Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy, the Pirates of the Caribbean series) stars as a cop who moonlights as a killer-for-hire in the multi award-winning Tracy Letts' blackly comic thriller, Killer Joe.
The Smith family hatch a plan to murder their estranged matriarch for her insurance money. They hire Joe Cooper, a police detective and part-time contract killer, to do the job. But once he enters their trailer home and comes face to face with their innocent daughter, the plan spirals out of control...
A tense, gut-twisting thriller, Killer Joe, directed by Simon Evans (The Dazzle and Bug at Found111, The Best Man) asks where the moral line is drawn in the fight for survival.
Killer Joe plays a strictly limited 13-week season from Friday 18 May - Saturday 18 August at Trafalgar Studio 1.
Killer Joe reviews
Different and confronting modern drama well acted brilliant cast well worth seeing
Excellent show very dark
What a gripping story, excellent acting, fantastic in a small theatre. Fabulous entertainment ❣️
Excellent! Really enjoyed everyone’s performance, especially Orlando Bloom who done an amazing job as Joe and Adam Gillen as Chris. Absolutely brilliant 👍
without a doubt a 5 star review
I have booked to see this play for a third time! Aside from Orlando Bloom being the main appeal, the other cast members are really rather amazing. The intimacy of the theatre really sets the atmosphere for this dark thriller, so much so you forget the audience is there with you. I think you could hear a pin drop, the performance is that intense. Just brilliant.
I confess I bought the tickets mainly to see Orlando Bloom - no idea on the story, had done zero background research. What a great evening it turned out! the play is incredibly catchy, the audience was captured, in some instances i think everybody was holding their breath - catchy acting, great timings, the chemistry on stage is amazing. Absolutely recommended!
This was a lot darker subject matter than I was expecting. I was disappointed that typically the women were expected to be full frontal naked whereas Orlando got away with his back to the audience. Equality - not! Adam Gillen's acting is brilliant, as are the rest of the cast. As the theatre is so small, row A is actually on the stage!
As a first time theatre goer, it was STUNNING! Direction, set design, ACTORS, superb! Thank you, because I WILL come again!
Having by chance come across the ultimate B movie Killer Joe with Matthew Maconaughey as Killer Joe, I was strangely repulsed and compelled by the film, and found it hard to believe ANYONE would put on a stage play of this. Obviously I knew the story, which was stuck to pretty much. The KFC scene in the film was actually quite frightening, but not so on stage..... However, having been weirdly fascinated by the film, I thought the play very good, and soooo surprised at Orlando Bloom turning out to quite menacing in the part, and phew ! What a physique to boot !
All performances were v strong. Sophie Cookson & Adam Gillen matching Orlando all the way. The set too was magnificent, moody & brooding. Great intimate theatre and one could even get a drink at the bar without taking up all of the interval.
The evening had some truly sensational performances and the cast all worked hard both physically and mentally. Orlando Bloom was a revelation as Killer Joe, tightly coiled menace exuding from every pore - even in his " pleasant" persona in the first half. By the second half that mask has slipped entirely and the true sadistic nature of his character breaks through. However, it is the performances of Sophie Cookson as the damaged Dottie that seared the soul. She expertly conveyed fragility, derangement and piercing awareness all within a heartbeat. Adam Gillen as Chris brought out his character's near incestual obsession with his sister, adeptly conveying his confusion with how his life was panning out and his inability to accept responsibility. The set was perfect to convey the squalor and general degradation of the characters' everyday lives. The centrality of the TV and the different colours it provided for illuminating the various scenes all heightened the dramatic tension of the action. Perhaps the gothic thunder and lightening were overdone, but they helped to ratchet up the tension yet another notch. The nudity ( Dottie's and the step mother's) was still shocking in the exploitative way in which it was done, not sure if that is what is written in the play, but it was deeply uncomfortable to watch. Overall, not a comfortable evening, but well worth seeing
Excellent from start to finish. Left on the edge wondering. Contained everything. Fantastic cast! Would recommend.
Within a few minutes you are so drawn into this show that you can't look away. You might buy the ticket because Orlando Bloom is cast in the lead, but the cast are outstanding. Their performances are so moving that at times you feel uncomfortable watching. I would thoroughly recommend this show and venue (don't forget to bring a fan if you have one, the theatre is quite warm in the current high temperatures). Highly recommended.
I came to this not knowing anything about the story. The acting blew me away, Adam Gillen was amazing I’ve only ever seen him in Benidorm wow! What an actor
Excellent performances by Sophie Cookson and Adam Gillen. A fairly harrowing tale but well delivered.
I enjoyed the play, there were some great performances but I feel some of the actors weren't very convincing and let the whole play down. Also very disappointed that Orlando Bloom was on holidays, as we weren't told this when we booked the tickets.
On arrival at the theatre I discovered that Orlando Bloom was not performing, I was gutted. However, I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s show and thought that all of the actors were amazing. Well done to all except Orlando Bloom!
Killer Joe...killed my outlook of Londonʻs theatre. I purchased tickets because Orlando Bloom was in it, only to find out when I entered the theatre that he was not working that evening. I tried to get a refund but they said that the website had indicated that Orlando Bloom was not going to be there. Unless it was in the smallest print..I didnʻt see that posted.
Orlando was not performing which was a massive disappointment. The play was a very strange concept and almost uncomfortable to watch. The acting was good but not great however southern accents were poor.
Superb play, edge of seat, quality of cast outstanding
Outstanding performances from all the players. Kept you enthralled every second not knowing what was going to happen next.
After seeing the film and reading the critics reviews I was expecting the worst, however my fears were unfounded. This was a sharp production, ‘Joe’ was suitably menacing, Dottie fragile but believable. The tension built to a well executed finale . This theatre leant itself well to the production, we had seats near the front and felt at times like voyeurs rather than audience members which added to the enjoyment as the production drew you in to the action. A great night out .
The acting was incredible! The show was gripping, sad, funny, amazing! I didn’t appreciate the audience laughing at parts that I personally took to be poignant and dramatic, not funny at all. Overall an amazing piece of art. Kudos to ALL the actors. Run and see if!
Excellent evening's entertainment. Wonderful performances from all the cast, exactly as this play should be. The fight scene music and lighting was so well done. Set design was fab too.
Brilliant performance by all the cast, tense from the beginning to the end, very entertaining. Loved it! Thank you
Outstanding performance from all actors keeps you on the edge just brilliant
This is brilliant and so close and personal. All cast were superb. Orlando Bloom fantastic.
Good acting. Bit unnecessarily controversial at times
We thoroughly enjoyed Killer Joe, it was a great show to see on a date night and was worthy of more than the 2 star review we read before going. Very well acted and lots of tension and drama.
The warmth and intimacy of the actors performances contrasted the moral values raised by the play. I was drawn in and felt alienated at the same time. Very cool set design.
Outstanding performances from all the cast - Orlando Bloom carries off the ghastly charm of Joe with ease and aplomb .. artfully staged and impeccable direction.
Very entertaining; filled with suspense, comedy, and poignant realism
What a wonderful engaging play from the directing to the acting. It's emotional to say the least with laughter as well as sorrow. I want to see it again. Orlando Bloom is of course terrific in it!
This play was amazing and brilliantly acted! So glad I saw it. The actors that played dottie and Chris stole the show!! Some jaw dropping performances. Was a bit disappointed Orlando Bloom wasnt in it as he’s all over the advertising and they gave no warning or reason. the first time we were aware he wasnt performing was when he didn’t appear on stage and his understudy did instead which I didn’t mind because he was an amazing actor but They should of mentions it.
Dissapointing as the lead was off sick. We found the stand in wooden and lacking the depth to carry the sinister and menacing stillness required to carry the momentum of the piece and stop it moving at times into comical or pastiche. A very strong actor with gravitas is required. Dottie was strong and well played moving convincingly between innocence and guile. She saved the show. We found the brother too hammy. Overall a shame as we really wanted to enjoy it and could see that this could be a mesmerising and sinister piece of work.
I don't think I can fully explain how amazing this production is. It was intense and often uncomfortable to watch in this small intimate theatre. It was funny and shocking - humorous and violent - the quality of the acting was second to none. I have seen many plays in the West End and this has to be my all time favourite - powerful and memorable.
The story is useless and unmoral. The actor get naked very easily. The script is written really badly. I left at the intermittence, first time in my life.
Saw the performance on Saturday 16th June and was mesmerised by the whole experience. Fantastic casting and set. The final scene is riveting! A must-see event! Also, wonderful venue!
The theatre is quaint and cosy. It offers good and intimate views of the characters on stage. The play itself was well-acted, although it does take a while to grow on you. There were some great performances across the board, and some bold moves, which you'll have to see yourself to understand. It's an entertaining play, with laughs and plot twists, and well-played stereotypes (mostly true) of Southern America.
We sat front row, it was awesome. Bloom was great as we're all the cast.
This production is out of this world it has some funny parts but as the play goes on the darker it gets. Orlando Bloom is very sinister as Joe in the lead and the cast are exceptional and have you on the edge of your seat. Grab a ticket as you will not be disappointed.
This is such an amazing play, from the moment it starts you’re hooked. Fantastic acting and direction. Would definitely reccomend to anyone to go and see it while its still on.
Right from the beginning it was played out so well and the acting was superb. I was completely captivated by the actors that played out their parts so well. Truly wonderful thank you.
I knew nothing of the story and loved it and how it played out , a good amount of laughs too . Orlando Bloom and the rest of the cast did a fab job .
Great play, very performances. Too much in the way of special effects, bangs, flashes etc. We get the point without all this extra stuff.
OK, so the pull was the idea of seeing Orlando Bloom on stage, in a smallish theatre. But the experience was so much more. Not only was he exceptionally good but so were all his acting colleagues. The plot twists and turns with ease and the climax is both shocking and unexpected. Superb entertainment.
Maybe the best play I have ever seen Adam was amazing they all where but he was the stand out performer. Would love to watch it again and again and again
From start to finish the play and entire cast were amazing, I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout, I can’t recommend it enough!
The fast paced script and the excellent acting of the whole cast made this a very enjoyable evening
FAQs
Address
14 Whitehall, Westminster, London SW1A 2DY
Cancellation Policy
No exchanges or refunds after purchase.
Good To Know
The appearance of any member of cast is subject to change and may be affected by contracts, holiday, illness, or events beyond the producers' control.
How Does It Work
You will receive a voucher after purchase. Please print and present on arrival.
When Can I Go
Friday 18 May - Saturday 18 August 2018
Where Do I Go
Trafalgar Studios
14 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2DY
Closest Tube: Charing Cross and Embankment (Northern and Bakerloo)