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Dungeons 'n' Bastards: An Adam Riches Gameshow

 
Laura Tucker Review by Laura Tucker 3 Published: 21 Aug 2023 Monkey Barrel Comedy Show Dates: 17 Aug 2023-27 Aug 2023

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.

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The Blurb:

Join Lord Sean of House Bean as he invites you deep inside his dungeon lair to throw down the gauntlet and challenge you to a series of quests, questions and quaudience quinteractions. Think Pat Sharp’s Fun House meets Krull in the show TV commissioners will soon be calling ‘a hard pass’. Trigger warning – might contain triggers (of the crossbow variety). 'A unique experience' ***** (Scotsman). 'There’s no-one else quite like him’ ***** (Independent). ‘The ballsiest audience-interactor on the Fringe’ ***** (Telegraph). ‘An uproarious night of interactive tomfoolery' **** (Guardian).