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Hot Rubber

 
Madeleine Sanderson Review by Madeleine Sanderson 4 Published: 10 Aug 2024 Gilded Balloon Patter House Show Dates: 9 Aug 2024-23 Aug 2024

I’m not sure who came up with Hot Rubber’s concept of combining the children’s table-top racing game Scaletrix with a stand up comedy variety show, but after watching the show in Gilded Balloon’s Patter House, I’m so glad they did. The format of the show is this: Hudson Hughes and Imogen Trusselle host four comedians, each pair performing a stand-up set before racing customised cars against one another on a hand-assembled Scaletrix track, with the two winners engaging in a final showdown.

Hot Rubber ensures that, for audience, cast and crew alike, there is never a dull moment

In terms of tech, Hot Rubber’s production value is off the charts. From the show’s live synth musicians, to the high-octane cgi opening montage and editable video-game graphics appearing live on screen behind the comedians and the track, the use of visual gags is comprehensive, and its video game and TV references are nostalgic are well-considered. The track, staying true to the Scaletrix format of the show, had clearly been hand-assembled, which added an air of rustic charm that amplified the show’s laid-back late-night atmosphere and prevented it from feeling over-polished, even if the set’s rudimentary structure made the comedians’ race cars liable to fly off, bump into one another or stick to the track - moments that eventually became a little repetitive when they were generally played out in the same way.

The line-up changes with each show, and tonight's included Luke Nixon, Jen Nolan, Alex Franklin and Mikey Bligh-Smith, with Nixon and Bligh-Smith paired for the concluding battle. Hughes and Trusselle's comedy was light on its feet even during the track’s technical difficulties. Nixon’s charming self-deprecation quickly got the audience on side, and Nolan’s observational comedy packed a punch. However, it was Franklin, armed with a powerpoint disparaging their rival, and Bligh-Smith dressed head-to-toe as Bart Simpson, who were best able to match Hot Rubber’s high energy and absurdity. The latter’s cast of zany characters - from the ghost of deceased Dickensian-style racer ‘Lappy’ to a clear parody of Top Gear’s The Stig - not only reinforced the excitement and wackiness of the show, but provided it with a structure that enable its more spontaneous moments to shine. Hot Rubber ensures that, for audience, cast and crew alike, there is never a dull moment.

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The Blurb:

The world's only late-night Scalextric tournament/comedy show. Four comedians have decked out their cars, ready for victory or destruction on the race track. The winner of each race takes one step closer to glory, the loser has their car smashed with a baseball bat. Hosted by Imogen Trusselle and Hudson Hughes with live music from our house band Formula One Direction.