Dystopia in 26: A Rock Opera
Venue: Venue 29, Bedlam Theatre Auditorium
Until: August 29, 2026
Date seen: August 19, 2026
Reviewed by: H. Bunch and G. Bronfman
Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5
Dystopia in 26: A Rock Opera is a full-scale, two-act rock and roll musical parody and satire of our current “dystopian” political environment. The creative team and musicians are centred in Falkirk.
From the minute you arrive at the Bedlam Theatre, you are greeted by the fact that this is a full-scale, sophisticated production. There are glossy printed programmes proclaiming the show as “A Two Act Dystopian InRocktrination” that demands “compulsory answers to the questions of obedience” and warns the audience to “snitch them, seize them, silence them.” There are industrial-sized faux political posters proclaiming “Zero Tolerance”, “Blame” and “Make Dystopia Great Again.” When the show starts, AI-generated propaganda and art are projected onto two screens on either side of the stage, with subtitles for the characters’ dialogue and all of the songs.
The presentation is not actually like an opera, but rather that of a rock band, where players take on different roles and characters as the plot develops, all the while rocking straight ahead. In the first act, the story describes the rise to power of President “Blame”, using Orwellian doublespeak to corrupt democracy. The second act describes the rise of Magnanimous Moon, the liberal version of Orwellian doublespeak, just with different language, sadly conveying the message that the masses are easily fooled and “the new boss is the same as the old boss.”
The musicians were very talented across the board, and the lyrics were wry, witty and on point. The political satire also extended to the costumes, with the bassist wearing a Trump mask, the drummer a Putin mask and the guitarist a Kim Jong mask. Taken as a whole, this was a very entertaining show. The addition of the multimedia side screens, with images and subtitles moving in concert with the songs and plot, really tied the show together and made it a unique and unforgettable entertainment – and educational – experience.
We loved the rock concert sound, the music, the vibe and the political commentary. It was definitely cathartic to see others from around the world reflecting the trepidation and desperation surrounding the current and very real global situation. This musical is a savvy, brilliant conception. The musicians and singers are each virtuosos in their own right, keeping the performance charged with commitment throughout.
One might hope that if more of this message were communicated globally, it could effect positive change towards democracy and against tyranny and oppressive regimes taking hold. It’s terrifying to see what the global superpowers are attempting. Still, no one quite knows what to do about it.
Based on the successful execution of this multifaceted, multimedia political satire, we easily give this show five stars.
★★★★★
Thanks for this thoughtful and inteligent review. You are one of the few revieweirs who appears to understand Systems Change. Thanks too for properly understanding the nuances of Dystopia 26 The Rock Opera. Beldon Haigh has always endevoured to change this corrupt and dishonest world through the means at it’s dosposal. It seems people are now startig to latch on.