Reviews

• Jan ward

  Sep 8, 2023

  The best show I have seen in years- quirky and genuinely funny

• Jan Bryant

  Aug 14, 2023

  Amazing show, a laugh a minute from start to finish. The cast were superb and Stephen Fry a perfect narrator.

• Jo

  Aug 13, 2023

  I wasn't sure what to expect as hadn't listened to radio show and was coming with someone who had, so we both had different expectations (excuse the pun) Steven Fry was our narrator of choice and we were not disappointed. He was brilliant. The cast were exceptional and gave every ounce of energy and enthusiasm to their role, which for some were many different characters. We both laughed out loud throughout the performance. Loved it. Only regret is that we weren't able to come see the play each time there was a new narrator as I am sure this must have added something different and special everytime.

• Allen

  Aug 11, 2023

  Plenty of laughs and fun in this farce. Stephen Fry in very good form. Marc Pickering stole the show with his manic and highly enjoyable performance.

• Arthur Drysdale

  Aug 11, 2023

  We really enjoyed Bleak Expectations! The cast were amazingly good, keeping a rapid pace and engaging the audience with the performance.

• Meg

  Jul 22, 2023

  Absolutely brilliant show, so funny and brilliantly staged - cast we're all amazing and captured the spirit of the radio show. Never stopped laughing! Beautiful theatre too.

• Jayne Hetherington

  Jul 12, 2023

  Hilarious! Brilliant! The whole cast, including Hugh Dennis were simply wonderful!! Absolutely loved it… Coming back to London to see Stephen Fry. Masterpiece!!!!

• Anna

  Jul 9, 2023

  Booked after hearing Sue Perkins talk about it on Claudia’s Saturday morning radio show. Stephen Mangan was our narrator. The whole experience was wonderful- the theatre is beautiful and the staff welcoming. The show is brilliant- fast paced, lively energetic and very funny. The cast are clearly enjoying it - play up to each other, the audience and the fantastic absurdity of Dickens. But with due respect. Loved it!

• A

  Jul 8, 2023

  Laugh out loud comedy, excellent performances by all

• Lauraj

  Jul 6, 2023

  Loved every stomach munching laugh

• Alexandra Yankova

  Jul 2, 2023

  As an avid fan of the radio series, this lift up to my expectations! Inventive, witty, fast, paced, and very funny. Would thoroughly recommend.

• Steve Coxon

  Jul 2, 2023

  Such a witty, well written and beautifully acted show. Well done all

• Joanna

  Jun 30, 2023

  We booked to see Lee Mack & he was charming & cheeky, just as you would expect. The choice of narrators is so good, it was hard to choose. The play was really funny with elements like the play that goes wrong & upstart crow. The first half was funny, the second half hilarious ! The cast were so talented, including Sargeant Scot from Midsomers who was excellent. Thoroughly recommend, we wish we could go again.

• Ian

  Jun 25, 2023

  If you are a ‘Bleak’ fan, go! High energy performances from the cast and narrator, funny dialog and ad-libs. What’s not to like. My wife who has had a less than immersive exposure to Bleak Expectations found it greatly amusing!

• Gail Moneypenny

  Jun 20, 2023

  Really loved this show, hilariously funny and very well written. Camaraderie of the cast was palpable, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

• AW

  Jun 18, 2023

  So many laughs during a very well put together performance. We would definitely recommend.

• LR

  Jun 17, 2023

  Very funny play, the actors also enjoyed it! Highly recommend.

• JE

  Jun 13, 2023

  I saw this with Julian Clary in the narrator role. It was hilarious. Very quick & witty. Great entertainment.

• Mei Hurrell

  Jun 11, 2023

  This was a wonderful performance from beginning to end with superb acting from everyone. We were totally absorbed and completely satisfied. Many thanks to all.

• TONY ALLEN

  Jun 9, 2023

  A great show, really funny brilliantly written and performed

• Scarlett

  May 31, 2023

  A great adaption of the radio play, with additional physical comedy which really brought the story to life. All the roles were perfectly cast. I particularly enjoyed Hardthrasher and Gently, loving every moment they were on stage. All the cast did an excellent job. I would definitely recommend this paly for anyone who wants a fun filled theatre experience.

• Karl MacGinty

  May 28, 2023

  A wild and wonderfully irreverent romp through the works of Charles Dickens. Well written and cast perfectly, the actors appeared to be having as much fun as the audience. in this frenetic, laugh-a-minute farce.

• Anne

  May 26, 2023

  A really entertaining show, and with a very funny script, spectacularly accurate comic timing and a cast prepared to go all out playing a vast array of characters. Robert Lindsay as the guest narrator was a delight. Well done all. An enjoyable night out. We left with laughter in our hearts!

• Richard Clark

  May 26, 2023

  Absurd, hilarious and so well acted. London theatre at its best and reasonably priced.

• Alex

  May 22, 2023

  This was the worst thing I have ever seen at the Theatre. Unfortunately it was not funny. Poorly acted, slapstick. I find laughter an involuntary reaction to something funny but this was never the case here. Sally Phillips, of whom I would say I was a fan, delivered a terrible commentary with what presumably were some funny bits as a confidential aside which was largely inaudible. I was expecting it to be hammy, overacted, with innuendo and bordering on Pantomime but I was also expecting to laugh which I seldom did.

• Mags

  May 21, 2023

  Two hours of laugh. The entire cast simply amazing! Sally Phillips added a sprinkle of magic.

• Peter

  May 20, 2023

  Not entertaining

• Stuart Boucher

  May 17, 2023

  Excellent fun evening. Sally was great as narrator and cast very good!

• JW

  May 17, 2023

  Loved the silly humour - a bit Black Adder! Mixed with Horrible Histories! Hard working cast with old fashion sort of slap stick. Just a thorough good laugh. Only reason for 4 stars was the side view sears (AA28 and 29) were more difficult to lean forward because seats are fixed. But the price reflected that but just a warning if you have maybe a bad back.

• Mark S

  May 16, 2023

  A joyous romp through a Dickens pastiche. The main cast are brilliant and it is almost a shame there needs to be the draw of a big name to attract people to see it. We had Dermot O’Leary, who was a fun narrator, it was good to see another side to him.

• Hania

  May 14, 2023

  Simple humour, good acting

• paola

  May 12, 2023

  very disappointing show. I am a regular theatre goer and this is the first time I felt like leaving the performance half way through.

• Helen Brown

  May 12, 2023

  Very funny

• Gemma

  May 10, 2023

  I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was very silly and very funny. I haven’t laughed at the theatre so much before. I wasn’t sure who the special guest narrator was going to be so that added to the excitement.

• Beki Jones

  May 6, 2023

  The actors were extremely good and entertaining, as was Nina Wadia. The comedy was good at times but we were expecting it to be funnier throughout.

• Rowan Finch

  May 4, 2023

  I don’t usually write reviews, but feel compelled to do so, because it was so utterly weak and waste of time and money. I’m a single father who rarely gets time off. I wish I had not gone to the expenses and time. The writing offered nothing new and amateurs could have done a better acting job. Pitiful.