In the Print at King’s Head Theatre Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic.
Disclaimer: Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review. All views are our own
If “newspapers are the first draft of remembering history” then In The Print is a scalpel that offers an incisive dive into the murkiness of the recent past. This production is a tense thriller based on Rupert Murdoch’s fight with Brenda Dean, the general secretary of the SOGAT union (Society of Graphical and Allied Trades), as he began to build the beginnings of his current multimedia monopoly on British news.
Directed with excellent tension by Josh Roche, this documentary-style thriller focuses on the 1985-1986 "The Battle of Wapping" standoff between SOGAT and Murdoch, which ultimately revolutionised how modern printing and newspapers are presented. The writing by Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky is incredible. This play does an excellent examination of the infamous year-long strike by SOGAT and showcases both sides of the strike well. We see every stage of the different tactics, including pushing the printers to go on strike, to fire them and creating a false newspaper to avoid paying the workers their normal wage. This play is both a brilliant examination of Murdoch’s methods and Dean’s ingenuity and also connects incisively to represent the wider 80’s destruction of unions and the beginnings of privatisation under Thatcher. The story is bold, filled with plenty of darkly humorous jokes and deliciously taut throughout. There are many references that modern life audiences will chuckle at, as well as ’80s-specific jokes. The characters are very vividly portrayed, and this play is incredibly well researched to create sharp dialogue that creates powerfully resonant representations of real individuals. The pacing of this show over 90 minutes also keeps the tension taut and the audience on the edge of their seat. Although we know how the story will end and Murdoch’s inevitable victory, the pacing and twists are so well plotted that the audience is rooting for Brenda until the very end.
The cast are incredible and utterly captivating to watch. Alasdair Harvey, Georgia Landers, Jonathan Jaynes and Russell Bentley performed multiple roles to support the swiftly moving storyline. I was incredibly impressed not only by the exceptional chemistry together but their nuanced individual performances. Their use of change in tone, accent, body movement and nuance was brilliant at differentiating the characters to the point I found it difficult to remember they were four actors and not a cast of twenty. Claudia Jolly as Brenda Dean, the first woman to lead the SOGAT union, was impressively compassionate, determined and powerful throughout. Alan Cox as Rupert Murdoch was impressively ruthless and showcased Murdoch’s mannerisms magnificently. Their powerful tension and bitter rival chemistry was wonderfully portrayed on stage.
Peiyao Wang’s set works wonderfully to set the tension for In The Print. The back of the print offices looms large over the actors on stage, acting as a sinister yet familiar background where the majority of the ruthless meetings took place. The spattering of ink, reminiscent of gunshots and ruined newspapers, highlights the damage a ruined newspaper can create for tycoons such as Murdoch. The lack of props within the set keeps the focus on the actors’ excellent chemistry and are a poignant reminder that this is a show about the demise of union strength and the industrial class under Thatcher’s Britain. Josh Gadsby’s lighting design and Sarah Spencer’s sound design worked beautifully together to keep the tension high and the audience raptly focused on the action on stage.
Overall, this is a phenomenal play which could easily transfer to any larger West End stage. If you enjoy taut documentary style thrillers, a sharp dive into 80s history, the rise of Murdoch and his ruthless business tactics, fantastic actors and a powerfully presented story, then this is the perfect play for you. Run to see this while you can.
Running until 3rd May 2026 at the Kings Head Theatre.
★★★★★
