REVIEW: THE FINAL HEIST, Camden Fringe at Hen & Chicken Theatre, 2 – 4 August 2024

“A dynamic and audacious musical that encourages us to decipher right from wrong” ★★★ ½

The young, fearless criminals have a history of conducting heists; however, this is the most impactful one as they are forced to leave personal disputes aside and trust each other more than ever.

The Final Heist exhibits a group of eager youngsters who are approached, and lured, by the Collector with a proposition: to steal an unreleased poem, also considered the Poet’s last words, from a highly supervised museum. In exchange, the Collector promises them a reward of £1 million. Driven by their previous heist ending with their leader in a coma, Mia, the leader’s younger sister, persuades the others to participate. Nevertheless, apprehensions become known when the group begins questioning the Collector’s true intentions. 

Some character-driven songs, orchestrated by the team themselves, emphasised their objectives throughout the show. For instance, the Collector continuously referred to himself as ‘Mr. Regular’ in songs - adding a layer of mystery to his already unknown identity. Mia’s determination was highlighted when she sang ‘I Think I Need a Heist’, a response to gathering the team for the mission. Seeing the ensemble bring the action to life through interactive dance scenes delivered a real sense of alliance.

Dramatic irony was present as the audience knew the Collector was mischievous behind the backs of other characters. Yet, blinded by their ambition to execute the plan, the team failed to see this until it was too late and one of their members was missing. We saw the same element when a team member was distracting the museum staff, enabling the other members to sneak in.

Tension was created during the museum break-in scene with red lights that portrayed hidden cameras with sensory detection. Conscious of their every move, a devised ensemble piece showed the struggles faced by the team navigating around restricted areas.

In the end, the team didn’t get caught by the museum staff – they made it out safely but without the poem. Despite this, the Collector was still content after reading the forbidden poem and offered the team their prize. We discovered that the Collector knew the Poet on a personal level. He was seeking closure. 

Overall, THE FINAL HEIST has an imperatively diverse plot that incorporates several lessons such as acknowledging one’s value, not betraying loved ones for materialistic possessions, embracing forgiveness, and sticking together as a team. 

REVIEW: THE FINAL HEIST, Camden Fringe at Hen & Chicken Theatre, 2 – 4 August 2024

Box Office: https://camdenfringe.com/events/the-final-heist/  

Writer: Aleera Ewan.

Orchestrations: Solen Marqueste.

Presented by Imperial College Musical Theatre Society