REVIEW: Storehouse at Deptford Storehouse, London.
- Richard Brown
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Since 1983, the internet has provided us with so much information. What if there was a hidden archive where you could see every message, meme, tweet, or article that has ever been posted which has been gathered by an underground collective? Sage and Jester's production of Storehouse grants you access to this world in its punchy, immersive theatre experience.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What is Storehouse?
When I stood outside the metal gates of Deptford Storehouse, adorned with barbed wire along the top, I began to question my life choices of how I ended up in this situation. There was a nervous/excited feeling in the air, as many of us did not know what we had signed up for. But once we entered, it was clear that Sage and Jester had not only thought about the experience but also the logistics.
Storehouse is, within itself, a huge undertaking. A massive warehouse in which Alice Helps (Production Designer) and her team have created a spectacular immersive theatre experience, where audiences walk from setting to setting exploring the story around them. The lavish sets are built with plenty of detail, complimented by lighting and sound by Ben Donoghue and James Bulley respectively. Through these elements and along with performers, we learn that perhaps this hidden archive is losing its control, as cracks and leaks begin to show. It is down to the audience to get involved to help the many characters we meet, before it is too late.
And although the execution is well done, with very little technical difficulties at the performance I saw, a minor issue I had was with the concept. Fact checking and how we receive our information and news is an important topic, especially in the world we are in now, but with 20 minutes of explanation, some of my pod (or group) were none the wiser. The complexity of the content may turn off the average general public member. Towards the end of the performance, the plot becomes muddy, as the audience attention span dwindled.
The Performances in Storehouse
The issue of confusion (or perhaps tuning out) was greatly decreased by the energetic performances from the cast. A unique aspect of Storehouse is that, depending on your pod, you could have different performers. Elizabeth Hollingshead, Nat Kennedy and Rob Leetham led our pod through the labyrinth of mazes that is this show. An area in which they excelled in was that they never allowed the absurdness of the large set pieces (or the complex storyline) to pull away from their performances. Constantly in control, the audience felt very safe with them. They also had tender moments in their performance, which elevated this production.
They were joined by Chris Agha, whose character appeared in one room, but did not reappear. This is slightly disjointed, given that the other characters met face to face in the final scene.
Is Storehouse Worth Seeing?
Judging from the reactions from my pod when we entered each stunning space that has been created, I would be recommending Storehouse as a production to experience for the setting alone. The plot can be difficult to follow, however the setting and performances really elevate it. As someone who has never experienced immersive theatre before, I was truly taken aback by the scale of the production. I look forward to seeing what Sage and Jester do next, I will be the first in line!
Ticket Information and Show Times for Storehouse in London.
Storehouse runs from the Wednesday 4th June until Saturday 20th September 2025 at the Deptford Storehouse, Off New King Street, Grove Street, London, SE8 3AA. Tickets can be purchased through their website https://sageandjester.com/shows/storehouse/ or additional ticketing sites (See My Article on this here!)
Location: Deptford Storehouse, Off New King Street, Grove Street, London, SE8 3AA.
Date of Review: 11th June
Star Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Disclaimer: I was invited to review this show as part of the Press Night on 11th of June. All views are my own and we're not influenced by the invite.
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