The red carpet was out. The paparazzi were waiting and the celebs were arriving. Mr Smith and I were there too. It was the opening night of something that I am not allowed to tell you about. What is the point of the review then, I hear you crying! Well, there is a good reason why I can’t tell you about this show. It would spoil the entire thing and we were asked very politely not to do that!

What I can tell you is about the man himself. James Freedman is an expert on stealth crime. In his own words, he looks like an accountant on a night out but he is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest pickpockets. He has secretly picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A grown up Artful Dodger.

He’s not a criminal though. James works closely with the police and security professionals to educate and inform.

Here we are at the Trafalgar Studios. Mr Smith came out of hiding for this one and his contact lenses misted up whilst he was celebrity spotting. At one point, his head was spinning around like the girl in the exorcist. We took our seats, sorry Kathy Lette, did I tread on your toes? Maybe it was because Mr Smith nearly sat on Robert Lyndsay and Matt Evers. Oops!

We are all about to be taught some lessons. It’s hard to describe the event. It’s a show. It’s a demonstration. It’s comedy but it’s also a complete eye-opener to some life mistakes that we all make that could cost us dear.

Mr “misty lenses” Smith is transfixed on Yoko Ono* and Rupert Everett* and thinks he has spotted LeAnn Rimes* and Patti Boulaye* but even he has to stop and listen as we are all shown up for making basic security mistakes in our everyday lives.

It is not a spoiler to mention that watching Freedman is watching a master at work. He will change the way you think but at the same time entertain you. I have never seen so many people checking their pockets as the audience leaving the theatre last night. Even Madonna*, H from steps* and “some bloke from Hollyoakes”*

I would imagine also that many people have since changed their PIN numbers!
(*indicates what could be Mr Smith’s vivid imagination)

Review by Dickie Neil

James Freedman Man of Steal
Persuader. Showman. Thief.
Freedman will steal a whole lot more than you might expect.
Funny and fast-fingered, this unique and extraordinary show exposes how the bad guys really work, sharing a life-time spent studying hustlers, street criminals and con-men. Hailed a genius in his field by Derren Brown, stealth-crime expert James Freedman is the only man to have picked the pockets of the Mayor of London, the Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England. No wonder then that his hands have been insured for £1 million….

James Freedman Man of Steal
Trafalgar Studios
Running Time: 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval)
Age Restrictions: Suitable for all ages
Show Opened: 26th May 2015
Booking Until: 4th July 2015
Evenings: Monday to Saturday 8.00pm
Matinees: Thursday and Saturday 2.30pm

Saturday 30th May 2015