In ‘Wilder!’ writers Thomas Billiouw and Dany Van Brabant have cultivated an entertainingly twisted world, where manicured lawns conceal murderous intent and the local gardening club is the beating heart of suburban paranoia and gossip.
Imagine Hot Fuzz’sNeighbourhood Watch transplanted into the pristine neighbourhoods of a British Desperate Housewives and you’re somewhere close to the show’s gleefully madcap and macabre tone.
At the centre is Gloria, played with wonderful commitment by Dany Van Brabant, who channels the clipped elegance and commanding poise of a homicidal Katharine Hepburn. Every smile feels calculated, every perfectly delivered line hints at barely contained violence, making Gloria both magnetic and deeply unsettling.
Opposite her, Thomas Billiouw provides a strong foil as Gregory, wrestling between his urge to support Gloria’s intention to keep their gruesome wedding anniversary tradition going, and a desire just to settle down.
Excellent support comes from Jess Vince-Moin as Phyllis, and Kgalalelo Thakadu as Sheryl-Anne, the neighbours from Hell who will not let up in their attempts to recruit Gloria to their beloved club.
The standout is Evie Weldon as Martha. Weldon injects warmth and humanity into the chaos, both grounding the production and helping it lean into just the right side of absurdity. Her natural performance provides an effective emotional counterweight to Brabant’s steely Gloria.
Director Jillian Osborne has delivered a slick caper overall, and the production benefits enormously from Becca Watkin’s inventive fight direction. The bursts of violence are slick, inventive, and darkly comic, landing with precision while never losing sight of the play’s exaggerated theatrical style.
Tonight’s performance has been truncated to fit into the Fringe one-hour format and occasionally it shows, as the audience is left galloping to keep up with the frenetic action, particularly what feels like a rather abrupt ending.
Even so, Wilder! is an enjoyably eccentric slice of suburban noir, blooming with pitch-black humour and memorable performances that will never let you look at gardening the same way again.
For more information and dates for Wilder! Check out @wilderatfringe on instagram. For remaining GM Fringe events visit https://greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk/whats-on/
Reviewer: Lou Steggals
Reviewed: 29th July 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse Rating:
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