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Poppies

 
Max Allen Review by Max Allen 4 Published: 1 Apr 2026 Camden People's Theatre Show Dates: 27 Mar 2026-27 Mar 2026

In an age of on-the-nose commentary and spoon-fed, often bludgeoned messaging, Poppies offers a refreshingly nuanced exploration of toxic masculinity, colonialism, and identity. It delivers humour, provocation, and emotional depth, all while embedding its themes within a believable friendship and spirited debate.

A compelling piece of theatre, rich in both ingenuity and heart

The play centres on a conversation between two friends: Jim, who is English, and Johnjoe, who is Irish. Their discussion of the poppy serves as the focal point, while their personal relationship and the tensions of the outside world simmer beneath the surface. A glance at the programme reveals that the characters share names with their writers and performers, suggesting an autobiographical undercurrent. This proximity to the material lends the piece an authenticity that strips away any sense of theatrical artifice. What we watch feels lived rather than performed.

The range of subjects explored is as expansive and layered as the history between England and Ireland. As a Canadian, I found the discussion both enlightening and engaging, offering insight into a complex and often painful shared past. From potatoes to bombs, the characters exchange arguments, insults, and unexpected moments of tenderness with abandon, creating a raucous and illuminating theatrical experience.

Poppies is a compelling piece of theatre, rich in both ingenuity and heart. It embraces the full artistry of the stage, occasionally stepping beyond dialogue into more stylised sequences that deepen its impact. It is a production that lingers, and one that will undoubtedly shape how I think about the poppy come Remembrance Day.

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The Blurb:

Best friends address what the Poppy represents to their respective heritage and navigate their way through this historic subject matter and the British Empire’s devastating, lasting impact in Ireland.

Johnjoe and Jim clash over the wearing of a poppy. The best friends address what the symbol represents to their respective heritage and attempt to navigate their way through this historic subject matter in relation to their friendship and the British Empire’s devastating, lasting impact in Ireland and how this affects their relationship.

This naturalistic conversation develops into surreal hypotheticals that explore autonomy, societal expectations and childhood memories. Amidst this, their relationship falters as they both realise they are fundamentally different people . Poppies depicts a modern day tragedy of stubbornness, repressed anger and identity in a time where this lack of footing soft launches so many young men into dangerous ideals.