In 2004, unknown performer Will Adamsdale was a shock recipient of comedy’s prestigous Perrier Award for Jackson’s Way. Seven years on and Adamsdale has revived and expanded this character-based piece and is on a "Jacksathon", taking it to 26 London locations, from bars to barges, over 26 nights. Some prize-winners diminish over the years but on Saturday, in a former tobacco warehouse, the show was stronger, funnier and more amiably absurd than ever.
Adamsdale’s mad, manic, mock self-help lecture savagely skewers the motivational guru brigade, complete with acronyms (PTI — "push through with intensity!"), jargon and power point presentation. As fictional life coach Chris John Jackson, Adamsdale explains that he has found the secret of contentment. It is doing pointless and often futile things, such as trying to put your hand in two places simultaneously. To demonstrate his theory he brilliantly motivated his audience to do equally useless tasks. One unfortunate had to stare at a pillar, another had to talk about Japan "until nauseous".
Sounds daft? Of course it is. Adamsdale inhabits his snake oil salesman role with shambolic evangelical zeal, part-Billy Graham, part-Robin Williams, while occasional darker digressions tantalisingly hint at some haunting past trauma. Proceedings culminated in a group effort to move the nearby Shard skyscraper by sheer mind power.
Sadly we failed but, egged on by Jackson’s ludicrous fervour, it was fun trying. Pointlessly wonderful fun.
Tonight, Invisible Dot, NW1. Information: 020 7424 8918. jacksons-way.com. Touring January 30.
Jackson's Way
Shunt Vaults
London Bridge, SE1 9BG
