Matthew Lyons Player at Riverside Studios

Matthew Lyons in Player

Matthew Lyon’s Player at Riverside Studios is a sharp, inventive and brilliantly observed piece of theatre that skewers the absurdities of the acting industry whilst never losing sight of the humanity underneath it all. Part satire, part confessional, part theatrical meltdown, it’s an exhilarating hour that feels both deeply personal and universally recognisable to anyone who has ever chased validation, ambition, or identity.

Lyon’s writing is outstanding - fast, witty, self-aware and dripping with biting observation. The play swings effortlessly between parody and poignancy, mocking the pretensions of the industry one moment before exposing the emotional vulnerability that sits beneath it the next. What could easily have become self-indulgent instead feels incredibly honest. There’s a relentless energy to the text, packed with clever metaphors, theatrical flourishes and painfully accurate observations about class, ego and survival in the creative world.

The performance itself is exceptional. Lyon commands the stage with total confidence, moving seamlessly between exaggerated comic moments and quieter, more reflective passages. His timing is razor sharp, and even when the material veers into chaos, there’s complete control underneath it. The audience is constantly pulled between laughter and discomfort - often simultaneously. Forman is equally superb, slipping effortlessly between a wide range of characters with remarkable versatility. Her command of accents, comic timing and physicality gives the production enormous momentum, but what’s most impressive is the way she manages to make even the broadest characters feel vivid and entertaining rather than one-dimensional.

What makes Player so effective is that beneath all the satire and theatricality lies something truthful. It understands the humiliation, insecurity and persistence required not only to survive as an actor, but simply to keep believing in yourself.

Funny, intelligent, emotionally raw and hugely entertaining, Player is an absolute triumph — a masterfully written and performed piece of contemporary theatre that deserves every bit of praise it receives. A genuine 5-star production.

Player is playing at Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline St, London W6 9BN, from 11–31 May 2026.

Tickets can be booked via the official Riverside Studios page: Book tickets for Player