REVIEW: Beached at the Soho Theatre

The Marlowe Theatre brings Melissa Bubonic’s Beached to the Soho Theatre, and whilst it proves entertaining and thought-provoking, it is not quite probing enough to leave much of a lasting impression. The show’s information on the programme states “but with the cameras rolling, something totally unexpected happens - Arty falls in love”. So it’s not all that unexpected then.

Arty is the world’s fattest teenager at sixty-seven stone, played charmingly by James Dryden. He hasn’t moved in years, and is piling on the pounds. A reality TV crew move in and document his journey towards getting a gastric bypass. Along the way, he falls in love, and discovers a few uncomfortable truths.

Cast announced for BEACHED, The Marlowe's first in-house production

Director of The Marlowe Theatre Mark Everett today announces the full cast for the theatre’s inaugural in-house production,Beached by Melissa Bubnic.  Justin Audibert will direct James Dryden, Alison O’Donnell, Rhoda Ofori-Attah and Robin Weaver.  The UK première production will run in The Marlowe Studio from 28 October – 1 November before moving to the Soho Theatre from 4 – 23 November. 

Beached tells the story of 18-year-old Arty, who, at 63 stone, is morbidly obese and the world’s fattest teenager. He is a young man literally going nowhere.