Noël and Gertie at Curve Theatre, Leicester Review
Written by Hollie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Caution: This production contains haze and smoking is depicted on stage with the use of herbal cigarettes.
Meeting as child actors in Liverpool in the early 1900s, Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence quickly became an integral part of each other’s lives. Both gifted and talented in their own right, their close partnership spread across forty years, adding to music and acting both in the U.K. and across the pond.
However, as time has moved on and fewer and fewer people remember the works of Noel Coward, it is so important that their story continues to be told. Noel Coward, an actor, musician, and playwright, wowed audiences with his music and films, including Private Lives, Red Peppers, and Bitter Sweet.
After recently enjoying the final Downton movie ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ in which Noel Coward is immortalised by actor Arty Froushan I was intrigued to learn more about the playwright, composer, and singer for myself.
Gary Tushaw, who plays Noel, is a delight to watch. His dulcet tones and sense of humour, along with his mocking of Gertie, are just wonderful. Gary’s camaraderie with Rebecca Trehearn, who plays Gertie, is natural and believable.
Earlier in the year, I thoroughly enjoyed Curve’s production of Indigo, a Made at Curve production which starred Rebecca Trehearn as the female protagonist. She is back in this production of Noel and Gertie. I was thrilled to see that Olivier award-winning Rebecca would be starring in this production and she did not disappoint.
Gary and Rebecca’s dialogue unfolded in an alternating rhythm, with each offering insights and opinions on the other’s life and choices. This back-and-forth exchange allowed their perspectives to intertwine, revealing the complexity of their relationship. In the second act, the emotional intensity deepened, with more reflective moments that offered the audience a richer, more profound understanding of both characters. A standout moment was Rebecca’s solo performance of "Come the Wild, Wild Weather" from Noël Coward’s Waiting in the Wings — a poignant and contemplative piece that added layers of introspection and emotional weight to the narrative.
My interest was captured from the opening note. With two grand pianos bookending the stage, fantastic singing and narration of the story of their intertwined lives this production was delightfully daring, passionate and pacy.
The quartet of actors and musicians also starred Joey Hickman and Michaela Murphy, two absolutely brilliant musicians and actors who are incredibly talented playing the piano, accordion and ukulele. Their tunes and tracks were equally interspersed with the dialogue and their contributions felt equally important as the telling of Noel and Gertie’s story.
All the music and lyrics featured in the play are drawn from Noël Coward’s films, and it’s clear how the evolution of his life—and especially his deepening partnership with Gertie—served as inspiration for his work. As the story unfolds, the pair are separated by the Atlantic Ocean, the turmoil of war, and eventually by marriage. Yet even across the distance, their dynamic remains electric, with some truly monumental transatlantic bickering that adds both humour and heart to the production. Ultimately, this show is a triumph—a moving tribute to how both Noël and Gertie helped shape modern musical theatre. Their story will stay with me for a long time.
This production of Noel and Gertie continues at Curve until Saturday 11th October 2025 before it ends its run at The Grand Theatre in Blackpool from Wednesday 15th October until Saturday 18th October 2025.
If you wish to see some other productions like this at Leicester’s Curve Theatre then why not try ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’ from Saturday 18th October 2025 until Saturday 8th November 2025 or ‘Eric and Ern’ from Tuesday 6th January 2026 until Saturday 17th January 2026?
★★★★★
