A funny, uncomfortable, intense, sweaty night of brilliant theatre
Matthew Edgar’s curation of Daniel Moore’s Definitive Guide to Failure-Free Living is
without a doubt, one to look out for. A co-production with Drayton Arms theatre, Edgar
situates the audience in a room of anger, sweat, masculinity, whales and decisions. As
the audience enters the space, through the brilliant direction by Harry Daisley, the scene
is already unfolding. As a scruffy looking Daniel Moore pumps out push-ups, erratically
dresses himself and paces the space, a sense of unease fills the room and our first
interaction with this character pre-empts what we are in for.
The narrative seeks to prove that Daniel Moore does not fail, as he adheres to the
deadly glow of a button in the centre of the room. He has pressed this button as it lights
up for 19,999 hours, and we are here to join him in his 20,000 hour, to which he would
have succeeded his job and will call it quits. As we are welcomed into his world, he
seeks to expand his knowledge beyond his own self-appreciation, dreaming of
spreading his wisdom to those who haven’t had the privilege of hearing of it so far. The
harsh bodily movements, unsettling constant slicking back of greasy hair and low
mumbling proves that we are in fact, trapped in this dimension with him.
At first, the performance seems somewhat situated within the solo narrative of his
mission- to press the button, to not fail. As the performance unravels, we learn that
Daniel’s motives reach much further into his own being. The multi-rolling performed by
Edgar was impeccable. The ability to formulate an entire scene with three characters
varying of age, gender and physicality was highly commendable. The sharp transitions,
alongside very rehearsed accents, felt beyond convincing. The pace throughout the
performance certainly paralleled the growing understanding of the character and the
reasons behind his obsessions.
The creation of this piece, outside of its talent to draw in the audience, felt very
important to a wider world too. Where 2025 saw the impacts of the likes of Andrew Tate
and a national hit of the TV drama Adolescene, Daniel Moore’s Definitive Guide to
Failure-Free Living felt very important in carrying on discussions in 2026. What I really
commended about this piece, is its unpredictability- nothing was handed to the audience
on a plate. Moreover, an underlying link to male violence felt extremely important.
Where Edgar created room to draw the lines between his intensity and uncomfortable
sexual behaviours and remarks, he manufactured a piece which reached beyond
theatre. Edgar confined us within his characters space, yet left us filling in our own
gaps, and placing our own red buttons in our worlds. A really brilliant night at the
theatre, and an even greater impression left on the audience’s mind.