Review: Tom Marshman: Old Market (REMIXED), The Wardrobe Theatre – ‘A deeply engaging, historic journey’

A single chair sits in the middle of a smokey room surrounded by a string of tiny twinkling rainbow bulbs on a string. Madonna’s Erotica booms loudly while leading man, Tom Marshman sits quietly in a bespoke snakeskin onesie amongst the theatregoers who excitedly file in and fill The Wardrobe Theatre, (bum) cheek to cheek. The tone is set.

The audience is about to go on a historic journey through ‘Bristol’s Gay Village’, a.k.a Old Market. As well as being a home for the LGBTQIA+ community over the years, Old Market is also a conservation area where old buildings kiss the sky and new builds sidle up behind them like thirsty cousins.

Like much of the city, the need for housing is urgent, but the obligatory flat whites in brown paper cups that come alongside developers has changed the face of this strip over the last 20 years into a melting pot of old and new. You’ve just got to dig a little deeper to see its heartbeat.

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The hour-long one-man show sees Marshman execute his prowess as a living and breathing archivist, sharing first-hand stories from the folk who enhabit this strip: everything from sex shops to vintage shops.

The dialogue features retelling and crackly interviews with 10 individuals, all given creative aliases and beautifully executed physical motifs. We meet, H.R.H, the son of a carpet salesman and a dog walker – to name but a few – who all demonstrate a deep love for the area and reflect on how times past or present have changed their businesses, lifestyles and attitudes.

Old Market (Remixed) artwork – poster: Alec Stevens

As well as being the conduit for the 10 people he interviewed, Marshman expresses his love for the strip by regaling stories of doing the splits on a Friday night on the sticky pavements, partying at late night gay bars and the enjoyment of speaking to legends and newcomers who take up space here.

The power of Marshman and the interviewees’ words delivered to the pound of electronic music and lip-syncing is a real highlight of the show.

Tom Marshman in Old Market – photo: Vonalina Cake

Much like the development and changes on Old Market, there is light, dark and grey: a tailor altering clothes for trans women and drag queens, a queer charity for gay and bisexual men, the origins of a kinky twist (we’re talking about hair!) and the importance of providing space (massage parlours) for sex workers. The red thread here: the importance of space and place for all communities.

To tell all would remove the magic, but this deeply engaging story is electrified by Marshman’s retelling of the people who hold the space and move through it.

And the next time you’re in Old Market, take his advice and “stroke a brick or kiss a lamp post”.

Old Market (Remixed) – poster: Tom Marshman

Old Market (REMIXED) by Tom Marshman is at The Wardrobe Theatre on November 1-5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Main photo: Vonalina Cake

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