Review! The Virtuous Burglar at Riverside Studios. October 2026

If you want an evening of entertainment, laughter, and general enjoyment, get yourself down today for the last two performances of ‘The Virtuous Burglar’ at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. 

On the 10th September I was invited to watch Flywheel Theatre’s production of the Cherry Orchard which was part of the Rep: Radical Classical season with 5 actors in 5 plays in 5 weeks, as part of Riverside Studios 50th Anniversary. 

Last night I was invited back to see their last play, ‘The Virtuous Burglar’. Having felt the Cherry Orchard had moments of confusion and too fast in some places and not fast enough in others, I was unsure what to expect.

From the opening scene I was intrigued and engaged. Conor Dumbrell as the burglar had us laughing from the beginning with his over the top expressions and exasperations when his wife - Maria Tornati (played by Rachel-Leah Hosker) calls mid-way through him burgling a luxury apartment.

The comedy theme carries on as the owner - a town councillor, Luca Frazosi, (played by Jaemon Anthony Crosby) and a women he is having an affair with Julia Spagoli, (Cash Holland) arrive back unexpectedly. 

What then proceeds to follow is absolute chaos and a tangled web of lies and marital misunderstandings as the burglars wife rings the landline again only this time for the owner to answer. After sending her to visit his own wife in a mix up, his wife Anna Frazosi (Jessica Temple) later turns up as well. 

The person that turns out to be the most honest man in the end, apart from the thievery is the burglar caught up in everyone else mess and forced to lie for them, ending up himself in hot water with his own wife. 

The final two characters we were introduced to at the end, were another Burglar and Jack Dugan as Antonio Spagoli who I will not spoil who he is for those who are yet to watch.

The energy throughout was fantastic, never faltering or having moments where the show was flat. Each actor brought something to the show adding more comedy, where you thought it couldn’t get any more chaotic. 

Conor Dumbrell along with Jaemon Anthony Crosby were both stand out performers for me. The costume designs we fitting for the setting and the simplistic staging which did not change once during the show, worked well and the whole stage and props were used throughout which kept the show flowing. 

Given this cast has had to learn five shows and put them on in five weeks has been impressive. As this was the last one I went in expecting there to be parts that people forgot or things not going quite to plan. Well if that happened at all it did not show. Apart from a few props going flying from their intense energy when flying over furniture which in turn sent pillows flying, then became part of the scene to be later picked up. 

I had a space this time right on the edge of the stage to the side so was up close and personal with the actors but at the same time did not feel in the way with my wheelchair, making it great for access. 

Would I go back to see this show again, absolutely!

The show is on it’s final day today with a Matinee and an evening performance.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Reviewed by Victoria-Jayne Scholes