2050: A Manifesto promises a lot but fulfils very few of those promises. The show sounds exciting! Clowning, comedy, social criticism of tech-bros and the AI-centric futures they’re trying to sell us. Then why is it that most if it ended up being jokes about balls?
The beginning was promising. We see a typical sci-fi inspired set and costume on writer and performer Alexander Hentrick. And to be fair, there was some decent comedic timing and deadpan humour that got a chuckle out of the audience. But it doesn’t go anywhere. The character doesn’t progress and more and more jokes were falling flat. It’s clear that he was trying to make fun of performantive men and tech-bros, but Hentrick just seems like one of them. Maybe if this was an actual clown persona or performed by a Drag King if would have been effective, but in the current format it did not work. The show drags on and on until we finally get to the manifesto. Very near the end. It does seem vaguely reminiscent of Andreessen’s Techno-Optimist Manifesto and the weird habits these men often have. So maybe there was some thought put into it after all.
2050: A Manifesto feels like Hentrick threw a lot of shit at a wall and then decided to ignore what sticks and what doesn’t. If this was marketed as a work in progress, it would be… fine. But it’s not. It’s a half-boiled egg that‘s presented as a finished show. Maybe that’s why the biggest laughs of the evening went to several Audience Members suggestions, not the autual play.
Hentrick did say in the end that they were having some technical issues which made the show more chaotic than usual, so maybe it would be better on another night. But as it was, 2050: A Manifesto unfortunately was incredibly underwhelming and disappointing.
2050: A Manifesto runs until the 29th of August at Greenside @ Riddles Court with tickets available at https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2050-a-manifesto
Reviewer: Christina Schmidt
Reviewed: 24th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating:
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