Hetain Patel is a visual artist whose performance is themed around American film culture and how it shapes and alters our identities. Following a sold-out performance at Sadler’s Wells and a national tour in 2014, Patel returns to the theatre with his one-man show – American Boy – an amalgamation of film quotes from Patel’s school days.

The concept of this show is inspired by American movie culture and the ever-growing popularity of home YouTube videos. Patel explores these characters alongside the personas that individuals take on in their everyday lives. He jumps from one character to another in a continuous fusion of vocal and physical limitations.

On his website, Patel writes, “If I asked you to list the films, characters and scenes that have influenced your life, what would it reveal about you? This is how American Boy started”. There is no doubt that Patel is a skilful impressionist and, through this personal and humorous exploration of identity, the audience are welcomed to consider the cultural influences that shaped their own lives.

You will enjoy this show more if you are a film buff with similar tastes to Patel. It is more challenging to understand and connect with the performance if you are not familiar with these movies. Whether or not you have seen films such as Pulp Fiction, The Matrix, Spiderman, Wayne’s World and The Shawshank Redemption, it is hard not to be in awe of Patel’s extraordinary skills in becoming the character just by merely changing his voice or his facial expression. He is also an incredible performer, as he takes on the physically challenging role of Michael Jackson or the careful skills in performing with nunchucks. Each impression is enthralling and it doesn’t take much for Patel to create a new persona. In true film style, the voiceovers – often voiced by Patel – help to build up the layers of this complex identity.

As a performer, Patel has everything it takes to make a great show: he is humorous, engaging and incredibly talented. The performance is a bit hit-and-miss if you cannot follow the references, however it is an eye-opener and will get you thinking about the films and television shows that have influenced your identity too.

American Boy played at the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells until 29 May. For more information, see the Sadler’s Wells website.