North by Northwest, UK Tour Review (2025)
Written by Jasmine for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
I have been a fan of Wise Children for quite time for one fundamental reason - every choice they make is made with a sense of fun. They can take on serious themes, but make plenty of space in every show for silly moments. North by Northwest is a wonderful example of why this works so well - it makes their characters endlessly likeable, and diffuses the pretentiousness that can be associated with theatre by letting the audience have fun too.
This show is largely narrated by Katy Owen, a staple of Wise Children’s productions, and a brilliant performer that can convincingly switch characters at the drop of a hat. Owen’s endless energy and comic timing are central to why this show is such a good time - and the way they interact with audience in an almost pantomime style is a highlight of the night.
That said, this adaptation of Hitchcock’s North by Northwest is truly an ensemble production; their synchronisation in the dance numbers and the way they bounce off of each other comedically is a joy to behold. Ewan Wardrop is charming and hilarious as Roger Thornhill, the man caught at the centre of the mystery, and Patrycja Kujawska brings Eve Kendall (among other characters) to life beautifully, bringing real depth to the old Hollywood heroine. There is no one who doesn’t shine in this; both Mirabelle Gremaud and Simon Oskarsson as Anna and Valerian (in their most prominent roles) manage to both play on the spy-comedy of the assassin couple whilst making the gradual reveal of why they are each there truly moving. Karl Queensborough similarly seems like your stereotypical old movie villain but delivers a really moving monologue in his defence later in the show. By the end, you may not want him to win, but you cannot help but feel for him. Alongside these roles, every time these actors multi-role for shorter stints, they create genuinely memorable characters, which makes so much of the play’s fun.
This adaptation is one that, beneath its light-hearted surface, wants us to understand how this came to be. We learn bit by bit how the Second World War sowed the seeds for the present situation, and the anti-isolationist policies of the US and desire for peace in the 50s that come into focus toward the end of the play feel like a particularly resonant subject for our times. Emma Rice’s direction never misses the opportunity to make you smile, and this means that even moving props or set becomes a chance for the actors to have fun.
This brings me onto one of the real highlights of the show: the brilliant and endlessly entertaining set. The set consists of three very large wooden structures that function like revolving doors but can also be moved around to become endless different rooms. One of my favourite aspects of Wise Children’s style is that they don’t ever pretend they’re not pretending; the costume changes and set changes reject realism for more entertaining options, such as suitcases that tell you characters or locations, and may even become them. Even much of the costume is on show along the back of the stage - it makes you feel you can really see the world of the play being created around you.
This is a show full of classic 50s tunes, endless jokes, and a sense of hope that shines through every aspect of their approach - I can guarantee you a lovely time out if you catch North by Northwest on its travels around the UK.
North by Northwest is on a limited tour, find further information on the Wise Children website.
★ ★ ★ ★
