Hairy Bikers: Larger Than Live – Richmond Theatre, London
Writers: Si King, Dave Myers & Will Brenton
Director: Will Brenton
Reviewer: Elizabeth Vile
The Public Reviews Rating: 
After their first sell out tour two years ago Si King and Dave Myers are back with their new ‘Larger than Live’ Tour. Full of enthusiasm, energy and audience participation the pair entertain through anecdotes, jokes, film clips and cookery demonstrations.
Their off-stage friendship shines through on stage and the banter between them adds a spontaneous quality to the scripted dialogue. The audience responded quickly and vocally to every request given and the show had an almost stand up atmosphere to it, with even the odd heckler joining in. This element was enhanced by the participatory game in the first act and the food tasting (although not as much cooking as you might imagine) in both acts. The game was hugely contrived, with a holiday camp feel about it, as the audience won prizes and the Hairy Bikers lost their clothes. But the whole section was done with such enthusiasm that the audience couldn’t help being swept up in the joy of it.
On the other hand the cooking was approached in a calmer way with more concentration, as interesting tips and advice were weaved into the cooking instructions. Being able to smell the food as it was cooking was tantalizing but a real bonus as it really made the audience feel a part of the show. It was just a shame that there was so little cooking as Si and Dave excelled as a double act while in their kitchen. They bounced off each other so well and their team work was faultless as they quickly produced two amazing dishes.
The set was simple with just a moveable kitchen and a few props, the most impressive being the chairs that Si and Dave made their first entrance on, very quirky, silly and lots of fun. Some of the activities were also very silly and a surreal pantomime feel was evident at times which surprised some members of the audience, the costumes also added to this flamboyant feel.
Arguably there could have been more cooking throughout the show and there were possibly too many film clips in the second half that slowed the pace down slightly, but overall this was an evening of fun, laughter, stories and good food. This show would appeal to fans of the tv series, foodies and those that enjoy a good-natured laugh.
Due to some explicit language this show may not be suitable for young children.
The Hairy Bikers on Tour visits various venues around the country till April 2013
Hairy Bikers: Larger Than Live - Richmond Theatre, London,Tags: Comedy, Cooking, Dave Myers, Hairy Bikers, Larger Than Life, Larger Than Live, Richmond Theatre, Si King
1:39 pm on October 8th, 2012
Tedious for the most part, some funny bits but overall it was chaotic. I felt like I was watching a rehearsal rather than a professional production. Hopefully it will improve as the tour goes on…
12:19 pm on October 9th, 2012
A show about nothing… rude jokes, cyrcus atmosphere, bad taste, miles away from the BBC shows
9:05 am on October 12th, 2012
Very disappointing, smutty (Si) more like 1970s than 2012 – ie, Benny Hill and totally unnecessary. I don’t think they have done themselves any favours at all, or the BBC!
Talk about ‘Shooting yourself in the foot’!
5:31 pm on October 18th, 2012
Saw the show at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last night. It was quite disappointing, amateurish, shambolic, too little cooking, infantile humour and more like a pantomime. In fact they kept trying the raise the audience with pantomime calls ‘oh no I won’t’ hoping for the obvious reply. Si was quite creepy with inappropriate leering at the women (chosen by him) from the audience. Quite uncomfortable to watch and unnecessary. They should be done under the ‘trade descriptions act’ – nothing like their BBC show at all.
9:37 pm on October 19th, 2012
Just come back from seeing this show in Harrogate. Agree completely with John Booth. The thoughts he expressed were exactly the same as my wife and I discussed on our way home. In particular the crudeness of the humour made it distasteful
rather than funny. I also thought Si took his letching too far and his take of Nigella after initially being humourous became obscene in the extreme. The bikers lost two fans tonight who will now struggle to enjoy their TV shows. Sad because I am a geordie who has enjoyed the humour their partnership has brought over the years.
12:11 pm on October 25th, 2012
Horror show of a theatre production. Si seemed to base his half of the act on repeating the word ‘sh*t’ as often as possible, while Dave just seemed very uncomfortable. Very little cooking, as mentioned – and since they are effectively ‘funny’ chefs they should focus primarily on what people love them for – the food.
Half a star.
11:38 pm on November 10th, 2012
Left half way through the edinburgh show this evening. Such a disappointment. Not at all what I expected. The target audience was completely wrong. Golden oldies and children sitting awkwardly through the smut. Actually put me off them altogether. What a disaster of a show.
No stars
7:11 pm on November 12th, 2012
Given 2 tickets as a present so travelled to Edinburgh and stayed overnight
What a waste of time. I’ve watched some of their TV shows because of the cooking and the but don’t go and see this tripe unless you’re a great fan (and I’m from Northumberland)
No focus,scatalogical humour,banal conversation and one of them was behaving like no Geordie I’ve come across – seeming to believe that anything said in an accent (especially sh*t)
was hiliarious. If you think a fat bloke eating food from his semi-naked body is funny you may like this show. We left at half-time along with a number of other people. Why 2 seemingly fairly decent cooks think that success makes them
able to become entertainers seems to hint at a degree of arrogance to me.
11:50 am on November 18th, 2012
I went with my wife last night to see the Hairy Bikers show in Stevenage. Like previous reviewers, we have generally enjoyed their TV shows and we have even bought some of their books. I cook and their recipes are pretty successful. I hadn’t read any reviews of this show until this morning. I thought it was just me! But..I agree with all the above comments. The show was embarrassing, tacky, cheap, amateur….disappointing….a shambles..you get the idea. I can only assume that the reason two obviously intelligent people have done this is money? The show seemed to have been produced on a shoe-string and at £26 a ticket (the evening was sold out..on the back of their TV reputations I presume) it must be a nice little earner! I echo the comments about Si’s behaviour..sleezy. He also seemed to forget many of his lines and cues. At least Dave seemed to be trying to keep the whole evening on track and seems to have some thoughts in his head and some idea of presenting a ‘show’. The set was cheesy, the two assistant ‘loons’ in gold lame overalls were…lame, the camera work was pathetic and the constant showing of film clips on the big screen, most of which we had either seen on their TV shows, or were outtakes, ie. not good enough to show previously, emphasised the feeling that the evening was a rip-off. Oh dear. How to destroy a reputation in 2 hours.
9:45 am on November 20th, 2012
Just come back from seeing the show in Watford. Couldn’t wait for the interval to leave, the show was so embarrasing. Totally agree with all the comments made. What a disappointment after enjoying the TV shows so much.
1:53 pm on November 20th, 2012
Saw at Watford yesterday – so pleased to read these reviews because so many in the audience seemed to enjoy it and it was hard to know why. All the above comments are true, and I also got the feeling it was a rip-off. Very sad for those people who spent a lot of money and were hoping for a fun, lively, professional production.
7:46 pm on November 20th, 2012
Saw these two clowns (although clowns are meant to be funny) at Leamington Spa, frankly it was cringeworthy and I feel I have handed money over under false pretences. Be warned, it is possibly the worst show on earth.
12:15 pm on November 21st, 2012
Just seen the Hairy bikers at Watford. I feel exploited. Purile humour, terrible script, awful acting and Si should be ashamed of his dire attempt at being ‘sexy’. It seemed they just wanted my money and delivered little in return. More cooking and less drivel would help, but really it should be scrapped and the faster the better.
9:01 am on November 26th, 2012
My wife and I when to see this show at the Empire, Liverpool and quite frankly it was dreadful. In fact it was that bad we, together with a number of others, left during the interval.
9:25 pm on November 27th, 2012
All the above comments ring true – unnecessarily smutty from Si, just plain embarrassing rubbish. Felt sorry for Dave, but they both used the “sh*t” word liberally. We’re not offended by swearing or smut but this was just so at odds with their TV persona. Much of the Liverpool crowd were not cheering and looked uncomfortable with the whole show. As a biker I expected at least a mention of the bikes, but nothing at all. We’d seen Charley Boorman, another TV biker – but that was well compered, full of f words, but no smut or creepy “pervy uncle” antics like Si’s and a damn good show. Hairy biker have lost a couple of fans here – this was a rip off!
6:18 pm on December 3rd, 2012
How right are all these reviews saw it last night at Preston total rubbish. Did not help in any way to sell any books or enhance their reputation. On this showing would not get into a Panto cast. What do they care £25.00 per seat ot a full house a rip off , be careful lads you might find yourself out on your ear