Some Masterchef Sh*t: Award-Winning Dark Comedy Makes London Debut at The Glitch

One of the most talked-about fringe plays of recent years is finally heading to the capital. Some Masterchef Sh*t, an award-winning dark comedy that uses a queer lens to reimagine one of modern history's most shocking crimes, will make its London debut at The Glitch in Maida Vale from 24 to 29 June 2025. If you're a fan of theatre that refuses to play by the rules, this is one to mark in your diary.

The play arrives in London with a trail of five-star reviews and an audience-voted prize from Manchester's OffCut short-play competition in 2023. Since then, it has enjoyed critically acclaimed runs in Manchester in 2024 and at Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, earning a reputation as a piece of writing that is as fearless as it is wickedly funny.

What Is Some Masterchef Sh*t About?

The premise is deceptively simple. Two men meet in a coffee shop after connecting online. Their conversation is fizzy and charming: they discuss everything from coffee preferences to Laverne Cox, and the relative merits of Courtney Act versus Ann Widdecombe on the 2018 series of Celebrity Big Brother. The nervous energy between them crackles. Is this a first date? A job interview? A hookup? The play delights in making you guess, then pulls the rug out entirely.

Without giving too much away, Some Masterchef Sh*t takes a sharp, unexpected turn into far darker territory. Drawing on a real and deeply disturbing crime, the play explores what it means to live life on autopilot and asks how far someone might go in the name of "doing something nice for someone." The title's cheeky nod to cooking shows takes on a deeply unsettling double meaning as the story unfolds. As the production's own tagline puts it: "Man-meat meets mental health."

Critics have been effusive. ILoveManchester.com called it "delightfully unpredictable and darkly hilarious," while NorthWestEnd.co.uk praised it as "exciting, clever and original," awarding five stars. The Spy In The Stalls described the writing as "delicate, tight" with "lightning-quick dialogue and refreshingly honest, natural banter," also giving it five stars.

Why Fringe Theatre Matters More Than Ever

London's fringe scene has always been a crucible for bold, boundary-pushing work, and Some Masterchef Sh*t is a perfect example of why audiences should look beyond the West End for thrilling new writing. While big-budget musicals and star-studded revivals dominate the headlines, it is often in smaller spaces that the most provocative, original storytelling takes place.

The Glitch, located at 167 Saltram Crescent in London's W9 postcode, is exactly the kind of intimate venue where a two-hander like this can land with maximum impact. There is something uniquely electric about seeing a play that deals with taboo subject matter in a space where you can practically feel the breath of the performers. Fringe venues strip away the safety net of scale, and for a piece as confrontational and surprising as this one, that intimacy is essential.

For those who love discovering new shows before they hit the mainstream, fringe transfers like this offer the best value for money and the biggest dramatic surprises in the city. Many of London's biggest theatrical success stories, from Fleabag to The Play That Goes Wrong, started life in exactly these kinds of rooms.

From Manchester and Edinburgh to London

The journey of Some Masterchef Sh*t is a textbook example of how the UK's regional and festival circuit can nurture a piece of work to the point where it's ready for a London audience. The play first made waves at OffCut, Manchester's competitive short-play showcase, where it won the audience vote in 2023. That kind of grassroots validation is worth its weight in gold, because it means real theatregoers, not just critics or industry insiders, connected with the work.

Following its OffCut success, the play was developed further for a full run in Manchester in 2024, where it continued to attract enthusiastic reviews and sell-out audiences. The natural next step was the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2025, the world's largest arts festival and the ultimate proving ground for new theatre. Edinburgh audiences, famously discerning and spoiled for choice, gave it the same warm reception.

Now, the London debut represents another significant milestone. Making the leap from fringe festivals to a London run is a challenge that many shows never manage, so the fact that Some Masterchef Sh*t has built enough momentum to make it here speaks volumes about its quality and its ability to connect with diverse audiences.

What the Critics Have Said

The critical response has been remarkably consistent: reviewers have praised both the sharpness of the writing and the production's ability to balance genuine comedy with deeply uncomfortable subject matter. Here is a snapshot of the praise the show has received:

"Delightfully unpredictable and darkly hilarious" — ILoveManchester.com

"Exciting, clever and original" — NorthWestEnd.co.uk (five stars)

"Infused with delicate, tight writing, lightning-quick dialogue, and refreshingly honest, natural banter" — The Spy In The Stalls (five stars)

That combination of unpredictability and craftsmanship is rare. Dark comedies often struggle to hold both halves of their identity in balance: lean too far into the horror and you lose the laughs; prioritise jokes and the darkness feels trivialised. Based on the critical consensus, Some Masterchef Sh*t appears to have found that sweet spot.

Practical Details: Dates, Venue, and How to Book

Some Masterchef Sh*t runs at The Glitch (167 Saltram Crescent, London W9 3JU) from 24 to 29 June 2025, with multiple performance times across the week. The venue is in Maida Vale, well connected by public transport, with Queen's Park and Maida Vale tube stations both within walking distance.

Given the intimate scale of the venue, capacity will be limited, and the show's strong reputation from its Edinburgh and Manchester runs means early booking is advisable. Details on performance times and tickets are available through The Glitch's own channels.

Should You Book?

If you enjoy theatre that takes risks, Some Masterchef Sh*t sounds like a must-see. It is the kind of show that fringe theatre exists to produce: provocative, tightly written, and impossible to predict. The queer perspective, the true-crime inspiration, and the promise of genuine laughs alongside genuine discomfort make it a distinctive proposition in London's crowded theatrical landscape.

For audiences who have been following the show's journey from Manchester and Edinburgh, the London debut is a chance to see a piece that has been refined and road-tested in front of thousands of audience members. For newcomers, it is a chance to discover one of the most exciting new plays to emerge from the UK fringe scene in recent years.

Fans of off-West End and fringe theatre should keep a close eye on this one. It's a short run at a small venue, so don't leave it too late. Browse our full list of shows currently playing in London for more ideas on what to see this summer, or explore our new shows page for the latest openings across the capital.