The Tenant’s Republic – Jack Studio Theatre, Brockley

Writer / Director: Kwami-Teye Canacoo

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Amusing Concept“

4 / 5

Most of us have been there – renting places from dodgy landlords who refuse to do the bare minimum, increases sprung onto tenants with barely any notice, and sleazy estate agents in the middle doing everything they can to reap as much commission as possible. But Don’s had enough and he’s ready to fight the system.

Being that he has just been fired and is struggling to get his DJ’ing career off the ground, money is tight and the rent increase is impossible. Don (Andrew Atha) enlists the help of his responsible, solicitor sister Finn (Amy Beckett) who comes up with the bonkers plan of setting up his own country to ensure he’s not governable in the UK and buy him some time. Much to everyone’s surprise, it actually starts to work – Dondonia makes the national news, causes a stir in parliament and has a very good relationship with various other countries in the EU. But the main question is, will his boiler ever actually get fixed?!

Don’s predicament is unfortunately infuriatingly relatable! His frustration in just wanting a habitable place to live in is well-expressed, highlighting the moments of ridiculous realism in the form of moments such as booking a boiler repair and having someone attend the property to take a photo before anything can be actioned. It’s these extracts from reality that help solidify the storyline early on, and make the audience immediately and emphatically on Don’s side. The narrative quickly moves into silly and surreal as he establishes the terms of Dondonia, with lots of humorous interactions and ridiculous predicaments to keep the comedic tone of the show continuously amusing.

The cast do a great job of entertaining – Aaron Garland’s depiction of Omar is fantastic, and his rousing speech during a moment of protest is impressively encouraging. Matt Ackermann plays a variety of country representatives, and his news anchor character is hilariously done with excellent timing. Anna Pritchard-Howard’s character Tina has the most development throughout the narrative, from cold-hearted estate agent to slowly softening and being accepted into the group, she showcases the shift well. Beckett and Atha capture the nuances of a sibling relationship perfectly, balancing out each other with their familiar, yet opposing personalities.

It’s a unique premise with an enjoyable cast that touches on a lot of topical issues – whether you’ve had an awful landlord, or know deep down you ARE an awful landlord, this show will definitely resonate!

Runs until 18th October 2025