Veteran comedian and campaigner Mark Thomas has always loved London. “Never trust anywhere that doesn’t have a night bus,” he chuckles in his new show Trespass. But perhaps the passion is cooling. His latest monologue charts changes that sadden and anger him.
His main problem is the creeping privatisation of public spaces. Barely pausing for breath he recounts recent protests as a screen behind him briefly pinpoints his location. He loitered in front of “No Loitering” signs in Nine Elms, drew sketches on the pavement outside the RBS building and jogged 10km on top of the Walkie Talkie.
These are some of the playful ways Thomas underlines his concerns about the capital being overdeveloped. The seasoned rabble rouser often charms the opposition with his irreverent approach, though not always. One stunt in Paternoster Square involving a sheep costume ended in an arm lock. He intends to return this Saturday and invited his audience to join him.
Thomas, who voted for Jeremy Corbyn, clearly cares about this issue and always finds a funny angle. But maybe because he has so much to say his piece feels hurried. It would be more focused if he discussed fewer actions and concentrated on London.
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Instead he ends by recounting a protest in Oxford, where he objected to draconian proposals to fine beggars £100 by drawing an eight-mile line around the city in chalk. Some pruning might have helped this walking, talking, chalking man get his message across.
April 25-May 7, Tricycle Theatre, NW6 (020 7328 1000, tricycle.co.uk)
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