The thing about David Hoyle’s shows, is that they’re almost impossible to objectively review.
They’re a visceral, spontaneous experience, and no doubt the content flickers and changes depending on the night, not to mention David’s mood. Rather than reading about it in a magazine, you kind of just have to put the magazine down, and go to the show. That said though (and David would agree), giving opinion on art is important, and it’s my job to cover these things, so I’ll try my best.
I think it now goes without saying that a David Hoyle performance will always be top notch. That’s no longer a question, and hasn’t been for some years. The question now is, what issues will he address and what sociopolitical themes will he use as a backdrop. In the Prime Of Ms David Hoyle, he turns his fascinatingly deranged, eyeshadow-caked gaze on the education system. Unsurprisingly, he thinks it should be abolished in favour of communal living and mind-altering substances, and that all authority figures should be thrown straight in the wood chipper. Quite right too.
Special mention must go to the phenomenal supporting acts. David seems to love surrounding himself with other people, allowing others to take centre stage, which is a wonderful quality in a performer. First up was Britannia (Eve Fehilly), with a hilariously unhinged, Brexit-borne performance of I’m Telling You. She was followed by The Phoenix (Rhys Hollis), who’s one of the most beguiling, confident and distractingly sexy performers I’ve seen for a long time.
David was also supported throughout by Prefect Ben, aka show producer/director Ben Walters, who offered useful questions and opinions for David to bounce his ideas off. The undisputed highlight though, was Simone Simone. Simone Simone, we learned, was one of the old alumni of Ms Hoyle’s Academy For Girls (“I hadn’t had the heart to get rid of her”) and sat at the back of the stage throughout the whole show, quietly working her way through a four pack of beer.
A sign of a great performer is someone who’s hilarious without even trying, and she was apathy at its most side-splittingly glamorous. She didn’t utter a word, and got the biggest cheer at the end.
But throughout the evening, it was Ms Hoyle who was the teacher and we, the audience, were his students. My mind was blown by the effect David had on the audience as the evening progressed. Guarded at first, people relaxed more and more as Ms Hoyle worked her magic.
It’s because he didn’t orate, so much as discuss. He would ask people questions, compliment their outfits, ask people’s names. We started to take our jackets off, put our arms around each other, lean forward onto the seats in front. It really was like rapt students in a lesson from their favourite teacher. The effect was wonderful, unique and surreal. David Hoyle has done it again. A*.
Words by Dylan Jones, Photos by Holly Revell
• The Prime of Ms David Hoyle is at The Chelsea Theatre until 25th September.
• Tickets available at chelseatheatre.org.uk
