The Treason Show celebrated its 25th anniversary with a performance at the Grand, in Brighton, on Saturday night (22 November).
The satirical songs and sketches mocked politicians, royals and other personalities from the past 25 years as well as some from the present day.
Other familiar targets included Southern trains, Southern Water, the i360 and Brighton and Hove City Council. There was a “Brief Encounter” and “Murder on the Gatwick Express”.
Sketches about Tony Blair and George W Bush were resurrected, the latter being introduced to President Hu of China in a style that fans of Abbott and Costello would know and love.
There were former Tory leaders aplenty from Rishi Sunak and the robotic dancing queen Theresa May to Michael Howard and a Trevor Howard-like David Cameron, smarming and saying: “Ding-dong!” Boris Johnson may have been mentioned and Liz Truss, albeit briefly.
There were several gags that have run through the shows for years – such as a PA announcing a visitor to a president or prime minister and being told: “Send him in, Chlamydia.”
Original cast member Mark Katz played on his veteran status with one of the show’s running gags –sing the opening line to memorable songs such as Unforgettable, As Time Goes By (You Must Remember This) and Don’t You Forget About Me – then going blank.
As well as familiar faces on stage, there were plenty in the audience too including writers from down the years and a smattering of local politicians past and present.
Back on the stage, among the audience favourites were Sir Patrick Moore, making a celestial visit courtesy of Daniel Beales, with the customary gag about a probe of Uranus, and a reel from Alex Salmond (Salmond, Where’s Your Troosers?), performed energetically by Mark Brailsford.
No one knew whether Brailsford, the show’s founder and director, was attired like a true Scotsman under his kilt and, on this rather special occasion, no one got to see.
A cheer greeted the Treason Spielen Schau – a Eurotrash-style segment that has been a popular staple of the show.
In “Cabarexit”, Brailsford revived his take on Angela Merkel in a Brexit medley that was rooted in the musical Cabaret, accompanied by some fine acting, singing and dancing talent, including cast regular Sophia Behn.
Paddington had a run in with immigration officials, the pandas at Edinburgh Zoo faced a flight to Rwanda and Selena Mersey revived Jackanory, reading the “Big Friendly Migrant”. It’s not hard to guess which way the show’s writers and audience broadly lean.
Covid returned. And Donald Trump had a love in with Vladimir Putin – always bare-chested in the Treason Show – and they were even joined by Sir Keir Starmer.
Away from politics, there was Ikea – sung to the tune of Maria – as part of a medley on the same theme from West Side Story.
And a fondly remembered song about the Turner Prize was revived, having been first performed when the show was based at Komedia. The tune is Total Eclipse of the Heart.
There are plenty of good lines in the build up, not least those referring to Tracey Emin and Damian Hirst. But the pay-off line tops them all – spoiler alert – “It’s totally shite modern art.”
And the Treason Show is art – and craft. Quick costume changes, topical one-liners and punchlines and, on this occasion, plenty of nostalgia.
It’s irreverent – and yet the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip both seem to be played with at least a measure of warmth and affection.
And 25 years on from its debut – with contributions from a fine array of writers and performers – and a farewell to long-serving production stage manager Katy Matthews – there’s no shortage of people and things to satirise.
As with the end of year shows, the 25th anniversary performance opened to the tune of Waterloo by Abba and ended with Brighton Rhapsody – set to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
Again, it’s not all bite. Whatever the targets may be, the sympathy in the humour is very much with and for those living in “our heaven by the sea”.
Looking forward, this year’s end of year show – That Was The Year That Was – is at the Con Club, in Lewes, as well as Ironworks, in Brighton, and the Ropetackle, in Shoreham. For the dates and times and more details and to buy tickets, click here.
Brailsford is also performing Parodies Lost at the Prince Albert in a few weeks’ time. It’s been described as Weird Al Yankovitch meets Spitting Image via Spinal Tap. For details and to buy tickets, click here.
