Review: The Gift – The Old Market, Hove

Reviewing a show like The Gift is never easy — you want to share enough to convey the feeling of the experience without giving too much away. It’s best approached with a sense of discovery, and that air of mystery is very much part of its charm. From the moment you arrive, the experience begins […]

Reviewing a show like The Gift is never easy — you want to share enough to convey the feeling of the experience without giving too much away. It’s best approached with a sense of discovery, and that air of mystery is very much part of its charm.

From the moment you arrive, the experience begins with a warm, ceremonial welcome before guests are gently guided to their tables. This opening immediately sets the tone for the immersive journey ahead — theatrical, thoughtful, and inviting — making you feel part of something special from the very start.

The evening weaves together storytelling and performance, beginning with the encounter of “Justice” before flowing seamlessly into the feast itself. The food is not just accompaniment but a central part of the ritual. Served as generous sharing platters, the feast encourages conversation and connection from the first course. Passing dishes, discussing flavours, and dining together naturally breaks down barriers, turning the meal into a communal celebration rather than a standard sit-down dinner.

As the night unfolds, the greeters introduce everyone to their new “clans,” transforming tables of strangers into small communities. Each clan talks together and decides on a collective wish— a hope or intention to represent their group. These wishes are then brought to the wider room so one shared aspiration can be chosen — a symbolic commitment that everyone undertakes together, uniting the whole audience in a surprisingly moving moment.

The experience culminates in a thoughtful blessing, a calm and reflective pause that neatly draws the journey together before the final reveal of the show’s title moment — the “gift.” In a charming and humble twist, that gift is a simple slice of cake, shared by all as the perfect sweet ending to a night built on connection, ritual, and storytelling.

The Gift isn’t just dinner, and it isn’t simply theatre. It’s a carefully balanced fusion of welcome, feast, performance, participation, and shared emotion — a rare kind of evening that truly brings people together. It’s best experienced rather than explained, and earns a thoroughly deserved:

Wish-tastic: 4.5 / 5 stars

Dates: December 3 – 21 (No shows on Mondays or Tuesdays)

Times: Doors and bar open from 7pm Weds to Sat; from 5pm on Sundays. 

The doors and TOM’s Bar will open from 7pm with pre-show entertainment and your starter course. Please arrive no later than 7.30pm to ensure you can take part in the full show.

Latecomers will be admitted but from after 8pm, it will mean certain parts of the show will be less participatory.

Running Time – 2.5 hours approximately but subject to change

Venue: The Old Market, 11a Upper Market Street, Hove, BN3 1AS

Ticket booking info: Box Office on 01273 201801 or https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/the-gift 

Prices: All tickets are £47.50 and include a shareable feast.