Channelling Westeros with a lower-budget wardrobe, Adam Riches brings his Game of Thrones themed game show to an audience of ‘bastards’.
A disorderly gameshow that wins us over with Riches’ winning charisma
While the show has its hitches, including easels that don’t stay up and an audience that has no concept of blocking, Riches wins us over early on with his louder-than-life Lord Stark character who authoritatively demands our participation. Keen audience involvement means that momentum suffers at points but competitive chants of Sean and Bean on either side of the room serve to fill the gaps.
Without the crowd’s readiness to get involved and covered in vegan ham, Dungeons & Bastards would fall flat. Thanks to Riches’ impressive authority of the crowd, however, the show manages to scrape by as enjoyable, despite the unoriginal gameplay that lacks any reference to Dungeons & Dragons.
Though Riches himself states that Dungeons & Bastards is un-reviewable, the post-10pm scheduling means that the crowd is ready to forgive its faults. Judging by the warm stench of his faux-fur cape and rasping voice, Riches has had a heavy Fringe thus far, consisting of alcohol, cigarettes, and throwing his voice to sell-out audiences. You may choose either to admire his dedication or call out his folly.
Come expecting a level of ridiculousness that will make your jaw ache from either laughing or grimacing, all dependent on your tolerance for silliness. Alcohol advised.
