Review: Deepfake satirizes political evasion at Sadler’s Wells

At Sadler’s Wells East in London, a new production challenges the audience’s perception of political accountability. The play follows an interrogator attempting to uncover the truth behind a bizarre scandal while performers utilizing green screen technology manipulate the narrative in real time.

Narration during the performance highlights that viewers often recall the tone and body language of a political interview more than the actual words spoken. Kennedy Muntanga, portraying the Prime Minister, embodies this concept precisely. He employs expansive gestures—sweeping arms, twitching fingers, and open palms—to project the image of a leader transparently addressing questions without substance.

Rebecca Bassett-Graham, styled similarly to broadcaster Emily Maitlis, plays the interviewer. Together, they star in Deepfake, a creative work by the duo Jess and Morgs (Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple), in collaboration with writer Jeff James.

The production sits at the intersection of choreography, film, and theatre, genres the creative team frequently explores. The plot centers on a disorienting encounter where the interviewer seeks clarity regarding allegations that the Prime Minister was found splashed with yellow paint, dressed inappropriately, and involved in a ritual involving a deer’s head. Whether these events are fictional or grounded in reality remains ambiguously open to interpretation.