Buy cheap tickets for Boozr
The Pyramids of Margate

While the BBC's iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who is currently one of the biggest, most popular shows on television at the moment - and it's likely to be everywhere this November, when it marks its 50th anniversary - the clichés of the Doctor Who geek (or 'Whovian', as they've become known) remain strong. David Kennedy, the focus of this one man play written and performed by Martin Stewart, certainly lives up to those expectations: he's forty, single, works in IT (for Thanet District Council), is ever-so-slightly fixated on the 1970’s Doctor Who of his childhood and has social difficulties when it comes to most one-to-one, face-to-face interactions - though especially those with a rather beautiful young Polish woman at work called 'Aggie'. His ineptitude when it comes to making small-talk is underlined even more by his other chief obsession, the search for the radio 'noise' from the sky which suggests that there is intelligent life out there. He's a 'Setizen', offering up his laptop's spare data crunching capacity most evenings to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in the hope of discovering the biggest conversation ever.

Down on planet Earth, though, David has problems, not least whether he's just messed up his one chance of a date with Aggie after his over-the-top impersonation of a 1973 Doctor Who villain called Omega, during an after-work drinks session. This highlights writer Martin Stewart's perceptive use of Doctor Who's iconography, given that Omega has, at that point, just discovered that he no longer physically exists - important, since David himself admits to feeling black and white compared to everyone else's high definition Technicolor.

Delivered as a lively, stage-filling monologue, The Pyramids of Margate is the heartfelt story of a lonely man still attempting to cope with the loss of his mother nine months earlier, retreating either into memories of his one attempt at writing a Doctor Who script or his childhood enjoyment of 'Journey Into Space', his favourite ride in Margate's long-since abandoned pleasure park, Dreamland. Either that, or his hopeful dreams of historic glory when, against all statistical evidence to the contrary, he is the one who helps prove the existence of alien intelligence in the universe.

Martin Stewart's script is tight and, for the most part, very good at showing rather telling; also, while the included 'facts' about Doctor Who are pin-point accurate, you don't actually need to be a Whovian to enjoy David Kennedy's story. As a performer, Stewart is good at engaging with the audience, a lively, sweating presence who generates real sympathy for his character's foibles and fractured dreams. Which makes it a slight shame that the whole show ends with something of a whimper; a switch to gratuitous info-dumping which isn't quite gratuitous enough to make it fully work.

Reviews by Paul Fisher Cockburn

Paradise in The Vault

The Wellbrick Centre on Roswell Drive

★★★
Church Hill Theatre

The Outrun

★★★
Summerhall

One of Two

★★★★
Scottish Storytelling Centre

Moira in Lockdown

★★★★★

Since you’re here…

… we have a small favour to ask. We don't want your money to support a hack's bar bill at Abattoir, but if you have a pound or two spare, we really encourage you to support a good cause. If this review has either helped you discover a gem or avoid a turkey, consider doing some good that will really make a difference.

You can donate to the charity of your choice, but if you're looking for inspiration, there are three charities we really like.

Mama Biashara
Kate Copstick’s charity, Mama Biashara, works with the poorest and most marginalised people in Kenya. They give grants to set up small, sustainable businesses that bring financial independence and security. That five quid you spend on a large glass of House White? They can save someone’s life with that. And the money for a pair of Air Jordans? Will take four women and their fifteen children away from a man who is raping them and into a new life with a moneymaking business for Mum and happiness for the kids.
Donate to Mama Biashara now

Theatre MAD
The Make A Difference Trust fights HIV & AIDS one stage at a time. Their UK and International grant-making strategy is based on five criteria that raise awareness, educate, and provide care and support for the most vulnerable in society. A host of fundraising events, including Bucket Collections, Late Night Cabarets, West End Eurovision, West End Bares and A West End Christmas continue to raise funds for projects both in the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Donate to Theatre MAD now

Acting For Others
Acting for Others provides financial and emotional support to all theatre workers in times of need through the 14 member charities. During the COVID-19 crisis Acting for Others have raised over £1.7m to support theatre workers affected by the pandemic.
Donate to Acting For Others now

Performances

The Blurb

Doctor Who obsessive seeks alien life for fun and possibly more. GSOH. Will David succeed in his search for extraterrestrial intelligence? Or will he find earthly happiness with the beautiful Polish girl from accounts? Sci-fi tragicomedy.
Buy cheap West End theatre tickets
Buy cheap tickets for Boozr

Most Popular See More

Buy cheap tickets for Stranger Things : The First Shadow
Stranger Things : The First Shadow

From £37.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Cabaret
Cabaret

From £37.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for TINA: The Tina Turner Musical
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical

From £13.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Magic Mike Live
Magic Mike Live

From £48.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Wicked
Wicked

From £31.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Six
Six

From £42.00

More Info

Find Tickets

Buy cheap tickets for Sabrage
Buy cheap tickets for Evita
Buy cheap tickets for Barmy Britain
Buy cheap tickets for Spies
Buy cheap tickets for Born With Teeth
Buy cheap tickets for The Producers
Buy cheap tickets for The King of Pangea
Buy cheap tickets for Into The Woods
Buy cheap West End theatre tickets
Buy cheap West End theatre tickets