Review of The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

 

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE REVIEW

The National Theatre launched its first nation-wide tour of the stage version of The Ocean at the End of the Lane at The Lowry in Salford. Review by Natalie Anglesey.

I have reviewed theatre, good and bad,  for more years than I care to remember, But last night at The Lowry I saw a marvellous National Theatre production of The Ocean At The End Of The Lane that left me almost speechless. It also made me question why we enjoy going to the theatre? I’ve seen thousands of performances over my long career and I suspect most of us enjoy the shared experience of an event which we hope will entertain and inform. Both the National Theatre and The Lowry have tried do just that since their inception - but this stage version of Neil Gaiman’s Book of the Year 2013, The Ocean at the End of the Lane surpassed all my expectations.

 How do you sum up a major stage adaptation of a work which combines memory with magic in a tour-de-force performance that takes audiences on an epic journey? Bearing in mind that Gaiman is also author of other popular books like The Sandman, Coraline, Stardust and Good Omens, I knew the story-line would be strong but I was definitely not prepared for the stage-craft involved in such a unique experience.

 

Casting for this National Theatre’s touring production sees the addition of screen and stage actor Charlie Brooks as Ursula, one of the main characters. Her theatre credits include Beautiful Thing (UK Tour and West End) and A Streetcar Named Desire (Leicester Curve). For TV she’s a series regular in BBC's Eastenders  and was also winner of ITV’s I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Alongside her stage and screen work, Charlie is also the founder of iampro, an online drama school and creative hub. 

 

 There are notable performances from Daniel Cornish as Alternate Boy, while Millie Hikasa is his mysterious friend Lettie and Trevor Fox is his Dad.  Kemi-Bo Jacobs plays Ginnie while Laurie Ogden is Sis. There's a powerful performance from Finty Williams, daughter of Judi Dench, who plays the mysterious Old Mrs Hempstock.

 

Adapted by Joel Horwood for the stage and imaginatively directed by Katy Rudd, this thrilling adventure of fantasy and friendship will visit 29 theatres across the UK and Ireland until 30 September 2023. 

 The plot seems almost too simple. A man stands beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he played as a child. We are transported back to his 12th birthday when his friend Lettie claims it wasn't a pond, but an ocean – where everything is possible. Plunged into this magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.

 

This is where the stunning stage magic happens. Thanks to an  award-winning creative team which includes exciting director, Katy Rudd; adaptor, Joel Horwood ; superb set designer, Fly Davis; costume and puppet designer, Samuel Wyer; movement director, Steven Hoggett; composer, Jherek Bischoff; lighting designer, Paule Constable; sound designer, Ian Dickinson; magic and illusions director and designer, Jamie Harrison; puppetry director, Finn Caldwell and casting director, Naomi Downham. There’s also an excellent associate creative team and they all deserve a mention.

 

This is the largest tour mounted by the National Theatre since the pre COVID-19 pandemic.  This UK and Ireland tour follows a celebrated six-month run at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End, which opened in 2021 after the production received its world premiere in the Dorfman Theatre in 2019. It truly is an amazing experience. Enjoy!