A Deliriously Funny, Relatable Riot: Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century Review | Zoe Sievwright

Image credit: Alexander Hansez

‍ ★★★★★

Before Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century even begins, you can feel the room charging up for a wild ride. From the very beginning, this raucous, sharp-witted production delivers an absolute explosion of electric energy. If you’re a fan of high-camp, chaotic, larger-than-life comedy, you will be right in your element here: it gives off absolute Absolutely Fabulous vibes from start to finish, capturing that exact brand of glorious, self-absorbed, champagne-fuelled mayhem that makes for brilliant theatre.

‍The story follows two gloriously messy best friends trying to keep their heads above water while keeping their spirits high. They are broke, frazzled, and hopelessly dramatic, yet determined to stay utterly fabulous regardless of how much their personal lives are falling apart. Watching their chaotic dynamic unfold on stage is pure joy. Between one of them storming in wrapped in dramatic layers to rant about her latest romantic disaster, and the other trying to maintain a lavish beauty routine while the apartment fails around them, the comedic chemistry between the actors is an absolute delight to witness.

‍What makes the show work so well is how relentlessly funny the script is. The dialogue is packed with razor-sharp banter, absurd situations, and quick-fire jokes that had the entire audience howling with laughter. It leans unapologetically into the madness of surviving your thirties, dealing with nightmare dating scenarios, and using pure delusion to get through financial panic. Yet underneath all the outrageous antics and witty one-liners, there is a surprisingly warm, affectionate beating heart about loyalty and standing by your people when the world turns into a circus.

The visual style grounds their struggle beautifully. The cluttered, frantic set design, paired with bold, over-the-top outfits, perfectly highlights the gap between the glamorous lives these characters want to lead and the complete disaster they are actually living through.

Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century is a laugh-out-loud, delightfully unhinged piece of theatre that doesn't take itself too seriously. It’s a hilarious ode to questionable choices, deep bonds, and staying ridiculously glam through life's biggest messes. I left with aching jaw muscles and a massive smile on my face.

Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century was performed at Gilded Balloon Patter House – Dram from 5-31 August as part of Edinburgh Fringe.

‍ ‍By Zoe Sievwright