“The production is simply staged, yet with stylish set and costumes (by takis) and is imaginatively directed by Hannah Chiswick [Chissick] with clever choreography from Michael Cole.” — Sardines Magazine, Ned Hopkins
“dressed in a variety of gorgeous matching outfits (by designer takis)” — Musical Theatre Review, Jeremy Chapman
“The set by takis provides a fairground environment that feels simultaneously tawdry and glamorous.” — WhatsOnStage, Alun Hood
“Set designer takis and director Hannah Chissick make vibrant use of the space at the Southwark Playhouse, where a bright-lit gold stage forms the backdrop for the performances, which jut out in-the-round.” — Culture Whisper, Lucy Brooks
Side Show | Southwark Playhouse Borough, London, October 21 – December 3, 2016
Henry Krieger and Bill Russell’s cult musical about conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who became vaudeville stars in 1930s America. Directed by Hannah Chissick with choreography by Matthew Cole, the Southwark Playhouse production marked the show’s first major London staging. The musical explores themes of exploitation, identity, and the price of fame through the true story of the Hilton sisters’ rise from circus “freaks” to performers fighting for autonomy and love.
takis created a circus aesthetic befitting the cast of outsiders and misfits, designing an inclusive, immersive experience that placed audiences inside the freak show/vaudeville world. The design captured both the tawdry spectacle of carnival exploitation and the genuine artistry of the sisters’ performances. The intimate Southwark Playhouse space intensified the production’s emotional impact, bringing audiences close to the sisters’ story.
The production received positive reviews for capturing the musical’s delicate balance between entertainment and ethics, spectacle and humanity. A concert performance at the London Palladium in 2024 demonstrated the show’s lasting impact, eight years after this Southwark production introduced it to London audiences.
Creative Team: Music: Henry Krieger | Book/Lyrics: Bill Russell | Director: Hannah Chissick | Choreography: Matthew Cole | Designer: takis | Sound: Dan Simpson
Reviews: Sardines Magazine, Musical Theatre Review, WhatsOnStage, Culture Whisper