Brighton Fringe 2026
2shoulderpads: Galaxy Train
2shoulderpads
Genre: Theatre
Venue: WundaBarn at The SpiegelGardens
Festival: Brighton Fringe
Low Down
A musical with a difference, acted by a troupe of male performers sporting what the show calls “extreme minimal costume.” A story of imagination and invention, where a group of youngsters ride the Galaxy Train for an adventure to remember.
Review
A musical with a difference: performed in English with a smattering of Japanese, by a troupe of male performers sporting what the show calls “extreme minimal costume.” The story follows a group of youngsters whose adventure on the Galaxy Train brings moments of elation, discovery, and poignant separation.
The show’s language is an inventive mix of English with judicious additions of Japanese. This creates a distinctive texture that works well overall. To support key moments, the performers present large, hand-written text cards in English. This surtitle-like device is woven into the show from the outset, so it feels like part of the storytelling — an ingenious solution for engaging international audiences.
The costume concept — two strategically placed shoulder pads, held in place by elastic — is certainly memorable. As the story centres on a group of youngsters, this choice can at times feel at odds with the adult bodies on stage. On the plus side, the visual and physical humour (with touches of slapstick) has a playful clarity that younger audiences could readily enjoy.
The lead performer (the only one fully clothed) deftly sets up the action, inviting the audience to embrace not understanding everything. This framing proves apt. There were moments when the narrative felt elusive, even as the stage action remained engaging and fun to watch. I compared notes with another audience member after the show, and they hadn’t spotted the set-up of the story, assuming that the show was a collection of fun unrelated scenes. This suggests that the clarity of the storytelling could do with strengthening, especially at the beginning. Perhaps a couple more text-cards as the story gets underway, to help audiences settle into it more confidently.
The show’s themes are universally relatable: children joshing with one another, longing for adventure, forming new bonds, and sometimes having to leave friends behind. One stand-out moment involved a ‘milkman’ and a pair of ‘cows’, portrayed with humour and verve.
The performers bring an infectious energy and enthusiasm. At the performance I attended (Saturday 2nd May), the audience responded warmly — clapping along within the first few minutes, and offering a standing ovation at the end that lasted well over a minute. I found myself on my feet as well. The lead performer’s response to the applause felt warm, genuine, and entirely in keeping with the spirit of the show.
2shoulderpads: Galaxy Train amply fulfils its promise of a “joyful theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.” Very good show.
