The word ‘riot’ has been on everyone’s lips the past few days. But this is a riot of a different kind, set safely on the stage and trust me, it’s worth witnessing. This production tells the story of a riot that occurred at an Ikea in February 2005 when 6,000 people queued up for 12 hours for their midnight sale. With double-bed frames at £30 and three-seater leather sofas for £45 people became animals, all for the sake of furniture.It is refreshing to see a such a production with so much originality. The cast wear the iconic yellow t-shirts and the set is made up, aptly, of Ikea lamps which are incorporated into their scenes and physical sections. The space is used inventively as there is lots of movement; the cast are completely confident and did not falter. They also provide their own music, playing their own instruments throughout; there is no doubt that they are a talented bunch producing a performance that well surpasses their ages.The script is hilarious too. It feels improvised at times, but the cast are more than capable of dealing with this and it is lovely to see them crack up from time to time, especially when James tries to ask out Nikki, which is squirmingly funny. Each character has their own personality and every cast member pulls their weight. The performance never lags and by the end the effort and energy invested by the cast is evident.This is a kooky and alternative production which is immense fun. I urge you to see it. I promise you won’t get hurt and it’s worth every penny.
