Reviews

• Kerry Yates

  Jul 28, 2023

  The 3 hours went in a flash, the story had your head and emotions going all directions! Sadness, joy, empathy, anger. The acting was superb!! Every single person was brilliant. I was captivated from the off. I have told every one I know to go and see it. Best play I have ever seen. Well done to all involved, the writers, the stage crew and most of all the amazing actors making us feel we were living the nightmares with them.

• Jannie Aiello

  Jul 27, 2023

  I was so glad that I had read the book when it first came out, because it was so harrowing, it prepared me for the the play. The whole cast played their roles brilliantly and how they were able to portray the sheer horror of the subject matter in such a believable way was outstanding. It was an exceptional portrayal of abuse and the inability to heal. It was spoilt in some way by members of the audience walking in and out during the performance, filming on their phones and being, in some cases noisy.

• Stacy S.

  Jul 27, 2023

  I had serious reservations about seeing "A Little Life", knowing about the subject matter and how depressing it would be. However, I left the theatre thinking it was one of the best plays I'd ever seen. Although the play could have been shortened a bit, the performances were mighty and intense, particularly James Norton (how does he go through such intensity every night?) but also the rest of the cast; and the set was fantastic (is the prepared food actually eaten?). A very disturbing but brilliant evening at the theatre.

• D

  Jul 20, 2023

  ...and fans of the amazing James Norton. I found the play too long and boring...too much drama and horrible things so I emotionally switched off and left without any lasting impression. Should have known as I really disliked the book but was curious what the fuss is about.

• David.

  Jul 20, 2023

  Four hours of horrendous & humiliating physical & emotional abuse, self loathing & sadness, interspersed with sporadic moments of tender friendship and love. I loved it. I must be a very damaged human being to have enjoyed it so much (thankfully not as damaged as Jude) but, aren’t we all damaged to a greater of lesser degree? The acting was incredible. It may not be for everyone but for me it was excellent, thought provoking and it will stay with be for some time.

• Linda

  Jul 19, 2023

  An incredible play. Strong cast and an evening at the theatre I will never forget.

• Donald Claudio

  Jul 19, 2023

  After all the hype, the play was not great. Too wordy and diificult t follow, not helped by the too loud and csahing stobe lighrs and music. The theatre was freezing, so unable to take any more, we fled at the interval

• Tim

  Jul 17, 2023

  The best play I’ve ever had the fortune to go to. Utterly harrowing, enthralling, sensitive and touching. All the performances were ‘first class’! Thank you and congratulations.

• Angela Hayley

  Jul 12, 2023

  An amazing theatrical experience….what a wonderful cast and very powerful acting in a demanding production….will long be remembered. James Norton was quite brilliant.

• Reiner Milz

  Jul 9, 2023

  Sensationell

• 1operalover

  Jul 6, 2023

  In the evening, I was at the Savoy, seeing the long-awaited A Little Life (almost 4 hours long, with interval). Shortly before the show's start, I had requested an upgraded ticket, since my original ticket was for a "restricted view" seat in the Dress Circle. At the time that I bought the first ticket, it was shown as the only remaining seat, so I had grabbed it. Fortunately, as I have been during this entire stay, I was able to get a ticket in Stalls Center, Row K. The theatre, at the start, had few remaining seats in the regular audience sections, so I was really lucky.. In addition, there were about 100 folks sitting on the stage. Due to at least one prior incident of photography of James Norton's nude body (disseminated on the Internet), there were prohibitions in place. We had to place a stamp on our cameras (laxly enforced, however). There were written warnings about the offensive material that we would be facing. I have to say, right away, that it's a bunch of BS. The nudity and the blood-letting, though present, were exaggerated by the media. These warnings only increased ticket sales. Creatives Author: Hanya Yanagihara Concept and Director: Ivan van Hove (first in Dutch, then in English (London) Adaptation: Koen Tachelet, Ivan van Hove, Hanya Yanagihhara Set: Jan Versweyela Cast: James Norton: Jude St. Francis Luke Thompson: Willem Omari Douglas: JB Zach Wyatt: Malcolm Elliot Cowan: Brother Luke; Dr. Traylor Zubin Varla: Harold Emilio Doorgasing: Physician Nathalie Armmin: Psychologist Having read and loved the novel, I was in a difficult position. I was immediately and always aware of omissions and modifications. Paradoxically, I was super-aware of repetitions of what I already knew., which led to boredom. What I thought was a poor directorial decision: Multiple scenes and multiple eras were presented on stage simultaneously. Characters from Jude's past (e.g., Brother Luke; a therapist; Dr. Traylor, etal) re-enact or narrate episodes from Jude's past. In the present, one sees (simultaneously) Adoptive father Harold in his home, JB at his canvas; Jude/Willem in their home, etc. Too much information! I am not sure that the audience understood what was going on. How, though, could one represent the complexities of Jude's life, when condensing an 800+ page novel into an almost 4-hour play? I wonder how a filmed version of this story would fare? Right now, I would say, "Stick to the book!!!"

• Chris

  Jul 5, 2023

  I found the show had been over-hyped - rather long and boring tbh