King’s Head Theatre, London – until 2nd May 2026
Reviewed by Celia AS
5*****
The Sequel by Lucas Clossl is a dark comedy examining the aftermath of success, the consequences of using real lives as narrative, and of stealing moments that do not belong to us for personal gain. Set in a small town, Grace Troth returns to the cafe where she wrote her bestselling novel; nine years later and the cafe has become a site of pilgrimage for fans of the book, frozen in time. A sequel to the book is long overdue, and her mentor John and the cafe’s new wonder Martha need it to bolster dwindling tourist revenues and will go to any weird and wonderful means to make it happen.
Under the direction of Imy Wyatt Corner, Julia Pilkington as Martha is otherworldly and uncanny. It’s hard not just to watch Pilkington in every scene; her comic timing is second to none and even the tiniest reaction is pitch perfect. Jim Findley’s chaotic gardener/tour guide John hits all the right notes, filling the stage with desperation and comedy and some killer dance moves. At the centre of the story is Grace played by Nisha Emich, who is the straight character of the piece but is foundational, creating space for the strangeness of the story to unfold and the other character’s quirks to be unleashed. There are plenty of other pivotal yet silent characters in the plot who are never shown, but whose presence feels real and tangible; like they might walk on to the stage at any second which is testament to Closs’ writing.
Sitting above the stage on a platform are two musicians playing a variety of instruments and soundtracking the play. It’s a lovely touch and Deniz Dortok’s score adds another dimension to production, heightening both the comedy and unease. Peiyao Wang’s set is simple but effective, the cafe of Grace’s novel made real for the sake of becoming a museum. Catja Hamilton’s lighting is subtle but atmospheric when the pile of lamps flicker as things start getting weird and you realise all is not as it seems.
The Sequel is a dark and funny one act exploration of legacy, authorship and ownership, and the knock on effects of fame and success. There were great big laughs and audible gasps from the audience, and it is paced perfectly throughout. A curious and thoughtful piece that makes for a wonderful 80 minutes in the theatre.