Review of Art at Norwich Theatre Royal: Popular comedy starring Seann Walsh, Chris Harper and Aden Gillett examines snobbery surrounding art world

Art - Theatre Royal, Norwich

This popular comedy, originally written in French, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year with a national tour starring three household names: comedian Seann Walsh, TV favourite Chris Harper and experienced stage actor Aden Gillett.

They play old friends with very different personalities who rather spectacularly fall out over the purchase of an abstract white painting. Well, is it actually white is a recurring question!

The play, just 80 minutes long, examines the snobbery surrounding the art world - what makes something worth a lot of money and, more importantly, who decides what is of merit and what isn’t.

The men wrap themselves up in knots as they try to work out who has the right opinion and their friendships come under pressure as they struggle to rationalise what they mean to each other - if anything.

There are plenty of genuinely funny lines, lots of fun poked at middle-class pretension about contemporary art and Seann Walsh as the peacemaker and frankly a bit wet Yvan is particularly delightful.

There isn’t a neat ending, you sense the arguments about what makes for great art will continue but you hope the trio survive this meltdown!

The show continues until Saturday. Visit www.norwichtheatre.org

Review by Sarah Hardy