• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Adam Riches is Coach Coach at the Soho Theatre

March 27, 2016 by Lake Gregory Leave a Comment

Review of: Adam Riches is Coach Coach
Produced by:
United Agents and The Pleasance in association with Soho Theatre
Price:
£10 - £17.50

Reviewed by: Gregory Lake
Rating:
4
On March 27, 2016
Last modified:March 27, 2016

Summary:

A riotously entertaining interactive masterpiece. Cheer, shout Go Centaurs and potentially make Volfsball History.

More Details

Audience participation is an art. I have seen highly successful performances where the audience were gently coaxed into participation, with clear (if unstated) rules creating a safe atmosphere where one cannot fail. Adam Riches, on the other hand, pushes his show Adam Riches is Coach Coach full throttle in the opposite direction with exhilarating results. ‘Volfsball’ might have rules, but good luck trying to understand them.

Adam Riches is Coach Coach

The show sees Riches as the eponymous Coach Coach bully, cajole and examine the nipples of the audience in an hour-long interactive theatrical comedy playing homage to 80’s High School movies – to the extent that Teen Wolf himself features as a member of the team.

Riches is amply supported by a team of young comic talent, many of them stars of last year’s Fringe, including Richard Gadd as a office chair-bound principal. A particular highlight is Stevie Martin as Mrs Coach, sporting a Volfsball as a pregnant stomach and admirably holding her own against Riches – although her voice seemed to be showing the strain.

The choice of subject doesn’t just give the show a rich cultural cache of referential wisecracks, however. Instead, the live performance of sport is exploited for all its comic potential, and imbues an already heavily-improvised show with a genuine unpredictability. With six performers (including the mannequin playing “Yet To Be Cast” and another cast member with two left arms) attempting to throw the pink Volfsball into the onstage hoop, the narrative structure of the show itself is at stake. Taking his team aside mid-game, Coach Coach observes “that last bit of narrative progression didn’t exactly go to plan.” This is spontaneity on steroids.

And here lies the genius of the show. With this spontaneity comes a suspense that miraculously transforms the Soho Theatre into a raucous sports arena. When Riches’ team (genuinely terrible at Volfsball) finally manages to score, it provokes a euphoric roar from the pennant-waving audience. Measured in terms of willingness of audience reaction, this is a show like none other. The participatory element and the suspense of the spontaneous find their apex in the show’s climax, which I won’t spoil here – but unless you want to hold the future of Volfsball in your hands I would recommend avoiding any seats in the centre of the front row.

(It turns out that Volfsball is in fact a real sport, and not invented by Riches as I had assumed. According to volfsball.com, Riches’ version “has a different sized ball and resembles something more like basketball, but nonetheless is still a three aside game called Volfsball.” The same website claims that aliens invented Volfsball.)

Coach Coach – Adam Riches
Mrs Coach – Stevie Martin
Missy Coach – Emma Sidi
‘Willy’ T. Wolf – John Kearns
Tug Heartstrings – Charles Booth
Memphis Alabaster – Nick Hall
Swish Swisherstein – Daniel Cook
Douche Bleacher – James Riches
The Wrist – Ben Target
Principal Tucker – Richard Gadd
Author: Gregory Lake

Filed Under: Featured, Review Tagged With: Adam Riches, Adam Riches is Coach Coach, Soho Theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Plain Heroines talks SCRATCHES at VAULT Festival 2023

We spoke to director Gabrielle Bird from Plain Heroines about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their show SCRATCHES   Tell us [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Anthony Clark on SHE

Anthony Clark is the writer of SHE, a new show interweaving the stories of 14 different women in their twenties, [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Thick ‘n’ Fast talks General Secretary at VAULT Festival

We spoke to co-writers and performers Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas about taking part in VAULT Festival 2023 with their [Read More]

NEWS / Too Much World at Once tour announced

Set against a backdrop of the climate crisis, the debut from Papatango shortlisted writer Billie Collins is a lyrical coming [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Ian Nicholas talks The Elephant Song

Ian Nicholas is a theatre producer, running OnBook Theatre alongside director Jason Moore. He talks here about their next production, [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Willy Hudson on Welcome Home
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Yasmin Paige on Actually
  • The Role of Stage Manager in a Devising Company
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Andy Kesson and Jimmy Tucker tell us about A Bit Lit
  • Art of Believing at The Space
  • Peter Kavanagh talks about Cyanide at 5
  • Alice Christina-Corrigan talks Past Life
  • Lake Gregory
    Contributor

  • March 27th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!