• Review For Us
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • VAULT Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews
Grey Widow at VAULT Festival

Grey Widow at VAULT Festival

VAULT Festival Review: Grey Widow

“Grey Widow is a devilishly delightful and wickedly witty treat to be savoured”

by Lisamarie Lamb
March 16, 2023
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Four Star Review from Theatre WeeklyThe story behind Grey Widow, a one-queen drag/horror/comedy performed by Lady Aria Grey (AKA Callum Tilbury), is a simple one. At first. Lady Aria has murdered her husband, although there is quite a bit more to it than that. 

The why and how of this murder are kept secret from the audience when we first meet, but as this beautifully rendered monologue soon points out, we’re all friends here. So, she’ll tell us the secrets of her life, his death, and everything in between – and after, come to that. Lady Aria says we are her friends, and we certainly want to be, so we listen and hang on her every word, no matter how dark it gets. 

There is a lot of excellence in this show. It combines all the best elements of drag (including plenty of lip-syncing to the venerated Edith Piaf and plenty of near-the-knuckle humour) and adds a dash of horror that creeps up on you. It’s all fun and games at first, but suddenly you realise that the atmosphere has changed. 

       

There’s a dark shadow looming up behind the story, and who – or perhaps what – is casting that shadow is anyone’s guess, but it certainly keeps the audience on their toes. 

This is the cleverness of Grey Widow. The tone shifts with ease, tugging the audience along with it before they know quite what’s happened or where they are. This is partly down to Lady Aria herself. She has a stage presence that transcends the intimate space she is speaking in, and I feel that even on a larger stage, none of the storytelling would be lost. 

You mightalso like

Melonade at VAULT Festival

VAULT Festival Review: Melonade

Vault Festival

VAULT Festival celebrates a record breaking year as it closes its doors for the last time in its original home

Lady Aria Grey can captivate the audience with a look, a half-smile, a cheeky wink, and some unwavering eye contact, even when she’s telling them all about the terrible things she’s done, or wants to do. The audience is happy to go along with her, laughing one moment and listening intently to a furiously frustrated tirade the next. 

Another reason that Grey Widow enthrals is the lighting and sound design. This has been well thought out, and the clever use of sound effects as well as music deepens the intrigue and the sense of dread that grows as the story unfolds. The lighting was particularly impressive; at one point, Lady Aria is lit just by candles, and the creepy factor is ramped up to eleven. 

Grey Widow is a devilishly delightful and wickedly witty treat to be savoured. 

VAULT Festival 2023 runs Tuesday 24th January to Sunday 19th March, full listings and ticket information can be found here.

       
Lisamarie Lamb

Lisamarie Lamb

Lisamarie Lamb is a novelist, freelance writer, and content creator. Her interest in theatre started with her first panto at three years old and is now something of an obsession.

Related Articles

Melonade at VAULT Festival
Reviews

VAULT Festival Review: Melonade

Vault Festival
News

VAULT Festival celebrates a record breaking year as it closes its doors for the last time in its original home

Sluts With Consoles at VAULT Festival
Reviews

VAULT Festival Review: Sluts With Consoles

Gush at VAULT Festival
Reviews

VAULT Festival Review: Gush

Poison Hate and Vitriol at VAULT Festival
Reviews

VAULT Festival Review: Poison, Hate and Vitriol

Earth to Kurt at VAULT Festival
Reviews

VAULT Festival Review: Earth to Kurt

Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Luke Newton and Amber Anderson

Initial Casting Announced For The First Major Revival In 20 Years Of Neil Labute’s The Shape Of Things

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher Cast

Cast And Creative Team Announced For The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher at The Watermill Theatre

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • VAULT Festival 2023
    • Vault Previews
    • VAULT Reviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly