Acid Reign ★★★★★

Acid Reign ★★★★★

Acid’s Reign: The Revolution Will Be Fabulous

There are Fringe shows, and then there are productions that make you question whether they have accidentally wandered in from a West End stage. Acid Reign sits firmly in the latter category.

This is slick, intelligent, funny theatre, delivered by a skilled cast operating at an extraordinarily high calibre. The comedic timing is bang on point, while the vocals are genuinely outstanding. At times, you find yourself asking: is it still drag when it is this bloody good? More importantly, is it still Fringe when a production feels this polished?

And then there is Victoria Scone.

Victoria Scone’s performance is a 15/10. As an AFAB drag queen who has continually pushed expectations of what drag can be, this is quite simply the best performance I have ever seen from them. There is confidence, precision, exceptional comedic timing and complete command of the stage. Scone doesn’t just lead the production; they absolutely devour it.

The strength extends across the cast, with some seriously impressive performances and facial expressions capable of cleaning up an oil slick. Every raised eyebrow, grimace and perfectly timed reaction squeezes another comedic beat from an already sharp and well-written script.

But Acid Reign isn’t relying on camp and spectacle alone.

Alex and Rhea take us on a journey through fame, friendship, selling out and the uncomfortable compromises that can come with success. Underneath the comedy sits a powerful examination of capitalism, climate change and the complexities of friendship, alongside something particularly resonant for queer audiences: a heteronormative world that would seemingly prefer the queer people and minorities it doesn’t understand to simply disappear.

And how, as queer people, do we respond to that?

There is an enormous amount packed into the running time, yet the storyline maintains a strong flow. It is funny when it needs to be, but also gives its bigger themes enough room to become genuinely reflective.

The set and lighting design further elevate the production and are impressively realised for a Fringe environment. The only potential challenge is practical: a production this visually developed may prove difficult to replicate on a traditional Fringe touring circuit without sacrificing some of its impact.

Acid Reign is funny, political, reflective, gloriously queer and almost absurdly polished. It has the irreverence you want from drag while demonstrating just how sophisticated drag-led theatre can be.

Quite frankly, this could move onto a West End stage tomorrow.

★★★★★