FILTHY, FUNNY AND… FURRY: PUPPETS BEHAVING VERY BADLY

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Avenue Q is back, baby! And I don’t think I can quite explain just how excited I was when that announcement dropped. This has been one of my all-time favourite shows for years, so to see it return to the West End felt like a bit of a full circle moment. And yes, we’re only in April, but I’m already calling it… this could easily be my top show of the year.

If you’ve ever tried to explain Avenue Q to someone before, it’s honestly a bit of a surreal conversation. The way I usually describe it is like an adult boundary-pushing version of Sesame Street. Puppets, filthy songs, monsters, crude references… it sounds like a fever dream. Puppets tackling adult themes? On paper, it shouldn’t work. But somehow, it just does. It’s clever, it’s self-aware, and it leans fully into the madness of it all.

PUPPETS, PERSONALITY AND A CAST THAT UNDERSTANDS THE ASSIGNMENT

The cast? ALL sensational. Emily Benjamin as Kate Monster brings such warmth and heart to the role. She also switches seamlessly into Lucy the Slut with a completely different energy, which is no small feat. Noah Harrison juggles Princeton and Rod brilliantly, giving both characters their own distinct personalities. And Charlie McCullagh bouncing between Nicky, Trekkie Monster and Bad Idea Bear is very impressive.

Also, what really stands out across the board is just how much skill is involved. They’re having to sync speech and song perfectly with the puppet’s movements, while also conveying emotion through something that, in theory, shouldn’t feel human at all. And somehow, within minutes, you completely forget the actor is even there. Your focus is entirely on the puppet, which is kind of incredible when you actually stop and think about it. It’s one thing to make a puppet funny, it’s another to make you care about it, and this cast manages both.

THE SAME AVENUE Q, JUST WITH A 2026 GLOW UP

One of the things I appreciated most about this return is that they haven’t tried to overhaul it. Avenue Q has always been known for pushing boundaries, avidly shown with songs titles like The Internet Is For Porn and Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist. There’s always that slight worry going into a revival that it might be toned down or over-corrected. And don’t get me wrong, some shows massively need that, but that hasn’t happened here. Any updates are small and smart, mostly just bringing references into the present day rather than changing the heart of the show.

It still feels like the Avenue Q I know and love. A lot of that comes down to the fact that this is still being led by the original creative team. Directed by Jason Moore, with music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the show keeps that same sharp, irreverent edge that made it such a hit in the first place. It still feels current without losing what made it work, which is a difficult balance to get right, especially with a show that pushes boundaries the way Avenue Q does.

UNDER THE FILTH: HEART, HUMOUR AND RELATABILITY

What’s easy to forget, because it is so funny and so outrageous, is that there’s actually a lot going on underneath it all. It touches on things like finding your purpose, navigating relationships, financial struggles, identity and sexuality. But it comes at these topics with humour and in a way that feels accessible rather than heavy. It never loses that sense of fun, but there’s substance there if you want to look for it.

I honestly had the best time. Properly. I was smiling and laughing pretty much the entire way through. There’s something really special about that mix of nostalgia if you’ve seen it before, but it absolutely still works if you’re going in fresh. I spoke to a few people around me afterwards, and there was a real mix of first timers and returning fans, and everyone seemed to come out with that same buzz. It’s just one of those shows that leaves you feeling good.

Avenue Q at Shaftesbury Theatre is exactly what you want it to be. It’s nostalgic, it’s outrageous, it’s ridiculously funny, and it still has something to say. By the time the show was heading towards its final moments, I was already mentally preparing to be on my feet. Whether you’ve loved it for years or you’re going in completely blind, it’s one of those shows that just works. And honestly? I will absolutely be going back before the end of the run.

Avenue Q is running at Shaftesbury Theatre until Sunday 3 January 2027.

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Photo Credit: Matt Crockett