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735

 
Nicholas Abrams Review by Nicholas Abrams 2 Published: 19 May 2026 The Rotunda Theatre: Bubble Show Dates: 2 May 2026-16 May 2026

Anyone who’s ever sat through a team-building seminar, a mandatory training session, or a manager enthusiastically explaining “workplace culture” will recognise the world of 735 almost immediately. Thomas Pagett’s one-man corporate satire drops us into the life of an employee known only by a number, endlessly completing pointless tasks while an unseen manager issues instructions from above. It’s an idea with clear comic and thematic potential, even if the execution struggles to sustain it.

Corporate satire that outstays its lunch break

Pagett regularly recruits audience members to play co-workers, eventually leaving five slighty uncomfortable volunteers stranded on stage for much of the performance. I particularly felt for the first participant, brought up within the opening minutes and seemingly trapped there until the end. One poor soul spent a substantial portion of the show sitting silently in a ball pit, which perhaps says more about Fringe endurance than corporate oppression.

Audience interaction always carries risks, especially when your scene partners aren’t trained performers. Conversations became difficult to follow as volunteers understandably failed to project their voices — though Pagett himself often struggled to cut through the cavernous acoustics and background rumble of the Rotunda. Large stretches of dialogue simply disappeared into the tent ceiling.

The satire itself is hardly subtle: modern work is repetitive, corporations treat employees as disposable, and managerial language is deeply absurd. Fair enough. But the show spends close to an hour circling this single idea without ever really developing it further. By the time 735 finally quits and is immediately replaced by another audience member, the message has long since submitted its resignation letter.

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The future of working life, today! We here at Corporate Management Solutions are delighted to invite you - yes, you - to attend one of our exclusive, behind-the-scenes presentations of the proper workplace of the not-too-distant future. Do you want the inside track to your success in the upcoming corporate utopia? Are you desperate to go above and beyond for a business that cares deeply about pretending to care about you? Perhaps a lazy, lollygagging loser wanting to turn your fortunes around? Or just in need of passing an hour in an exciting fashion? Whether you're any of the above or none at all, get your tickets ASAP for a uniquely entertaining and engaging experience you won't soon forget! Written and Performed by Tom Pagett, originally developed at the University of Chichester, before being redeveloped with the help of Lighthouse Poole's Sanctuary scheme.