What if Adolf Hilter were a contestant in the Big Brother house? What if his outspoken manner and aggressive insanity made him popular with the viewing public? What if he won? These are the ideas that are explored in Big Brother Blitzkrieg. After his suicide attempt fails Adolf awakens to find himself in a colorfully decorated house, complete with garden and yes, the diary room.

George Smith accurately voiced Big Brother throughout, calling characters to the diary room for the classic, trivial style question and answer sessions that have become a custom on the show since its launch. Jenny Johns played Lucy, one of the contestants. Her performance was a virtually like for like impersonation of previous Big Brother contestant and Apprentice finalist Kate Hopkins; known for her controversial comments and superior self-declaration. Her voice and mannerisms were impressively accurate and that matched with the fact that character was so foul-mouthed and stuck up meant that the whole thing worked rather splendidly and she was very entertaining.

Other characters resembled different outrageously extreme stereotypes that we often see on reality TV programs. Neil Summerville played Felix, a gay man, who waltzed around the house in tiny pink hot pants. Although playing a heightened camp character he was believable in his role finding depth in what could easily have been played as very trivial. The conviction with which each actor played his part was the making of this play. It could have fallen into a farcical and silly show but the skill of the actors enabled us to grasp a concept deeper than a play about reality TV.

We were able to focus realistically on the concept of people in the twenty first century liking Afolf Hilter’s reality persona. Hilter was played by Stephen Chance. He was exemplary in this role. This depiction of Hilter as a man unsure, out of his comfort zone yet still underscored with wickedness, madness and contempt was captivating. He was gloriously manipulative and cleverly characterized. This is a talented and amazingly detailed actor who I would love to watch in future roles. We watched Chance manipulate the other characters on stage as he successfully delivered a truthful and realistic portrayal of a man so despised through history, and oddly made a watching audience acknowledge him as a man.

This was a very well acted play throughout. Hannah Douglas, Kit Loyd and Tracey Ann Wood played other contestants within the house. Each of them in their own right stood out for managing to find real truth inside their stereotypical character shells.

When I first read the synopsis I was unsure what to expect, Adolf Hiter in the Big Brother house? I thought where is the playwright going with this. I find plays like this, with such a scandalous concept, can easily go one of two ways. Either it’s done a bit silly and any deeper meaning is lost or it is a huge success.

This play worked magnificently because not one actor on stage held back; there was no apologetic acting regardless of the fact that each character was someone essentially unlikable. By the end I felt quite horrified because I had empathized with someone portraying Adolf Hitler. I felt as though I had alarmingly understood him, even though I had, of course not, liked him, and that is perhaps what the writer and director had wanted us to feel. The concept of this play is superb and I am so pleased it was performed to such a high standard so that a deeper subtext came through with so much impact.

Big Brother Blitzkrieg is playing at the King’s Head Theatre until 30 January. For more information and tickets, see the King’s Head Theatre website.