“Outrageously funny, deeply unsettling, and utterly unique”
As writer, performer, and co-director, Ted Walliker puts his immense talents on full display in RON, a violent, absurd, and hilariously brilliant one-man show about longing, friendship, and grotesque horror. Currently playing at the Riverside Studios, this production is a masterclass in solo storytelling, a real surprise of a performance that stands out as a genuine gem. This show is unlike anything else you can currently see on stage, pushing the boundaries of what a single performer can achieve with a microphone and a dark room.
From the moment he steps out, Walliker commands the room with a relentless, high-energy performance that somehow manages never to feel exhausting for the audience. Instead, his manic commitment is utterly infectious, pulling the crowd into his twisted world from the very first sentence. He flits effortlessly between the frantic, sharp comedic energy of a stand-up set, radiating a distinct James Acaster vibe, and a creepy, deadpan delivery that anchors the show’s more horrific elements. The narrative itself is a wild ride, starting innocently enough in a McDonald’s before veering all over town in an entirely unpredictable, thrilling fashion.
The production’s minimalist beginnings make its trajectory all the more impressive. The show opens on a completely bare stage, save for a single stool and a bottle of water. From this blank canvas, Walliker and co-director Lev Govorovski craft an incredibly inventive and imaginative piece of theatre. Standard technical elements, such as a simple spotlight, are used in remarkably fresh ways to keep the audience’s rapt attention.
This visual restraint pays off massively toward the end of the show with a genuinely jaw-dropping, unexpected set piece. While it feels completely at odds with the stark minimalism that preceded it, it simultaneously makes perfect sense for the climactic, beautifully downbeat finale. This show is elevated throughout by an impeccable lighting design that perfectly mirrors the story’s shifting moods.
Amidst the gross-out violence and bizarre comedy, RON delivers a surprising emotional punch. Beneath the shock value lies a deeply human story about the desperate lengths to which people will go for connection. It weaves genuine, laugh-out-loud moments with deeply unsettling and bizarrely moving beats. It’s chaotic, it’s brilliant, and it establishes Walliker as a formidable theatrical force.
If you are comfortable with vivid discussions of ultra-violence, though there are no actual depictions of it, as it’s just Walliker on stage, then this show is an absolute must-watch. It is a visceral, boundary-pushing piece of fringe-style theatre that will linger in your thoughts long after the house lights come up.
RON is playing at the Riverside Studios from Saturday 13th June – Sunday 5th July. Tickets are available here.