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Working Class Hero

 
Richard Beck Review by Richard Beck 3 Published: 23 Nov 2025 Barons Court Theatre Show Dates: 19 Nov 2025-22 Nov 2025

A trailer projected onto the wall of Barons Court Theatre promotes the latest film featuring Posh Actor. It is innocuous enough and nothing exceptional, but behind it lies a story and relationship that forms the substance of Theo Hristov’s Working Class Hero, in which he plays opposite Oscar Nicholson.

Light-hearted, energetic and comic approach to a story that makes serious points.

Despite their friendship, the divide between them is evident from the outset. Nicholson plays the white, privately educated Posh Actor with the air of privilege and entitlement as though it were his birthright. Hristov plays the character Posh naturally looks down on – a working-class Bulgarian immigrant struggling to make a name for himself in a world where the odds are stacked against him. The script he has written was intended for himself to play, but those who pull the industry strings have other ideas. Posh has decided the role is for him and relishes the challenge and fun of performing in a ‘gritty’ independent film set ‘up North’ with ‘an outrageous accent’ and ‘red hair’. He has no problem with usurping the identity of others, compromising himself and undermining his friend. Those in the industry respond to his charm and confidence, and so he is cast.

Working Class Hero adopts the style of satirical sketch comedy, with SNL scenes and nods to absurdism, combined with plot twists, silly wigs, multiple accents and a host of characters. Some tense moments are woven into the overall light-hearted, energetic and comic approach to a story that makes serious points about how the industry and British class system operate.

The play opens up important issues and, with development, there is material for another play, possibly a sequel – a story that delves more deeply into the impact of events on their relationship. At the same time, the focus in this work might be tightened without losing any of the fun.

Under the title of Migrant Class Hero the play transfers to Pleasance for the 5th and 6th of December and is well worth checking out.

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Performances

The Blurb:

"You’re not working class. You’re Bulgarian. You weren’t even born in this country."

Set in present day London, the play follows two actors and best friends Posh Actor and Stephan. As one is beset by opportunity because he has the right background and accent and the other struggles to get a break, their friendship strains under the weight of typecasting, systemic bias and social expectations.