Review: Slideshow: In Color!

📍 Etcetera Theatre

🗓️ 4th May 2026

🎟️ PR Invite

Making its London debut, Slideshow: In Color! brings together people from all walks of life in the arts —storytellers, poets, musicians, comedians, and more— each sharing their own stories, supported by slides that help guide the audience through their journeys. 

Host Steve Silverman opens the evening by explaining how the show came about and evolved —bringing it from an underground theatre in L.A. to London — before taking us on a hilarious and nostalgic journey through his own childhood, with plenty of photos to bring his stories to life.

Over the course of the 60-minute show, he is joined by a series of guests who each share deeply personal and engaging stories.

First up is Callaghan, who recounts how they came to have a brain injury, including a particularly gruesome story involving their eye. As someone quite squeamish about eyes, I found parts of this difficult to hear, see, and even imagine — but the story was delivered with such humour, warmth, and honesty that it was both engaging and educational, and I was completely hooked.

Next, Savia Rocks reflects on her upbringing, focusing especially on her wonderful grandmother. Through her storytelling, she explores how she came to share her grandmother’s passions, and how photography can be a powerful storytelling tool. She ends her section with a series of motivational quotes, serving as a reminder to be yourself and follow your passions. 

It’s a heartfelt and inspiring segment that highlights the importance of creativity and trusting your instincts. 

Finally, Tess Rafferty takes to the stage, guiding us through an emotional journey centred on her friendship with her late friend, Danica. She speaks about how they met, the strength of their bond —beautifully capturing the vibrancy of her friend’s personality — and the lasting impact of her loss. It’s a deeply moving and touching segment.

Between each performance, Steve returns to the stage, weaving in anecdotes from his own life, touching on everything from his childhood and family to his iconic fashion choices.

This is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Rather than a traditional performance, it’s more like spending time with a group of people, simply listening to their stories. Across the 60 minutes, there are moments of laughter, shock, and emotion, and I left with plenty to reflect on.

The use of slides adds a unique visual dimension to the storytelling, enhancing the experience. While some references didn’t fully resonate with me, they didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Overall, it was a warm, engaging, and memorable evening.

The show has two more performances at Etcetera Theatre on June 13th and July 12th, featuring different special guests sharing their own stories.