A sixty-minute fever dream that feels more like babysitting a very hyperactive child than spectating a professional theatrical performance, writer and performer Giovanna Koyama’s incomprehensible antics convince that, in the case of Back to the Moon, comprehension is majorly overrated. She is relentlessly charming and possesses an infectious confidence that lends itself to a script that is quirky more than it is coherent.
Selwin Hulme-Teague’s direction is competent and occasionally creative but falls short of the spectacle demanded by Koyama’s writing and writhing. Sensational sound design by Yuri Furtado does a lot of heavy lifting where the story (or lack thereof) occasionally sags. Fortunately, the brevity of the play allows little time for minds to wander, despite the meandering nature of its plot line.
Back to the Moon is a wild ride for all of its tumultuous sixty minutes—but a worthwhile one. Offering opportunities for uproarious laughter and quiet contemplation in dizzying sequence, this play doesn’t ask very much of its audience but provides, in Koyama, a very generous performer: occasionally timid, but consistently captivating.
If you’re up for an adventure, come and give it a look.
Back to the Moon runs until 18th August at The Glitch with tickets available at https://www.theglitch.london.
Reviewer: Kira Daniels
Reviewed: 13th August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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