Review: Closer Each Day at The Wardrobe Theatre
Closer Each Day celebrates landmark performance at Old Market theatre
Bristol’s answer to soaps – Closer Each Day – has reached a milestone in its impressive history. With a big storyline celebration, followed by party poppers and cake, the 250th performance was a full house packed with fans and newbies alike.
Incredibly, Closer Each Day has been running for over 13 years, making it the world’s longest improvised story. It’s also the longest running show outside of London. The piece of theatrical history takes place right here in Bristol at The Wardrobe Theatre.
The performance went hard on the big soap anniversary story, culminating in a celebratory atmosphere. There were dastardly deeds, surprise legacy characters and a will-they-won’t-they wedding.
It has flashes of all the big ones – Eastenders, Corrie, even a hint of El Dorado.
The show is a fine piece of improv, meaning both the audience and actors have no real idea of what’s going to happen until it happens – live.
It’s packed full of typical soap drama with the added edge of live theatre. The canny performances are mighty fine, treading between drama, parody and comedy.
It’s set in the fictional town of Newton. Of course, for the big dramatic finale, the residents make their way to London, to add a further touch of the dramatics.
The balloons on stage making up the number 250, took the action to the 250 Club in London. Or was it someone’s 250th birthday?
But, can you really just jump into a long-running show full of established characters and storylines? Yes, yes you can.
The audience is provided with a sheet upon arrival, updating them as to what went down the week before.
The show starts with an introduction to each character with a quick précis. There’s all the delicious soap personalities you love and love to hate. Big Dick Johnson and his non-identical twin brother. The scheming baddy. The posh MP. The brassy barmaid, the one with amnesia who still thinks it’s 1999. There’s the dapper artisanal cafe manager. A tiny baby also made their onstage debut.
Live music and sound effects providing a soundtrack throughout came from composer and sound designer Jack Drewry.
Closer Each Day is a whole lot of fun and potentially, really quite addictive. It’s worth catching an episode of the show. If you can’t go every week, it really doesn’t matter because you can just fall into it. If you can’t make the live show at The Wardrobe Theatre, then You can watch it online at the Closer Each Day Patreon.
I caught a member of the audience behind me say he had been to 220 shows and it’s not hard to believe. Closer Each Day is a fun and uplifting piece of theatre, perfectly scheduled for dull Monday evenings, that will bring you back time and again.
Season 30 of Closer Each Day continues fortnightly on the following dates in 2025:
Monday 10 March
Monday 24 March
Monday 07 April
Monday 21 April
Monday 05 May
Monday 19 May
Cast on 24/02/2025
Lindsey Garwood
Sean Duffy
John Lomas
Rachael Proctor-Lane
Rebecca MacMillan
Mike Akers
Sylvia Bishop
Emile Clarke
Neil Haigh
Holly Meechan
Leah Flectcher
Music – Jack Drewry
Show Editor – Rob Kershaw
For more information or to book, visit: https://thewardrobetheatre.com/shows/closer-each-day/
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