27 – 28 May
Mediocre White Male heads to The Wardrobe Theatre
following 5-star Edinburgh run
The Wardrobe Theatre, The Old Market Assembly, 25 West Street, Old
Market, Bristol, BS2 0DF
Friday 27th May & Saturday 28th May 2022, 19.30
Going over ancient history…it’s not healthy.
Following glowing reviews at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Shedinburgh 2021, a revitalised
production of Mediocre White Male will come to The Wardrobe Theatre on 27th and 28th May.
Now joined by exciting producers Metal Rabbit Productions (Radiant Vermin, Soho Theatre;
Spiderfly, Theatre 503), the updated production includes brand new sound and lighting design,
taking it to the next level.
A tragicomedy about ancient history, recent past and present lies, Mediocre White Male follows
the 30-year-old central character, still living in the same town and trapped working in a
crumbling tourist attraction. He longs for a simpler time of Pokemon cards, school nicknames
and stable pronouns, a time when he could open his mouth without offending a colleague… But
nostalgia is always dangerous… With the living statue he has played for a decade threatened
with cancellation, and with a figure from his past returning to haunt him, it might just be time to
face up to some uncomfortable truths.
In between musings on shit jobs and filling dead time, Mediocre White Male slips in a searing
portrait of male anger, fragility and vulnerability, touching on wider themes about being left
behind in a small community, feeling abandoned as the world changes, and feeling confused in
the face of a progressive agenda you don’t fully understand. How do we handle the increasing
anger and detachment felt across British society, where town is pitted against city, tradition
against ‘woke-ism’ and he/him faces off against she/her/they/them.
As society grapples with how to deal with its wider history of abuse, colonialism and uncaring
capitalism, the protagonist (a relatable, complex and conflicted character) must deal with his
own historical misdeeds, mistakes and demons.
Writers Will Close (Dave Comedy Award winner 2013; member of 1927 theatre company), who
also performs, and Joe von Malachowski (Hero, Theatre Royal Stratford East) conceived the
show while reflecting on high school experiences and how, in a small-town ecosystem, no one
challenged the behaviour of older men pursuing younger girls. Co-Producer Sofi Berenger
comments, After seeing Mediocre White Male and programming it for Shedinburgh 2021, I
knew it would be a great fit at Wardrobe and I’m really excited Metal Rabbit Productions is
able to join the team. Will & Joe’s fantastic writing is poignant, funny and nuanced and Will’s
fantastic comedic timing really brings the role to life on stage. We can’t wait to bring this show
to Wardrobe.
Writer / Performer Will Close
Writer Joe von Malachowski
Designer Holly Piggot
Costume Maker Bryony Attwood
Sound Designer Dominic Brennan
Producers Sofi Berenger, Oli Seymour, & George Warren for Metal Rabbit
Tickets are available from: https://thewardrobetheatre.com/livetheatre/mediocre-white-male/
