What is love? It’s a question philosophers, poets, and pop songs have wrestled with for centuries, and in Jeromaia Detto: Giuseppe’s Love Quest, comedian/clown Jeromaia Detto tackles it through the wide-eyed innocence of his alter ego, Giuseppe Alfresco: a sun-soaked Italian beach boy who has somehow made it this far in life without ever falling in love.

The premise is simple; the execution is anything but. From the moment Giuseppe bounds onto the stage, the show quickly becomes a joyful exercise in audience participation. Rather than keeping the crowd at arm’s length, Detto builds the entire experience around them, inviting volunteers into Giuseppe’s increasingly chaotic search for romance. The result is a show that feels less like a performance and more like a shared adventure.

Audience interaction can sometimes feel risky in comedy, but Detto handles it with remarkable care. He clearly wants everyone involved to feel comfortable and included, guiding participants through the bits with warmth and encouragement. Even when the crowd inevitably throws the show in unexpected directions, he responds with kindness and quick thinking. Never dismissive and always ready to turn a spontaneous moment into another punchline.

Much of the humour leans into playful Italian stereotypes and exaggerated physical comedy. Giuseppe’s passionate gestures, dramatic reactions, and earnest misunderstandings create a steady stream of laughs, with Detto fully committing to the character’s naïve charm. It’s wonderfully silly at times, but that’s part of the appeal.

What makes the performance work, however, is the heart behind it. Beneath the absurdity, Giuseppe’s quest to understand love is genuinely sweet. Detto never overcomplicates the concept, instead letting the audience help shape Giuseppe’s journey in real time. The crowd becomes part of the story, collectively exploring the question at the centre of the show.

By the end, Giuseppe’s Love Quest leaves the audience feeling like they’ve taken part in something delightfully unpredictable. It’s warm, interactive, and packed with playful energy. A comedy experience that proves sometimes the best way to explore love is through a little bit of chaos.

If you would like to catch a glimpse of Giuseppe in real time, the show is running until Sunday 15 March. Get your tickets here.

4 stars.

By Jess Pyke