Is The WiFi Good In Hell? — Underbelly Cowgate, Iron Belly

Meet Dev: a young, queer boy growing up in the seaside town of Margate in 2008 who is absolutely itching to escape.

Is The WiFi Good In Hell?, written by and starring Lyndon Chapman, is a richly detailed and beautifully touching coming-of-age story supported by an electrifying solo performance.

We’re first introduced to Dev at the age of 12, where he spends most of his time hanging out on a derelict with his best mate, imagining his life when he leaves the so-called “dystopian wasteland” of Margate for a thriving life in London.

In the 60-minute show, we follow Dev as he navigates school, university, and post-graduate life while discovering who he is in a world where he never quite fits in.

Chapman is an absolute tour-de-force in this show, weaving the intricate web of Dev’s conscious and subconscious feelings through a deft and precise use of physicality, voice work, and facial expressions.

As we get to know Dev better, and discover the darkness he’s concealing and running from, I felt deeply sympathetic towards the character — a testament to Chapman’s exquisite performance and Will Armstrong’s nuanced direction.

Is The WiFi Good In Hell? is made even more immersive through Damian Pace’s evocative sound design, bringing us into every location from the seaside to G.A.Y.

This show delicately balances humour and raw vulnerability to tell an intoxicating story that touches on queer expression, gentrification, sexual assault, and more.

After the show finished, Chapman described performing Is The WiFi Good In Hell? as “cathartic”. Through this catharsis, the audience is treated to an unforgettable 60 minutes that’s equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking.

Reviewer: Olivia Cox

Reviewed: 10th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: