REVIEW: THE CHAOS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL NO DOUBT RETURN @ SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE BOROUGH

🎭 The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return

📍  The Little, Southwark Playhouse , 77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

🗓 Saturday 13th September 2025

⭐️⭐️

DOESN'T LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS

When you see as much theatre as I do there will inevitably be some shows that just aren't for you and unfortunately, and it pains me to say it, THE CHAOS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL NO DOUBT RETURN was such a show for me.

I had high hopes going in and the hype coming from its run in Edinburgh was palatable. The blurb made it sound like exactly the kind of show I would be interested in. A story that reminds us that life is not an easy ride, especially for teenagers in austerity-stricken Luton.

The performance is loud and energetic, and moves at a fast pace. Social issues are covered and there's no denying that the two central actors have an admirable lung capacity! The problem from me was that everything felt rather stale and I became disengaged quite early on which is never a good thing.

The chaos in the play is intended as both external and internal as we follow Voice and Lewis as they manoeuvre their way through a chaotic evening which includes interactions with family members, bullies, girls, and more. The evening culminates at a house party.

My main issue with this show is sadly the script. In any genre of theatre I always say that the most important thing is the central story and if you strip away all the bravado and exuberance then all that is left is a story that feels dated. It's like I've seen it all before and there are no new ideas here. Even though the story mainly happened over one night, It feels like a series of events rather than a free-flowing narrative.

The performers gave it their all but I can't help thinking that the chaos in the title felt more like disruptive and distracting noise than anything else. The guts of the story got lost in all the commotion which removed any intended emotion from the words leading to a drab, and ultimately at times, boring piece of theatre.

Ultimately this was a swing and a miss. The idea is ambitious and there is a lot of heart buried here, but it's the execution where the production is seriously lacking. For someone else this could be a very good show but for me it failed to land and I was left wanting more.

Staging, set design and lighting were all great but there were far to0 many parts of this production that fell down. Maybe a rethink and reworking of the script could enhance this somewhat. It felt like there were quite a few plot holes littered throughout. There was a reference to Tommy Robinson, but the music and technology were firmly rooted in the noughties so when was the play actually set?

Overall I was left disappointed by this one, but I guess that's the beauty of theatre. Not every show is for everyone and I have to be honest about my feelings. If you want to check out THE CHAOS THAT HAS BEEN AND WILL NO DOUBT RETURN then it continues performances at Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 27th September. Click here for more details and to book 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 reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of The Chaos That Has Been And Will No Doubt Return was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting 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:

Nathaniel Christian as Voice; Elan Butler as Lewis & Others; Leanne Henlon as Lakesha & Others

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 20 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Bad language; Descriptions of knife crime and physical violence; Underage drinking; Cigarette use; Sexual references; Loud music; Strobe lighting; Haze; Depiction od non-consensual sexual act; Offensive language