Thanks for Having Me: Comedy So Sharp It Should Come with a Warning

Comedy often walks a tightrope between the ridiculous and the heartfelt, and Thanks for Having Me at the King’s Head Theatre balances both with impressive skill. Written by and starring Keelan Kember, this sharp, fast-paced production is a chaotic and hilarious deep-dive into friendship and personal anxieties.

Honey (Fergus Foster), a charming but commitment-averse bachelor, leads an almost carefree existence, until his best mate Cashel (Kember), a neurotic overthinker, moves in and disrupts the calm. Cashel’s arrival sets off a series of comic misadventures, with witty dialogue and emotional confessions keeping the pace quick and the humour flowing. What makes the play stand out is how effortlessly it juggles both absurdity and real emotional stakes, without ever missing a beat.

Quick-witted, charming, and thoroughly entertaining, Thanks for Having Me delivers unmissable comedy that connects

Kember is exceptional as Cashel, capturing the highs and lows of his character’s self-inflicted dilemmas with perfect timing. Foster matches him at every turn, his easy-going Honey providing the perfect foil to Cashel’s anxious spirals. Their infectious chemistry elevates every scene they share, turning each moment into a delightful blend of comedy and charm. Elizabeth Green and Charlotte Hayes-Jones also deliver strong performances, helping to flesh out the world of these two flawed yet lovable men. Between emotional breakdowns and drunken bonding, you might even wonder if these characters are keeping the gin industry afloat.

Monica Cox’s direction is tight and energetic, allowing the rapid-fire humour to shine without sacrificing emotional depth. The minimalist set doesn’t distract from the action but instead enhances the intimacy of the King’s Head Theatre, where the audience is fully immersed in the characters’ tangled lives.


Final Thoughts ★★★★

Would I recommend Thanks for Having Me? Absolutely. It’s rare for something to make you laugh this hard while still delivering moments of real emotional insight. Every element works together – a sharp, witty script, perfectly timed performances, and tight direction – creating a show that grabs you from the first joke and doesn’t let go. Impressively, it even manages to land jokes about Queer promiscuity and AIDS with humour that’s both sharp and empathetic, never missing a beat.

When truly great comedy is rare, Thanks for Having Me stands out as a sheer delight. It’s the kind of production that rekindles your love for theatre – a space where human absurdity and connection come alive, captivating an audience with every line (and laugh). Hilarious, heartfelt, and razor-sharp, this is one night at the theatre that’s impossible to regret. A solid 4 stars.

Playing at King’s Head Theatre until 8 February 2025.


Disclaimer: A complimentary ticket was provided in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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