Dear Liar at Jermyn Street Theatre Review
Written by Bronagh for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Forget sliding into DMs or swiping on dating apps. Instead, turn your attention to something barely heard of these days… letters. Not the ones from TV Licensing, but love letters that take months to get a response. This is the foundation of Dear Liar, based on the letters between playwright George Bernard Shaw and the actress Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner, known to many as Mrs Patrick Campbell. In their letters, they argue, they complain and they yearn to see one another. This isn’t your ordinary romance; it’s a love story between literary icons.
This is a play that simply just works and is a delightful two hander. Rachel Pickup and Alan Turkington read through the letters, handily rescued from a hidden hatbox before the outbreak of war. The back and forth is constant, not too unlike a tennis match. Both Pickup and Turkington command full attention whenever they speak, whether delivering the letters or the additional dialogue in between. It’s impossible to take your eyes off the small Jermyn Street stage. We see the relationship between the two go through a wide range of emotions, from sheer frustration to lust to complaints about having flu. Dear Liar is set to the backdrop of two wars, one of which took Campbell’s son’s life. The historical context is carefully maintained, reminding us just how long the pair sustained their correspondence.
Fast forward to 2026, we can draw parallels between Mrs Patrick Campbell and some stereotypes that still exist today. Her gender and advancing years don’t work to her advantage, with roles drying up as she grows more cantankerous. Just a woman and her Pekingese dog against the world. Towards the end she is quite a tragic figure, now also facing poverty. This was captured well by Pickup, who I think may now be one of my favourite leading ladies in a production. Turkington is less sympathetic as Shaw, instead moaning often and making petty remarks, usually at Campbell’s expense. We see two contrasting sides of the man, notably shown in the scene where he recounts his mother’s cremation, remarkably in a rather amusing fashion. Pickup and Turkington should certainly be commended for their performances.
Sound, designed by Harry Blake, is used effectively primarily through the typewriter sound that signals a scene change. This really taps into the literary theme. Tom Paris’s set and costume design are magnificent, both of which were among my favourites that I’ve seen on stage. The costumes are fairly traditional, with a modern twist. Campbell almost resembles a New Romantic - a bold choice that somehow works entirely, despite the early 1900s setting. No period costume here. The set consists of sheer sheets, which are drawn across the stage at various points. They are lightweight as they swoop across the small stage, showing the beautiful designs to the audience.
Dear Liar showcases ups and downs, lust and frustration. At its core, this is a love story and an ideal watch as we gear up to Valentine’s Day. Don’t go expecting the steamy and raunchy side of a love story – Dear Liar shows that words alone can ignite the stage.
At The Jermyn Street Theatre until 7th March 2026
★★★★
