Review of RON at Riverside Studios

★★

Ted Walliker's RON is certainly unlike anything else currently on the London stage. Part stand-up comedy, part surreal fable and part meditation on loneliness and identity, it is an ambitious production that will undoubtedly divide audiences. For me, however, it never quite found its footing.

The evening opens with what appears to be a stand-up routine, but it occupies an awkward middle ground between comedy and storytelling. It lacks the rhythm and punchlines of a conventional comedy set, yet equally doesn't provide a sufficiently compelling platform from which the narrative can naturally emerge. As a result, the opening feels drawn out and oddly monotonous, making it difficult to fully engage with the story that follows.

The production's greatest strength lies in its visual design. A particularly memorable moment sees the curtain rise to reveal a real car sitting in a woodland clearing, complete with a carpet of leaves, towering trees and beautifully atmospheric lighting. It is a genuinely striking theatrical image that transforms the stage and immediately captures the imagination. Credit is due to both the set and lighting designers, whose work creates the evening's most memorable sequence. Ted Walliker throws himself into the role with total commitment, and it is during these more physical moments that his performance is at its strongest. His movement skills, which occasionally felt overemphasised elsewhere in the production, suddenly have real purpose within this dreamlike environment. That said, the decision for him to spend much of the performance in nothing more than his underwear feels unnecessary. Rather than adding vulnerability or meaning, it becomes something of a distraction and never seems fully justified within the narrative.

The script itself proved more problematic. Much of the abstract imagery and symbolism felt overly obscure, leaving me admiring the ambition more than the execution. Several sequences drift into surrealism without providing enough emotional or narrative payoff, making the production feel self-consciously eccentric rather than genuinely profound. Likewise, despite the comedic framing, I found very little that was genuinely funny.

There is no doubting the creativity behind RON, nor the craftsmanship evident in its design. For those who enjoy highly abstract, experimental theatre it may well resonate. For me, however, its visual brilliance wasn't enough to compensate for a story that too often felt meandering, inaccessible and emotionally distant.

CREDITS

Written and Performed by Ted Walliker

Directed by Lev Govorovski & Ted Walliker

Lighting Design by Ted Walliker

Sound Design and Music by Ted Walliker

Set and Costume Design by Lev Govorovski & Ted Walliker

• Venue: Riverside Studios (Studio 2)

• Dates: 13 June – 5 July 2026 

• Booking: Tickets are available via the official Riverside Studios website. Riverside Studios – RON booking page