8 Aug 2026
Fly, You Fools – ★★★☆☆
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if The Lord of the Rings was distilled into a whirlwind of chaos, cabaret and rapid-fire comedy, Fly, You Fools has the answer. This quirky four-person parody throws itself headfirst into Middle-earth with just the right balance of silly and stupid, never pretending to be anything more than a joyful excuse to chase the next gag.
The cast barely stops moving as they swap characters at lightning speed, with one performer doubling as narrator and live sound-effects machine before diving into the action themselves. The pace is relentless, packing in joke after joke with an infectious energy that keeps the audience engaged throughout.
That said, this is a show made unapologetically for Lord of the Rings devotees. If you know every quote, every hobbit and every journey to Mordor, you’ll likely find plenty to laugh at. As someone who isn’t a die-hard fan, I could feel many of the references sailing straight over my head. If you’ve never read the books or watched the films, much of the humour simply won’t land, making it difficult to connect with the show.
For Tolkien fans, this will probably feel like an affectionate love letter filled with inside jokes. For everyone else, it’s harder to recommend.
★★★☆☆