REVIEW: SIT OR KNEEL @ THE OTHER PALACE

🎭 Sit or Kneel

📍 The Other Palace Studio, 12 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JA

🗓 Thursday 23rd October 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A HEARTFELT AND WITTY SERMON ON MILLENNIAL ANXIETY

Mimi Nation-Dixon's acclaimed one-woman show was a sold-out hit at the Edingburgh Fringe, and is now playing at London's The Other Palace Studio where it's landed with a bang of charming, relatable chaos.

Touted as the lovechild of Fleabag and The Vicar of Dibley, this production delivers on its promise of sharp, observational humour mixed with genuine, quiet heartbreak, even if it occasionally sidesteps deeper spiritual exploration.

Nation-Dixon is utterly captivating as Margot, a twenty-something "accidental" vicar navigating the treacherous waters of a nosy British village and her own unravelling mental state.

The small village element resonated with me personally as I've literally just moved to London from a such a place. One recent hot topic there was that the new male vicar had an earring! The element of the small things, like a local donkey not being cast in the Nativity, becoming such a discussion point rang so true for me.

The writing is smart and bites with emotional honesty, particularly in its depiction of the pressure to appear 'fine' while dealing with grief, and it explores the strange performance of everyday life which makes it relatable.

The strength of the show lies in Nation-Dixon's charismatic, self-deprecating performance. She seamlessly embodies a host of characters with ease and energy, drawing the audience into her world of unsolicited advice and passive-agressive quips. The direction is paced well and uses the intimate studio space to its advantage, making us feel like Margot's personal confidants.

However, the production feels slightly unfinished in its exploration of faith. For a play centred on a vicar, God gets a surprisingly little look in, which feels to me like a missed opportunity to fully lean into the unique premise. This did leave me wanting more depth on the subject, as the show prioritises the social and personal over the spiritual. I felt more of a dive into this could have rounded the show off really well, and there was so much left uncharted.

Despite this minor quibble, the overall experience is delightful. Nation-Dixon has 'it', whatever "it" is, in abundance. She proves herself as a witty and smart writer and performer who can switch from light to dark in a whisper. SIT OR KNEEL is an enjoyable, relevant piece of new writing that is undoubtedly the start of something big for this rising star.

For anyone who appreciates clever comedy with real heart this show is undoubtably a must-see. Performances continue at The Other Palace Studio until Sunday 26th October. Click here to get your 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 Sit or Kneel was gifted by Distrikt Communications 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 BY AND STARRING:

Mimi Nation-Dixon

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 10 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Bad language; Smoking depictions; References to sexual assault, suicide and eating disorders

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