Hit Machine
I went into Hit Machine without any prior knowledge of the show. I hadn’t read anything about the story, didn’t really know what to expect and, honestly, I think that’s the best way to experience it. This is one of those shows that completely took me by surprise, and I absolutely loved it. A very easy five stars from me.
The story follows two estranged brothers, Wes, a hugely successful music executive, and Alex, a struggling musician, who unexpectedly find themselves back in each other’s lives. As the story unfolds, you slowly begin to understand why their relationship fell apart. It’s like peeling back the layers of an onion, with every scene revealing a little more until you finally discover the heartbreaking truth about their childhood. Suddenly everything clicks into place, and you completely understand why these two brothers have ended up where they are. It’s such a beautifully written piece of theatre.
What I loved most was how effortlessly the show balanced comedy with heartbreak. One minute I was laughing out loud, and the next I had tears in my eyes. It never felt forced either. The emotional moments felt completely earned because you’d already fallen in love with the characters and become invested in their journey.
Noah Galvin was the absolute standout for me. His performance was phenomenal. The way he could switch from hilarious to utterly heart breaking in the blink of an eye was incredible to watch. There were moments where he had the audience laughing, and then almost instantly he’d have you holding back tears. That kind of emotional range is so rare, and he pulled it off effortlessly.
It was also such a special experience finally getting to watch Josh Radnor perform live. Having watched him for years in How I Met Your Mother, to then seeing him on stage in person is something I’ll genuinely never forget. Great actor on TV and stage. He and Noah had such believable chemistry as brothers. Even when they were arguing or avoiding each other, you could still feel the love buried underneath everything, which made the story even more powerful.
A huge shoutout as well to Khalil Madovi, who plays Defy and also wrote the music and lyrics for the show’s three original songs. Even though he’s only in the show for a short time, every time he appeared he brought something new. His energy was infectious, and that final performance… wow. What a voice. The songs themselves were beautifully written and fitted so naturally into the story that they never felt like they interrupted the narrative. Instead, they added even more emotion to an already brilliant script.
The entire cast worked so well together. The chemistry between everyone felt effortless, and every interaction felt genuine. That’s what made the whole production so engaging, you completely believed these relationships. The staging was beautifully simple, mostly centred around Wes’s impressive home, but it never needed to be anything more. It allowed the writing and the performances to take centre stage, and honestly, they more than deserved to.
This is one of those rare shows that will stay with me for a very long time. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it completely exceeded every expectation I had. I genuinely hope this production has a long future because it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.
This show was reviewed on the 14th July at Soho Theatre, London where it runs until the 15th August 2026. Tickets available here: Hit Machine – Soho Theatre
Review written by Sarah Vazquez-Phillips
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Photo credit : Manuel Harlan
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