Top Gunchained – Guilded Balloon Teviot

It is not the most promising of starts. A double-height room, plastic seats laid out on the flat and an approximately 18-inch-high stage. On it, there is virtually nothing: black drapes, a solitary leather swivel chair and a Top Gun-esque flying jacket.

Fortunately, Richard Marsh doesn’t need much else.

Top Gunchained retells Top Gun through beat poetry, physical comedy and Marsh’s own relationship with his father. It is a clever conceit, but what elevates it beyond movie parody is the warmth of that father-son story.

Marsh’s portrayal of his dad, complete with a wonderfully characterful West Country accent, is particularly lovely. We see the young Marsh growing up on his father’s knee with Top Gun becoming one of their favourite films and later returning as something capable of bridging the inevitable gaps between father and son. There is genuine tenderness here without Marsh ever becoming sentimental.

The writing is frequently very funny. Maverick lost his father to enemy fire. Marsh lost his to Patricia, who did aerobics. Enough said.

There are paper aeroplanes too. One hit me squarely in the head, although that was considerably less disruptive than the fire alarm which stopped our performance halfway through. Apparently, a smoke machine elsewhere in the complex had triggered the system, sending all of us outside for around 15 minutes.

For a show so dependent upon metre, rhythm and momentum, it was a nasty clash of the gears. Marsh handled it with enormous professionalism, humour and charm, somehow getting us back inside and rebuilding the show’s momentum remarkably quickly.

Later, sitting in the front row, I was offered a microphone and invited to sing. Never do this to me. I will take it and I will sing. Frankly, they were lucky to prise it from my cold, dead hands.

This was my first encounter with Marsh, a Fringe regular whose previous Yippee Ki Yay applied similar treatment to Die Hard. I can now see the attraction. He is an immensely likeable performer, comfortable with audience interaction and capable of switching effortlessly between comedy, poetry, character and something considerably more touching.

There is plenty to admire in Top Gunchained. The paper planes, movie references and physical silliness provide the entertainment, but the relationship between a boy, his father and a film they both loved provides its heart.

Even an unscheduled 15-minute intermission couldn’t shoot this one down.

Playing until August 30^th 2026, https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/2026TOPGUNC

Reviewer: Greg Holstead

Reviewed: 21st August 2026

North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating:

Running time – 1hr 10mins