As if you had not guessed by the title, this is a show about Lord Byron – no not the pub (of which I am sure there are many), but the romantic poet who penned his verse in the late 18th and early 19th century. Performer Zoe Maltby is a little obsessed with Byron, and to prove it, she has made a show in reverence to him, but in allusion to his very promiscuous lifestyle, Maltby summons up the camp, drag artist within herself, to become Lord George Gordon Byron – well sometimes at least!
Maltby, clearly knows her Byron, and as she explores his life and work in a chaotic, dramatic, festival of riotous fun. Audience members are harpooned with the microphone and encouraged to participate within the realms of a script, but it is Maltby’s sharing of her personal difficulties, that the laughter subsides, and we share the space with her own tough life experiences. The dressing up in Bryonesque clothing compliments the show’s focus on Byron’s poetry, but also his promiscuity. His many affairs, and possible gay experiences are somehow weaved into the story of Maltby’s own life or is it the other way around. And this is my problem – as soon as I began to understand and listen to details, we swiftly moved on to the next round of sensational facts about Byron, and it is as though these facts were stirred into a soup laced with hot chilli’s which caused Maltby to have St Vitus’ dance.
I applaud the research and knowledge that Maltby has clearly devoted to this show, but it was a little too ‘off the wall’ to really be able to engage with the historical and literary content that was on offer here. I felt like I was on somebody else’s acid trip, but without the acid, and I do not mean that to sound derogatory, as I really would like to listen to Maltby’s take on Byron, but it felt as though it was too fast paced, and I was ready to put on the handbrake.
In some ways, I feel that Maltby can offer a different medium to present her show, it is interesting, but the chaotic nature hinders the flow. There were many funny sections, but it just did not connect together well enough in its current state.
Maltby has promising ideas but just needs to tone down the presentation.
Reviewer: Caroline Worswick
Reviewed: 21st August 2025
North West End UK Rating:
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