Bad Boy Disco at Porter's Cardiff: A Glitter-Soaked Reckoning with Cancel Culture
CB4 Theatre’s Bad Boy Disco makes a triumphant return to Porter's Cardiff, bringing its signature blend of irreverence, introspection, and chaotic energy to the stage. Part Holy Communion, part performance art party, the show dives headfirst into the murky waters of cancel culture, fandom, and moral reckoning, all while keeping the audience laughing, cringing, and questioning their own allegiances.
A Riotous Exploration of Fallen Icons
The premise is deceptively simple: What do we do when someone we’ve admired turns out to be a Bad Boy? Can we still enjoy their art? Should we? These questions form the backbone of the show, as Alice and Frankie, our disco priests, guide the audience through a beer-fuelled, dance-heavy, and deeply self-aware exploration of celebrity downfall.
CB4 Theatre’s DIY approach to storytelling shines through, blending verbatim interviews, digital interaction, and absurdist humour to dissect the complexities of public disgrace. The result is a show that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, forcing the audience to confront their own complicity in the cycle of hero worship and cancellation. (ahem “She who must not be named”)
“It’s messy, it’s hilarious, and it’s unafraid to ask the questions we often avoid”
A Show That Thrives on Chaos
The energy in the room was electric, fuelled by cheap lager, bad dance routines, and an audience eager to engage. The performers lean into the unpredictability, and I can see it making each show feel like a one-night-only event, shaped by the crowd’s reactions and the ever-evolving discourse around problematic figures.
While the humour is sharp and the satire biting, Bad Boy Disco doesn’t shy away from the darker realities of abuse, homophobia, and transphobia, ensuring that the conversation remains grounded in real-world consequences. The show’s ability to balance levity with gravity is a testament to CB4 Theatre’s skill in crafting socially conscious entertainment.
Verdict: A Must-See for the Culturally Curious
Whether you’re here for the glitter, the theology, or the existential crisis, Bad Boy Disco delivers a wild, unfiltered, and deeply necessary theatrical experience. It’s messy, it’s hilarious, and it’s unafraid to ask the questions we often avoid. If you missed its sell-out run in 2022, now’s your chance to witness CB4 Theatre at their most bold and unapologetic.
Tickets are available for performance at Porter's Cardiff here, with shows running until 24 May. Grab a drink, brace yourself, and prepare for a night of disco-fuelled reckoning.
