Jack Holden's maximum effort solo show KENREX has been captivating audiences with its true crime narrative, earning a stellar four out of five stars in recent reviews. This theatrical tour de force, which debuted to great acclaim in Sheffield in late 2024, has enjoyed two hugely successful London runs and continues to impress at The Other Palace in Victoria until 1 February 2026.
A Classy Guilty Pleasure
Teetering on the edge of a guilty pleasure, KENREX manages to be both luridly entertaining and extremely classy, entirely by design. The show caps a remarkable few years for Holden, whose star has risen dramatically as both a writer and performer since his previous solo show Cruise became a post-pandemic West End hit.
True Crime Inspiration
Co-written with director Ed Stambollouian, KENREX presents a largely true account of the brutal life and unusual death of Ken Rex McElroy. Holden and Stambollouian are transparent about their heavy influence from true crime podcasts, though they don't attempt to emulate the format directly.
The production guides audiences through a remarkably juicy true story with the pacing and narrative strategy reminiscent of a podcast series, focusing first and foremost on being an engaging yarn rather than delving deeply beneath its characters' surfaces.
Theatrical Brilliance
Presentationally, KENREX doesn't get much more theatrical than this. Holden plays every single role, taking on virtually the entire populace of the sleepy Missouri town Skidmore and beyond as he regales audiences with the story of McElroy - a village bastard who menaced his fellow citizens through activities ranging from cattle rustling to attempted murder.
McElroy always managed to evade justice thanks to his infuriating lawyer, Richard Gene McFadin, until one fateful day when he was murdered in public in front of dozens of townsfolk. The case remains unsolved, with no witnesses ever coming forward and no conviction ever made.
Production Excellence
Holden conjures his extensive cast with increasingly sweaty aplomb, but Stambollouian's production is defined by imagination as much as perspiration. From a delirious song and dance routine illustrating the town's annual festival to an ominous showdown between McElroy and a circle of mic stands, KENREX never simply rests on the laurels of Holden's incredible effort.
Holden proves seemingly inexhaustible, demonstrating prodigious physical and facial malleability that leaves audiences questioning what he actually looks like after two hours of performance. He's not entirely alone on stage either, backed by musician and composer John Patrick Elliott whose contributions range from subtle drones to full sung songs and properly apocalyptic soundscapes, with some acting thrown in for good measure.
Entertainment Over Depth
The production is incredibly impressive, to the extent that audiences can be forgiving of its relative lack of depth. While some efforts are made to counter the obvious conclusion that McElroy was merely a terrible human being who got what he deserved, this isn't handled entirely convincingly and occurs too late in the narrative.
We do glimpse some inner turmoil from prosecutor David Baird - the man who wanted to take McElroy down legally - but other characters lack real depth, particularly McElroy himself who truly seems awful throughout.
A Triumph on Its Own Terms
KENREX represents a phenomenal staging of a play that's more luridly entertaining than deeply profound. The key realisation is that this is exactly what it wants to be - on its own terms, KENREX stands as an absolute triumph of theatrical storytelling.
Performance Details
Venue: The Other Palace, 12 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JA
Transport: Victoria or St James's Park tube stations
Price: £25-£67.50
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
The show continues with performances through to 1 February 2026, offering London theatregoers a chance to experience this unique blend of true crime storytelling and theatrical innovation at one of the capital's premier venues.
