There’s nothing better than that feeling of elation after leaving a great show. After laughing the entire time, you’re left with a sore belly and tears in your eyes. Police Cops: The Musical is just that: a side-splitting musical theatre experience that will surprise spectators not only with its jokes but also with the creativity and imagination that went into the props and execution of the performance.
It all started in 2016 when the Edinburgh Fringe debut of Police Cops proved to be a success with the parody of Hollywood action movies. They brought a real-life action movie to the theatre, with the special effects and clichés that come with typical action thrillers on screen. In 2017, Police Cops were back with another sell-out performance Police Cops in Space, as well as another hit performance Badass Be Thy Name in 2019. Having received immense recognition ever since their debut, the comedy group toured the world receiving a multitude of awards and has shows running on London’s West End and Soho Theatre.
Secret Edinburgh has had the pleasure to witness what the comedy group brought to the Edinburgh Fringe this year, and we were beyond impressed. Police Cops: The Musical is set in 1985 around a rookie police cop Jimmy Johnson who joined the force as a promise to his dead sister. After partnering up with a retired police cop Harrison they form ‘the best damn police cop ever’ duo while saving the day in America, and later, in Mexico.
The musical does not lack strong vocals, clever props (guns are, in fact, black gloves) and stage transitions (such as using a breaking news forecast to cross the stage), or semi-improvised scenes that are impossible to watch with a straight face. The magic is in the details: some characters do not really make sense but are hilarious, such as the random clapping guy, or a character in a full-body black suit going over to knock over a can being shot. And the lighting is just as clever bringing the special effects to life.
What is more, the sheer abundance of jokes within the musical is worthy of a visit alone, but the evident hard work of everyone involved is what makes it a true work of art. However, it is worth mentioning that the show is not for people who do not take kindly to swearwords and coarse language, so probably best if you let your little ones sit this one out.
The theatre experience not only takes us on a journey back in time and space but also holds up an extremely satirical mirror to Hollywood movies in a way we’ve never seen before. Police Cops: The Musical is an overall phenomenal show and we cannot wait to see what the group bring next.