in how to turn personal trauma into a collective, cathartic roar of laughter.

Most of us know Riki from her Emmy-nominated work or as the sharper half of Garfunkel and Oates, but DEAD INSIDE is a different beast entirely. This is a musical comedy spiral that pulls back the curtain on a decade-long odyssey through infertility, IVF, and loss. It sounds heavy - and it is - but the balance she strikes between gut-wrenching vulnerability and razor-sharp wit is nothing short of miraculous.

What makes it work so well is Riki’s casual, almost effortless storytelling style. She doesn't perform at you; she brings you in. It feels like she’s just pulled up a chair to spill the tea on the absolute absurdity of hormone shots and invasive tests. That openness is her superpower.

As a cis man, these are obviously not traumas I have experienced, but at no point did I feel shut out of the narrative. Riki has this incredible knack for making the deeply personal feel universal, creating an atmosphere of total inclusion where no one is excluded from the conversation.

And then, there are the songs. My god, the songs. Every single one is impeccable, crafted with the kind of songwriting elite-level precision we’ve come to expect, but here they serve a higher purpose. They punch through the tension just when you think you can’t take any more. "Don't Google Mommy" was a personal favourite of mine, but they were all mini masterpieces.

I also loved the use of the screen behind her; it was used brilliantly to enhance the storytelling and elevate the comedy elements. A word of warning, though: I will never, ever be able to watch Beauty and the Beast or The Sound of Music in the same way again. She has ruined them for me in the best possible way.

This is undoubtedly the best one-woman show I have ever seen. How she manages to lay herself so bare on that stage while maintaining the signature filth and wit is staggering. It is raw, it is hilarious, and it is vital.

DEAD INSIDE is the absolute must-see show of the season. Click here to head to the Soho Theatre website where the show is playing until Saturday 18th April, and if there are any tickets left, grab them.

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 Riki Lindhome: Dead Inside was gifted by GingerBread Agancy 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:

Riki Lindhome

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 10 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Discussion of the following sensitive topics: Infertility; Miscarriage; Baby loss; Abortion; Medical procedures

AGE GUIDELINES:

16 +

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