In summer 2026, on the second hottest May day on record, four members enjoyed a trip to All Bar One in Nottingham for a light lunch, followed by a performance of “ Ein Komisches Talent” or “Comic Potential” in English at the Lacemarket Theatre. This was an Alan Ayckbourn play performed in German by the visiting Theater “Die Kaeuze” group from Karlsruhe in Germany.
Comic Potential is a 1998 science-fiction satire and romantic comedy. Set in a near-future television industry where human actors are replaced by androids ("actoids"), it follows a naïve young writer who falls in love with a female android who possesses a unique, unprogrammed creative imagination.
The major themes are...
Humanity vs. Machinery: The play explores what it truly means to be human. Ayckbourn contrasts the logical, unemotional androids with the irrational, messy nature of human love and laughter.
Corporate Greed vs. Art: It serves as a biting satire of the television industry, criticizing the relentless pursuit of ratings over artistic integrity.
The Pygmalion Myth: The narrative acts as a modern, sci-fi twist on the classic story of Pygmalion (or My Fair Lady), where a creator attempts to mould and educate a "blank slate" figure.
We all enjoyed the play but admitted that we found the language difficult to follow especially in the second half which contained a scene in a brothel spoken largely in heavily accented German and a long climactic scene where many of the actors spoke their lines very excitedly and rapidly.
The next meeting is planned as a walk around Newstead Abbey in July and we hope to see more of our members then, weather permitting, of course!
Image of The Lace Market Theatre by John Sutton: Source and licence
