Review: Bad Science at HOME is ‘a chaotic but brilliant political satire that hits all the right notes’

Switch_MCR returns to HOME theatres as part of the PUSH 2025 Festival, a celebration of North West creatives with their new show, Bad Science, a darkly satirical look behind the scenes into the mad world of British politics.

The plot follows three politicians and their own misguided journey into the world of psychiatry, with the audience being brought along for the ride as a focus group.

Bad Science at HOME

After being tasked by the Prime Minister to try and stop the waves of protestors outside no.10 Downing Street, the politicians pull on their lab coats and decide to create a new psychiatric diagnosis as a moral panic so they can control the British public.

They enlist the help of a focus group (the audience) and with the help of the politicians’ improv skills and the creative captions on a video screen, their plan seems to be a success until a whistleblower leaks their study to the press with disastrous results for the politicians’ careers.

The play is short but sweet as the three politicians try and fail to get a hold on the political scandal that they themselves created, but it makes for a fun watch and the cast’s improv skills make for a strong showing as they take the audience suggestions for comedic effect in a play with a setup that isn’t that hard to believe, given the amount of scandals in British politics in recent years.

An effective political satire

Creating political satire that can make the audience laugh is a difficult task especially in today’s current political climate but the actors of Switch_MCR manage it successfully.

The cast brings their fun chaotic energy to their charming but buffoonish roles as politicians, that makes for a fun and engaging show that pokes fun at the current state of British politics.

Directed by Giulia Grillo and Rosa Hallam Fryer

Directed by Giulia Grillo and Rosa Hallam Fryer, Bad Science – A work in progress is a short yet fun ride with a runtime of under 60 mins. The show is very fast paced with scenes broken up by fun dance numbers with flashing lights performed effectively by the cast.

While the plot may sound hard to follow, the talented trio of cast members (Emily Bold, Sara Abanur, and understudy James Skull) all play their parts very well and make it easy for audiences to understand.

It’s more political imbeciles than political intrigues and it is fun to watch for the audience as the bumbling politicians stumble through their self-made crises and a disastrous press conference that doesn’t stray too far from reality.

Tickets for Bad Science at HOME

Bad Science is currently showing at HOME Manchester until the 28th January, tickets can be bought here