My favourite show of 2023 returns bigger, better and buffer than before – Police Cops: the Musical plays Southwark Playhouse Elephant – don’t miss it
“‘AmeriCAN’T? More like AmeriCAN”
It is no understatement to say that I enjoyed Police Cops: The Musical immensely when I saw it last year, to the point that I ranked it as my favourite of the year. News of its return, albeit to Southwark Playhouse’s Elephant venue this time, thus gladdened my heart, not least because as with the films such as Airplane and The Naked Gun that have provided so much inspiration, the fast-paced humour and inordinate gag rate means that rewatching is indisputably repaid.
With music by Ben Adams and book and lyrics by Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson and Tom Roe, who also co-star along with Natassia Bustamante and Melinda Orengo, the show has had a 2024 glow-up with new songs and jokes added, plus more lucky egg drama, but crucially it has maintained that madcap energy that means practically every scene feels like it is on the edge of collapse into chaos and corpsing. I’ve caught the show twice in this new run and each time I’ve been helpless with laughter at different things.
If that doesn’t convince you, check out the video below for the general vibe of the show.
