Breaking the fourth wall in theatre and creating immersive action with your audience is a brave thing to do, and when it’s a one man show, even braver. You have no one else up there to help you when your audience answers your questions in unexpected ways. Hamish Pickering was brave on his delightfully set stage in many ways. His semi-autobiographical show examines the truly important aspects of our lives in the face of impending doom. “What is the meaning of life? What will people remember you for? What was your happiest moment?” In a clever twist Hamish is asking his plants these philosophical questions, and through the magic of theatre, they can answer him. The night that we went along his plants (audience members) answered his questions with some insight and some spice. One “plant” even gave Hamish some cheeky repartee saying, “Well, that’s my answer, it’s your job to work with what you get.” He is a witty, intelligent young performer who dealt with her cheek beautifully and seamlessly integrated the answer back into his story.

For my 20 something Youtube loving daughter, Hamish’s blend of the band 1975 with his own poignant songs smacked loudly of the internet sensation Bo Burnham. For me as a 50 something, I could hear the reflective Tim Minchin in his sharp songs about life, love and the mundane questions we have about daily life. Like, what DOES happen to your Flybuys when you’re dead? Why do some f*ckers walk so slowly through life?

Hamish is a well-rounded, intelligent and likeable performer; he sang and played the piano, he gave clever, hilarious anecdotes, he engaged our emotions, and he created a wonderfully thoughtful piece of theatre. We loved every moment, and his supportive audience even got so involved in the quirky love story they started yelling out advice to him in his darkest moment!

This is brave, beautiful and bold cabaret style theatre that all thinking adults would adore, it left us wondering about our own lives and what does it all mean in the end?