Picture this: You’re walking into the Southwark Playhouse Borough, not knowing what to expect. The lights dim, and suddenly, you’re transported to the heart of small-town America, caught in the middle of a gripping true crime story that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. That’s how I felt when watching KENREX earlier this week.
Last month, I had the pleasure of chatting with the mastermind behind this theatrical tour de force, Jack Holden, and let me tell you, his passion for this project is infectious. “We are both fascinated with true crime as a genre,” Jack told me, explaining how he and co-creator Ed Stamboulian cooked up this wild ride. They wanted to bring the addictive nature of shows like Serial and Making a Murderer to the stage, and boy, did they succeed!
But here’s the kicker – Jack plays an entire town. One man, a whole community of characters. It’s like watching a master juggler keep a dozen plates spinning, except instead of plates, it’s distinct personalities, accents, and emotions. Jack admitted, “It seemed completely absurd for me to try and play a whole town and therefore that was exactly why we chose it.”
The show is structured like an evidence board, with Jack weaving together interviews, court transcripts, scenes, songs, and radio interviews. It’s a true crime podcast come to life, but with the added punch of live performance. As Jack put it, “You’re just like right into the heart of it.
The music in the show, crafted by the brilliant John Patrick Elliott (who also worked on Jack’s previous hit, Cruise), sets the tone perfectly. “His music is extraordinary and it puts you right into the heart of small town America at the drop of a hat,” Jack gushed. Add to that Giles Thomas’s immersive sound design and Josh Ferro’s dazzling lighting, and you’ve got yourself a theatrical experience that’ll leave you breathless.
Seeing KENREX was like binge watching an epic Netflix crime series in real life, and Jack Holden’s immense talent to play a whole town on stage is unmatched, you quickly got to know the characters and despite being so fast-paced, Jack’s superb performance made everything easy to follow.
The Rating: ★★★★★
So, here’s my advice: Get yourself down to the Southwark Playhouse Borough before March 15th. Book those tickets now, because if the Sheffield run is anything to go by, this show is going to be the talk of the town.
Head over to Queerly’s Stage and Screen Podcast, where you can listen to my full interview with Jack Holden.