Writer and Director: Roxanne Barron

Following a series of workshops, Roxanne Barron brings Wonderscape to the Camden Fringe: a lighthearted, playful show with a pertinent message that not all technological inventions should see the light of day.

At the heart of Barron’s work is Finley (Conrad O’Callaghan), an eccentric inventor who is inspiringly innovative and dangerously talented, thriving in his own cluttered space, but rather awkward with those around him. Before his big break with Wonderscape, he presents only trivial, yet admittedly intriguing, creations, such as the birthday cake candle-turned-fork.

But the story becomes more sinister when Wonderscape is revealed to be a thought-reading contraption, materialised in line with Barron’s non-serious tone as a helmet wrapped in multi-coloured fairy lights. Heart-warmingly, the play follows Finley as he cultivates relationships with his family and friends, whilst they guide him to consider whether Wonderscape, albeit impressively engineered, actually makes the world a better place.

Barron’s writing is poetically crafted, harmonising modern humour with Shakespearean phrasing through witty dialogue and captivating soliloquies. The distinguished characters complement one another and are brought to life by the actors’ committed performances.

There is potential for development. Although some questions are effectively left unanswered, the plot needs tightening. Further, some of the more farcical performances could benefit from more naturalistic moments to make for a better-rounded delivery.

Regardless, Wonderscape’s message is very relevant, with companies such as Tesla recently being exposed for prioritising futuristic engineering aesthetics over human safety. With AI soaring, our survival rests on our ability to understand the consequences of the power we put in technology, and somehow ensure that we control it, rather than the other way round.

Wonderscape reminds us that human progress does not rest on our technical capabilities, but on how we treat each other; a reassuring message coming from the next generation of theatremakers who, with further refinement and experience, are sure to continue with their creative success.

Reviewed on 23 August 2025