REVIEW: DEREK MITCHELL - GOBLIN @ SOHO THEATRE

🎭  Derek Mitchell: Goblin

📍 Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE

🗓  Friday 14th March 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

CHAOTIC, CLEVER, AND SURPRISINGLY MOVING

GOBLIN, written and performed by Derek Mitchell, really surprised me. What begins as a frantic, offbeat comedy about an emo teenager and his imaginary goblin friend gradually transforms into something unexpectedly profound – heartbreaking, even. Mitchell’s performance is dynamic and deeply layered, taking the audience on a journey from absurdity to deep emotion. 

Set in 2007, GOBLIN follows Eliot, an emo kid whose invisible goblin companion is both a comfort and a manifestation of his trauma. At first, I wasn’t entirely convinced by Eliot as a character – his galloping energy and brash audience interactions didn’t immediately resonate with me. It’s fair to say the humour, which had the audience roaring from the start, took me a little longer to warm to. But as the story unfolded, Eliot’s vulnerability, sweetness, and desperate need for connection emerged, and in turn pulled me in. By the story’s climax, I was stunned at how deeply I had come to care about him. The transformation he undergoes is immense, demonstrating Mitchell’s superb range as both a writer and performer.

Throughout the show, the audience as a collective plays the role of Eliot’s imaginary goblin, a choice that allows for constant interaction and involvement. Mitchell seamlessly weaves details volunteered by audience members into the script, showcasing his quick wit and skill as a storyteller. This sense of spontaneity, coupled with the nostalgic references – for example, the likes of My Chemical Romance playing over the speakers as the audience enters and mentions of a brand-new website ‘Instagram’ – firmly plants us in Eliot’s world.

The narrative takes us on a journey with Eliot from his teen years to adulthood, focusing on key moments in his life. His interactions with his best friend Maya, his bully, his mother, and later, his manipulative boyfriend Max, are all vividly brought to life. To illustrate these other key characters, Mitchell either embodies them and flits between them and himself or responds to voiceovers played through the speakers. Both forms of interaction built an intricate picture of Eliot’s life, and Mitchell’s ability to bring these different characters to life so effortlessly was impressive. I particularly enjoyed the depiction of the two mothers in the story – his own and Max’s. Despite a minimal set and barely any props, Mitchell’s storytelling is so compelling that I could see Eliot’s world so clearly.

What made GOBLIN particularly striking for me – and the reason it really won me over – is its emotional depth. Beneath the humour, there’s a real sadness to Eliot’s journey, one that creeps up on you until it’s impossible to ignore. Despite that, Mitchell never allows the show to become too heavy. The balance of comedy and poignancy is handled beautifully, ensuring the audience remains engaged, entertained, and, by the end, profoundly moved.

GOBLIN is a show that defied my expectations. What starts as chaotic and somewhat light-hearted morphs into something deeply affecting. It’s a testament to Mitchell’s skill that I left the theatre feeling completely won over, surprised at how much I had come to care about Eliot and his story.

Estelle Luck

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Goblin was gifted by Impatient Productions who invited me to watch the show on behalf of Pink Prince Theatre in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.