There’s something about the smell of fabric softener and fluorescent strip lighting that feels oddly romantic. Berserk Theatre clearly agrees – their latest queer play Spin Cycle turns a South London launderette into a stage for lost love, messy memories, and a whole lot of feelings.
Founded by Zofia Zerphy in January 2024 while she was still in drama school, Berserk Theatre is brand new to the scene but already making waves. Their first two shows snagged solid four-star reviews, and Spin Cycle went full five-star sell-out at Camden Fringe this summer.
Zofia stars in the show alongside her partner, Rhiannon Bell. The play is directed by Bethan Rose, an Irish actor and artist from West Cork, and the whole thing feels like a queer theatre collective with a big heart and bigger ambition.
The Storyline
Spin Cycle isn’t your average boy-meets-girl or girl-meets-girl rom-com. Think bittersweet, absurdist, slightly neon-lit soap opera. Kitt can be a bit of a nightmare, Noel’s no angel, and yet when their eyes meet under the glow of the launderette sign, something clicks. What follows is a surreal, funny, and tender dive into what happens when you can’t quite remember how, when, or why you loved someone – but you still feel it in your bones.
Zofia says the play is “less of a love story and more of a search for a love lost… It’s about the stories we tell ourselves that become memory. It’s about forgetting what people mean to you.”
The details you actually need:
- What: Spin Cycle by Berserk Theatre – a bittersweet queer play about memory, love, and launderettes
- Where & When:
- The Jack Studio Theatre, SE4 2DH – Friday 12 September, 7.30pm
- The Bridge House Theatre, Penge SE20 8RZ – Saturday 13 September, two shows at 3pm & 7.30pm
- Tickets: £15 / £13 concessions. Suitable for ages 12+. Tickets here
- Who’s involved: Written by Zofia Zerphy; starring Zofia Zerphy & Rhiannon Bell; directed by Bethan Rose
If you’ve ever fallen in love in a weirdly unromantic place – the bus stop, Tesco self-checkout, your local Greggs – this play might be your new obsession. Grab a ticket, spin your way down to Penge or SE4, and let Berserk Theatre rinse your heart out.
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Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
