REVIEW | The Book Thief Musical

(Centre) Daniel Krikler as Max & the cast of The Book Thief. Credit Pamela Raith 

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Reviewer - Emmie

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review

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“An almighty emotional rollercoaster that you don’t want to get off” is what I’d choose to describe my experience of watching The Book Thief Musical. The stage adaptation of Markus Zusak’s novel about war, death, kindness, and the power of words has been carefully curated - not only for those fans (like myself) but also for new audiences too. 

Adapted for the stage by Jodi Picoult and Timothy Allen McDonald and directed by Lotte Wakeham, this story follows a young girl named Liesel Meminger whose life is completely uprooted by the unfolding chaos of the Second World War. Now living with Rosa Hubermann (Mina Anwar) and Hans Hubermann (Jack Lord), captivated by the magic of books and her friendship with Rudy Steiner (Oliver Gordon), Liesel learns to adapt to the war that rages around her. Not before long, a German Jewish man called Max Vandenburg (Daniel Krikler) is knocking on their door and pleading for refuge. His arrival brings a larger threat to their door but Max enriches Liesel’s life, teaching her that the power of love is stronger than that of hate.

Condensing a 580-page novel that spans many locations and frequently shifts through time periods into a musical is a huge task. However, what they manage to do with The Book Thief Musical is capture the key themes and messages engraved in the novel. Notably this book has translated incredibly well from the page to the stage.

A particular translation that really stood out was the symbolism of colours in the book, which is primarily centred on the horrors of Nazism in the Second World War. The production executed this brilliantly through Good Teeth’s Set and Costume Design, Dick Straker’s Video and Projection and Nic Farman’s Lighting. The addition of Tom Jackson Greaves’ and Tinovimbanashe Sibanda’s choreography brings exciting dynamics and layers to the overall atmosphere and intimacy that works so well for a musical like this.

The Book Thief Musical is led by the narrator, Death. Played by Obioma Ugoala, his importance to the flow and linking in this piece hits the nail on the head. He integrates into the performance, often playing a variety of roles, adding some light relief to a hard-hitting story. His biggest impact on the audience is at the end where he leaves the audience stunned.

Eirini Louskou has the substantial responsibility of playing Liesel. Louskou is instantly likeable from the get-go, her personality oozes warmth and you are constantly rooting for her. Her rendition of '“Hello Stars” is particularly poignant in this show, Eirini is an incredible young performer who leads the cast with a flare of professionalism like none other. 

The Book Thief Musical contains one of the strongest casts I’ve seen in the theatre this year. It’s a production that will make you consider the importance of kindness and even though it is a story written over a set period of time, its relevance is heartbreaking and this adaptation doesn’t shy away from acknowledging that.

This production is a truly breathtaking piece of theatre - it’s captivating and has strong messages about the importance of kindness oozing from it. It’s the perfect page to stage adaptation. 

At Curve, Leicester until 17 October.