How do you review a show without mentioning anything that happens in it? Very, very carefully.
At its core, Only Human is a show about uncertainty and the deeply human ways we make choices and decisions. It’s an incredibly impressive piece of theatre. From the very beginning, starting with a bang, or rather a hiss (IYKYK), Derren Brown immediately puts the audience on the back foot and keeps them there for the entire show. Even when something seems obvious, you’re never completely sure whether you’re being shown the truth or being expertly led somewhere else entirely.
The show mixes the familiar world of spiritual charlatans with moments of genuine theatrical spectacle, and it does both brilliantly. There’s a bit in the middle of the show that completely changes the scale and atmosphere in the room, creating some genuinely breathtaking moments. Trying to talk around specifics without spoiling anything is almost impossible, which probably says a lot about how well the show works.
What really stands out, though, is Brown’s presence on stage. With plenty of local references and small nods throughout, he makes the performance feel surprisingly personal. Rather than feeling like just another stop on a long-running tour, it feels like a real connection with the audience in front of him that night.
As with everything Derren Brown does, you can never quite tell how intentional any moment is. From the songs playing during the interval to the seemingly innocuous backdrop, there’s a constant sense that you might be being subtly influenced without even realising it. And with Brown, it’s probably safe to assume that every detail has been carefully considered. Even when you think you’ve worked out how something was done, chances are you haven’t. Then, as everyone files out of the theatre to The Power of Love from Back to the Future, there’s one final lovely touch: a nod to Belfast, where the DeLorean was built.
Derren Brown – Only Human runs at Belfast’s Grand Opera House until 23rd May 2026. To book tickets or find out more information click here.
