007 James Boned: The Unscripted Spy Parody - Fringe World 2026

Reviewed by Kate O'Sullivan

Bond is back—only this time he has no script, no safety net, and very possibly no clue. 007 James Boned: The Unscripted Spy Parody is a gleefully silly, fully improvised take on the world’s most famous spy, created anew each night from an audience suggested title. What follows is a one-night-only 007 adventure that will never be seen again, which is very much part of the fun.

The show opens with a strong parody of a classic Bond-style opening number, immediately setting the tone. There is some lovely physicality at play here, with confident movement and clear genre awareness. At times the sound balance between microphone and keys could be watched more closely, but the intent and energy of the opening land well and quickly win over the room.

A standout sequence was the setup of a the Bond and the Femme Fatale (on opening night, Miss Oxford) scene on the plane. This section leaned beautifully into double entendre and cheeky innuendo, capturing the tongue-in-cheek spirit of the Bond universe. The performers demonstrated a clear understanding of the genre, and while the tropes were already working well, the audience was clearly ready for them to be pushed even further.

As with many improvised narratives, the plot occasionally loses momentum when extra bit characters are introduced. While these characters are often funny in isolation, they sometimes derailed the central story, causing moments of confusion from the players and slightly diluting the core spy tropes the show is playing with. A tighter focus here would allow the parody elements to shine even more clearly.

That said, the audience is very much along for the ride. The performers make generous use of audience suggestions, weaving numerous title ideas throughout the show, which creates a strong sense of collaboration and investment. Laughter is frequent, and the room feels buoyant and engaged from start to finish.

James Boned is a playful, self-aware romp that celebrates both Bond and the joy of improvisation. With its sharp genre knowledge, confident performers, and enthusiastic audience connection, it delivers a fun night of comedy that knows exactly how seriously not to take itself.

Reviewer Note: Kate has performed with members of this cast. Tickets for this show were provided by the company.