As we enter the space, Adam (Joseph Aldous) welcomes, chats and jokes with us, music thumps and it’s as if we’ve just bumped into him at a party. At first glance, Adam seems to be doing well – his summer of hookups is in full swing and life seems to be one big blur of fun. But under the surface, something is shifting, he’s about to turn 30 with no stable job, no boyfriend and unable to feel the long term version of happiness his friends seem to have. When his best friend and housemate, Ryan gets engaged and moves out, Adam finds himself properly alone and turns to his Alexa device to help him draw up a plan of action with the end goal being to ‘get happy’. The result is a funny, frantic and moving exploration of modern queer identity, self worth and the pressure to keep up appearances.

Aldous handles Adam’s existential unravelling with sharp wit and emotional clarity. His performance is full of charm and vulnerability – making us laugh one moment and feel heartbroken in the next. As Adam, he radiates a kind of desperate cheerfulness, smiling through office interactions with ‘yas queen’ shrieking colleagues while drowning in deadlines and disconnection. His transitions into other characters – friends, flings, family members are slick and very funny, each one adding nuance to Adam’s increasingly frenzied world.

The use of Alexa as a sounding board sometimes feels as though it only scratches the surface, but at the same time, this feels really relevant. It says something about where we’re at in this point in time with entrusting our emotions in devices designed to make life easier, but not necessarily more meaningful. There’s a clever tension in watching Adam seek clarity and advice from a machine that can only speak in programmed responses.

Some of the most visceral and impactful moments come as Adam stumbles through the streets of Soho, chasing the rush of the night. These scenes are electric and raw, filled with movement and breathlessness with Adam clinging onto highs that never quite deliver (we’ve all been there). Throughout, Aldous breaks the fourth wall just enough to pull us into the story even more. 

What makes GET HAPPY so compelling is its honesty. It captures a distinct, millennial kind of anxiety – a creeping fear of falling behind in the race for happiness while pretending you’re thriving. At the finish line, Adam leaves us in his most vulnerable state, opening up about the past he’s been ignoring and letting us in on what really brings him joy and we’re right there with him to celebrate. 

This isn’t one to miss – GET HAPPY is on at Omnibus Theatre until 12th July! Tickets available here.

Press ticket.

Production photos by Harry Elletson.