The Haunting of Susan A
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: King's Head Theatre, London
Cast: Suzanne Ahmet and Mark Ravenhill

Drawing on the traditions of a classic ghost story, Kings Head Theatre’s artistic director Mark Ravenhill prepares to share the story of London’s oldest pub theatre. But there are other stories and other memories hidden in the space. Echoes of a trauma from the past are pushing to manifest on stage.

Engrained within the fabric of North London’s creative culture for over 50 years, The Haunting of Susan A is a site responsive piece that invites you to become a part of local history. Gather round, let us share our story…

The King's Head Theatre has been around for just over 50 years, but yesterday was my first visit. The theatre itself is a small room in the back of a pub, which seats just over 100 people. The setting is perfect for a ghost story retelling. It's intimate, with just enough lighting to set the atmosphere of the piece.

Mark Ravenhill, who is also the writer of this play, is our narrator for the production. His passion for theatre shines through as he tells us the history of the theatre we're sitting in, and how it's changed over the years. He tells us that this room was once an illegal boxing ring where men would fight until one become unconscious, the room overflowing with the "dense smell of sweat, the tang of freshly spilled blood". 

While Mark is part way through our history lesson, an audience member interjects and tells us we need to know the truth about this place. And the reason why it's been haunted by a young woman for many years. She begins to tell us the story of how she landed her first acting role in this theatre. And how she eventually learned of the actress before her. The actress who swiftly took her own life once rehearsals had begun. The actress had said she had seen a ghost...

I think it's important to leave the plot at that, and let Susan (Suzanne Ahmet) tell you the rest of the story herself. Susan tells us how she became obsessed with this spirit, and finding out everything she could about her, no matter how dangerous it became.

Suzanne's storytelling is intense and captivating. She plays all of the characters within her story, and does so convincingly. With a range of accents and genders, the effortlessness with which she does is it impressive, to say the least. Ravenhill told me after the production that he had written the play to be performed by Suzanne, and with her talent, that was hardly surprising to hear. 

This ghost story is compelling and of course, you can expect a jump scare or two throughout the piece. If you're not comfortable with unexpected blackouts and sound effects, this may not be the show for you.

The scenes between Mark and Susan feel authentic, and as though the characters are just meeting for the first time. While the storyline itself wasn't quite as haunting as I would have liked (I am a horror junkie, after all!), it was gripping, and even left me feeling emotional at times. 

The theatre itself really is at the centre of this production, and it serves as the perfect celebration to London's oldest pub theatre. I would highly recommend seeing The Haunting of Susan A, if not for Suzanne's outstanding performance alone. It's an intense, and intimate 60 minutes of storytelling, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The Haunting of Susan A is currently running at The King's Head Theatre until June 26th. You can book tickets here.

Immersive Gatsby
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Gatsby's Mansion, Mayfair
Cast: James Lawrence, Elliot Liburd, Safeena Ladha, Alex Wingfield, Aimee Barrett, Steve McCourt, Jessica Hearn and Sophia Lewis 

Welcome back to the roaring twenties! Jay Gatsby invites you to one of his infamous parties. The champagne flows and as the drama unfolds the man himself will be the perfect host. As invites go, this is the hottest ticket in town. A hedonistic world of red hot rhythms, bootleg liquor and pure jazz age self-indulgence awaits. Dress to the nines and immerse yourself in this heart racing adaption of F Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal tale.

Immersive theatre is becoming increasingly popular, and after studying The Great Gatsby for my A-Levels over a decade ago, I was incredibly excited when I heard there was an immersive experience themed around the book. 

From the moment you enter the acclaimed, Gatsby's Mansion, it's as glamorous and extravagant as you'd imagine. I was surprised how many other guests had dressed up, like myself, and it definitely contributed to the atmosphere. If you book tickets to the show, I would highly recommend wearing something as glitz and glam as possible.

You're given a set of rules before you enter the main part of the mansion by Rosy Rosenthal, who was played by the wonderful Sophia Lewis, and then you're given permission to enter. Your 20's party officially begins. From Old Fashioned cocktails, to jazzy music and the most gorgeous outfits; I found myself transformed to that era almost immediately.

We're introduced to the cast gradually and the audience are given the chance to take to the dancefloor and learn the Charleston with the cast. Most of the audience chose to participate, but there was absolutely no pressure and it was a lot of fun, and really set the mood for the evening. 

If you're unfamiliar with the narrative, it focuses on the story of an elusive millionaire called Jay Gatsby. He had fallen in love in his youth with Daisy Buchanan, who is now married. He has his heart set on winning her back, no matter what it takes. Gatsby is throwing one of his extravagant parties, which is where we, the audience, find ourselves right in the heart of, in this immersive experience.

As someone who is very familiar with the story, I followed the storyline smoothly. However, throughout the two and a half hour show, you're split off into groups and enter different rooms. While this means that every time you visit the show you can experience something new, it also means that the story can feel a little disjointed if this is your first introduction to Gatsby. 

The smaller rooms you're taken off into as groups are perfectly themed, and intimate enough to make you feel as though you're really connecting with the characters, which is something I loved. Again, there was no pressure for any interaction with the cast, but it was welcomed if you were comfortable doing so.

You frequently meet back in the "nightclub" for major moments of the show, and there's some wonderful dance and vocal performances. My favourite being a touching dance number between Gatsby and Daisy. Their chemistry was undeniable, and they played the forbidden couple perfectly.

One thing's for sure, the cast is exemplary. There is no weak link and they all do such a fantastic job at including the audience in the storyline, and encouraging you to get involved. We were even able to help Daisy choose a dress for her tea with Gatsby, which was brilliant.

James Lawrence as Nick Carraway was the star of the show for me. He played the fumbling, nervous character of Nick incredibly well, and I felt myself compelled to follow whichever room he was headed to. The other standout performances for me were Safeena Ladha as Daisy, Jessica Hern as Jordan Baker and Aimee Barrett as Myrtle. What a group of sensationally cast women. Safeena and Aimee delivered heartfelt, moving performances. And Jessica was the life and soul of the party. 

The choreography is brilliant. The lighting and staging compliments the atmosphere, just as you'd hope. And it truly is a party to remember. One thing worth mentioning is that I have access needs, and when I arrived, there was no seating available. I was given a chair immediately, and the actors had then clearly been told of my needs because I was seamlessly given a seat in every room, which the actors intertwined within the story, which I thought was a lovely touch.

If you're looking for a fun night out and a reason to get dressed up, I'd highly recommend Immersive Gatsby. Whether you Charleston the night away, or enjoy from the shadows, there's something for everyone in this production. However, as this is an abridged version of the show - I'd perhaps do some research on the story before attending. Or book an extra visit or two to experience every room. Perhaps that's what I'll do...

Immersive Gatsby is currently running at Gatsby's Mansion in Mayfair. You can book tickets here.

The next interview in our stagey chat series, is with Phyllis Ho. Phyllis is about to star as Ariel/Boatswain in The Tempest, as part of the incredible Shakespeare in the Squares; which is returning for its fifth season on 15th June 2022.

Phyllis trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her theatre credits include The Mozart Question (The Barn Theatre, Cirencester), Life of Pi (Wyndham’s Theatre), Giraffes Can’t Dance (Curve, Leicester) and The Vagina Monologues (Ugly Duck).

Get yourself comfy and join Phyllis and I for a chat about all things stagey!

Hi Phyllis, thanks so much for chatting to Stage to Page today! How are you? And would you mind introducing yourself and telling us how you first got into acting?
Thanks for having me! I'm an actor who's originally from HK, grew up in Vancouver and am now based in the UK. I started performing as a musician as a young child and performed in school plays etc. I started taking it more seriously in high school, but I have a very distinct memory of being around 5, turning from the TV and telling my mum I wanted to be an actor so it's always been a goal. My first role was as a sheep in the nativity!

Over the past few years, covid has had a devastating blow on the industry. How does it feel to be back after such an extended break? 

Like everyone else I'm so excited to get back in the rehearsal room! I was lucky enough to get a job as an understudy as my first job back which let me ease back into it without too much pressure. It's been great to not only perform again but also go out to the theatre and see all the great shows that are on around the city, big and small.

 

You're just about to open The Tempest as part of Shakespeare in the Squares. How are rehearsals going? Can you give us any insight into the production?

Rehearsals have been intense and really collaborative. We've got such a great cast where everyone is so supportive and creative and playful, not least our intrepid leader Sioned Jones who really gives us space to try things out and share as much of ourselves with the audience as we can. There's music, there's movement, there's amazing costumes and I think it's going to be a really fun show to watch.

 

For those people unfamiliar, can you tell us about Shakespeare in the Squares?

It really is a wonderful idea - and I'm so pleased to see it back for its 5th anniversary! Shakespeare in the Squares is a non profit touring company where the shows are performed in a different London square almost every show. Our performances are all outdoors and adapted to each space, so it really gives us a chance to reach more audiences in different areas of the city, as well as keeping us on our toes! It also really invites the audience to experience Shakespeare as something to be enjoyed, and not just intellectually appreciated or belonging in a stuffy theatre. 

 

How does it feel to be portraying such an iconic character in Ariel, from The Tempest?

I've always loved to see the juxtaposition between Ariel and Caliban within the play. I haven't really thought of Ariel from the iconic point of view, I think as an actor you need to take the character as it is and work from there. There are a lot of elements of the character of Ariel that are close to myself, but amplified, so it's been really freeing to explore ways of expression that the character affords because she is out of the human dimension. We also loved exploring the fact that even though Ariel is used to play tricks on Caliban, he also speaks of lovely music that calms him and makes him have good dreams, so I like to think that Ariel has a soft spot for him when Prospero isn't looking.

 

Regardless of gender and age, which stage role would you choose to play and why?

Oh gosh! Impossible question to answer. I would love to play a character like Elphaba but am not a singer so that performance will have to stay confined to my living room. (sorry neighbours) I just love musicals.

 

What are you most excited about for starting the run of The Tempest? And why should people book tickets to see the show?

We have so fully packed the show with fun details for the audience that I genuinely cannot wait to share it with our first crowd. This is a different Tempest full of light and joy and it will be absolutely unique to this company and to the square that you come to. No two shows will be the same and each one will be really special.

 

A more light-hearted Tempest inspired question - if you were shipwrecked, which three personal items would you try to save and why?

My violin provided it hasn't been soaked. Honestly can't think of any others. Is a husband considered a personal item? Or is it rude to drag him into my dire situation...

 

My blog is called Stage to Page. But if you could turn any book, from page to stage, what would it be and why?

Not a light hearted choice but there is a book I read in uni that's always stuck with me called Ordinary Men. It documents how a unit of reserve policemen who were average middle aged men became a unit that killed tens of thousands of Jews in WWII. I think it's important to realise that it was not only fanatical evil men who committed atrocities but that under the right conditions any of us could have done the same. I also believe in the power of theatre and storytelling to help us learn about the human condition and help create a better world. While I love my comedies, theatre is a medium that can take a really heavy and tough topic and delve right into it, heart and guts and all. With everything going on in the world today, I feel like stories like this really need to be told.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat to us. You can catch The Tempest, touring around London this summer, until 8th July. You can purchase tickets, here. 

The Music of Zimmer vs Williams
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: Royal Festival Hall, London
Cast: Anthony Inglis and the London Concert Orchestra

The Glass Menagerie
Rating: ★★★
Venue: Duke of York's Theatre, London
Cast: Amy Adams, Victor Alli, Lizzie Annis, Paul Hilton and Tom Glynn-Carney

Devastated by her husband’s abandonment, Amanda Wingfield (Amy Adams) obsesses over the futures of her restless son, Tom (Tom Glynn-Carney), and emotionally vulnerable daughter, Laura (Lizzie Annis). Years later, through the fractured prism of memory, Tom (Paul Hilton) reflects on the crushing pressures placed on his sister to secure a suitor (Victor Alli), and the betrayal inflicted by his pursuit of freedom.

Since Amy Adams was announced for The Glass Menagerie last year, London has been hotly anticipating her West End debut. While Amy Adams' performance was exceptional, as were the rest of the casts', I did leave the theatre feeling underwhelmed. It never felt like we fully got the chance to get our teeth into the characters and the story, and you left wanting more than you were given. 

The Glass Menagerie is set in 1930's America and is narrated by the son of Amanda Wingfield, years into the future. While the narrative is from the son's perspective, the focal point is on Laura, his sister. Laura is a disabled woman in her mid twenties, and her mother is desperate for her to find a "gentleman caller", as she so often puts it. Her brother is almost certain this will never happen, whereas her mother is filled with blind hope that she'll find a "gentleman caller" and make a home for herself.

The son, Tom, spends his days in the warehouse and his evenings drinking. Amanda begs Tom to invite a gentleman friend over from work for Laura, and when they meet, sparks fly and an old friendship is rekindled. The suitor, Jim, seems to fit right in with the Wingfield family over dinner. The perfect friend. The perfect son in law. The perfect husband? But is that enough?

Amy Adams plays the role of the smothering, overbearing mother exceptionally. I had seen complaints of her voice projection in this production. However, after being sat in the Royal Circle, I had no issues hearing any of the cast, including Amy. Her almost ditzy, naive take on being a housewife whose husband has just left, is portrayed brilliantly. You're very much under the impression that she believes a man in Laura's life will solve everything. If you've come to see the show to see Amy Adams' outstanding talent, you won't be disappointed.

The role of Laura, played by Lizzie Annis is nothing short of magnificent. And while I went to see the production for Amy Adams, I think the best acting was done by Lizzie. Laura has a physical ailment and Tom regularly calls his sister "a cripple"; which is as uncomfortable to watch, as you'd imagine. I was shocked to learn that The Glass Menagerie is Lizzie's West End debut. Lizzie has cerebral palsy, and as a disabled person myself, it meant so much to see that they cast a disabled actor in the role. It's something that has always angered me in theatre, so I'm pleased that it was done right.

Jim has a certain kind of magnetism and it was hard not to fall for his charm and on-the-surface kindness. Victor Alli plays an incredibly likeable Jim, and you truly understand why Laura falls so quickly for him too.

The juxtaposition between Tom and Laura was very apparent. Tom is almost never home, drinks frequently, is loud and almost boisterous. Whereas Laura rarely leaves the house and has this innocence about her, which is laced with shyness and kindness. It's an interesting dynamic to see the two conversing with one another.

While the cast is superb, the story fell a little flat for me; as there were too many changes from the original plot. There was too much kindness in the characters and not enough grit. However, I will be back for another viewing in the coming months, to see how it fares a second time. 

You can buy tickets to The Glass Menagerie at Duke of York's Theatre until 27th August, here.

 

West End Does Hollywood
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Cadogan Hall, London
Cast: Luke Kempner (host), Oliver Tompsett, Sophie Evans, Rob Houchen, Leanne Robinson, Shan Ako, Amber Davies, Carrie Hope Fletcher and John Partridge

West End Flea Market
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: St Paul's Church, Covent Garden
Cast: Michael Ball, Christopher Biggins, Golda Rosheuvel, Jordan Luke Gage, Alice Fearn, Miriam-Teak Lee, the cast of Six the Musical

West End shows set up a variety of uniquely designed stalls offering theatrical memorabilia, signed posters, bric-a-brac and special items for theatre fans!

The public are invited to come and cheer on their favourite show and the winner will be announced at the event. In addition, there will be signings, a theatrical tombola, auctions and all sorts of exciting theatrical memorabilia up for grabs as well as the chance to meet stars from hit shows!

Today was my first time visiting the West End Flea Market - and it was an incredible experience, from start to finish. The first West End Flea Market was in 2019, but due to the ongoing pandemic, the next few years were cancelled. This year, there were some huge shows hosting stalls - from Hamilton, to Les Miserables, to Phantom of the Opera, to Six the Musical; there was a stall for everyone. As well as shows hosting their own stalls, they also had tombolas, raffles, auctions, interactive games - all manners of ways to win amazing theatrical memorabilia. And of course, the autograph tent; which was without a doubt the busiest part of the day.

The doors opened at 10:30am, and the event was set in motion with a fabulous mariachi band. At 10:45am, the wonderful Christopher Biggins officially opened the 2022 West End Flea Market. I headed straight to the tombola, where we bought 18 tickets between three of us (I couldn't refuse a £5 for 6 offer!). We won x2 tickets to Life of Pi, a Mousetrap mug and a Lion King mug - it was a fantastic start.

It's worth noting that it was extremely busy, but as long as you were patient - you could easily visit every stall. Each stall is clearly labelled, and easy to find. If you were struggling, they were handing out maps at the entrance of the market to help you navigate which stalls you were most keen on visiting.

I thought the Hamilton stall was the star of the show (despite Only Fools and Horses nabbing that award). They had some one-of-a-kind memorabilia such as signed programmes, signed tote bags, signed tickets and signed song sheets; all at reasonable prices. I was gutted that Bonnie & Clyde weren't able to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, as I can only imagine the treats the stall would have held. At the Six stall, you were able to meet the current West End cast of Six the Musical for just £6, which was a great experience - and they were all lovely. 

After I'd visited the stalls, I headed to the Autograph Tent to meet Jordan Luke Gage and Alice Fearn. Unfortunately, we just missed Miriam Teak-Lee who arrived later, but the tent was well organised and I personally couldn't fault it. It all ran very smoothly, and the posters for the event were utterly gorgeous, and look fantastic signed.

I must admit, at the auction - I almost spent £350 on backstage passes for Hamilton, a signed piece of Hamilton clothing from the West End production and a signed Lin-Manuel Miranda poster...but alas, I had some restraint! The auction had some fabulous prizes. In all honesty, it was just fantastic to see so many theatre goers in one place, celebrating a community we've been starved from for the past few years. It made me feel quite emotional. 

A special mention must go to Tasha from Acting for Others. I have some access needs, and she made the day so incredibly easy for me - and it simply wouldn't have been possible without her. She was so kind and patient; a real asset to the event.

As a whole, it's a brilliant event - and perfect for any theatre lover. If it goes ahead next year, I would advise getting there as early as you can, prepare to be stood in crowds...and take lots of water! It's a small venue, so I'm hoping they upgrade to a larger venue next year; as it reached maximum capacity fairly quickly. Bring on next year - a perfect celebration of current theatre! 

Legally Blonde the Musical
Rating: ★★★★★
Venue: Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park
Cast: Courtney Bowman, Michael Ahomka-Lindsay, Nadine Higgin, Lauren Drew, Hannah Yun Chamberlain, Vanessa Fisher, Isaac Hesketh, Eugene McCoy, Alistair Toovey, Grace Mouat and Alžbeta Matyšáková

Meet fashion merchandising major Elle Woods and her college sweetheart Warner Huntington III. Popular, stylish, they have the perfect relationship. That is until Warner heads to Harvard Law School and decides that he needs a more 'serious' kind of girlfriend. Dumped, Elle embarks on a drastic plan to win him back. But, on the way, she discovers that there's more to love - and definitely Elle Woods - than meets the eye. 

Omigod you guys - I was lucky enough to attend the first preview of the new adaptation of Legally Blonde the Musical. I don't usually do reviews of shows while they're still in previews (particularly the first one), but I'm not sure when I'll be back and I needed to share my thoughts of a musical I've been so desperate to see again in London. Because I'm reviewing this much earlier than usual, when the show officially opens - there may be several changes to the production.

As you enter Regent's Park, there's nothing besides a small poster to let you know that Legally Blonde is playing at the Open Air Theatre. However, when you enter the venue - you venture into a sea of pink. From the bar, to the pizza place; everywhere is decked out in pink. You can even buy Legally Blonde cocktails - £10.95 each for Bend & Schnapps or OMG&T (obsessed with the names). I would also advise getting there early, as we were queuing for twenty minutes.

I was sat in row F near the centre, but it's worth noting that I think the view would be great from anywhere in this venue. The set looks very simplistic when you walk in. More pink, and very strange curtains. I heard many people discussing the curtain choice; and it wouldn't surprise me if this was changed soon. However, visually - I didn't mind it. My only issue is that the props seemed to get repeatedly caught up in it, which detracted from the performance at times.

While the set is bare and minimalistic, the use of props and staging is executed brilliantly. From a salon, to a sorority party, to law school - all portrayed excellently with the lighting, costumes and props. You blink and Elle has changed costume once again, and almost every one is loud, proud...and pink! 

Let's talk about Courtney Bowman. Never has anyone shone as brightly as Elle Woods. Her voice is spectacular and she completely embodies Elle. "Legally Blonde" was her standout performance for me, vocally. Her ditzy naivety is captured perfectly in this adaption. I saw a few comments about her wig (which I didn't mind), but I've seen in curtain call photos that her wig has changed already.

The soundtrack has always been one of my favourite, so I was excited to see some of my favourite musical theatre songs being performed on stage again. There were a few outstanding performances for me. Lauren Drew's "Whipped Into Shape" was nothing short of exceptional. It's hard to imagine anyone can exercise like that, while belting - but she does it, seemingly effortlessly. Other standout moments for me were Nadine Higgin's "Ireland", Michael Ahomka-Lindsay's "Chip on My Shoulder", "Gay or European" (major Dead Gay Son vibes from Heathers the Musical), "Bend and Snap" (goes without saying!) and Billy Nevers' solo in "What You Want". I loved Billy in & Juliet, so it was fantastic to see him shine in Legally Blonde.

A special mention must go to Liam McEvoy, who plays Bruiser. Yes, he really does play a chihuahua. He's absolutely hilarious, and somehow manages to portray a sassy dog flawlessly. 

If you're wondering if there has been any changes to the adaptation - there has! There's been a few updates to the script to modernise it. With such a diverse cast, I think it was very much needed. 

I hope to see the show again and write another review with any updates to the show since the first preview. But besides a few small issues like the fluidity of set changes - it was nothing short of sensational. The cast are exceptional. Courtney Bowman is a superb leading lady, and I can't wait to see what she does next.

If you want to see a feel-good show, that'll leave you smiling throughout - I would highly recommend Legally Blonde. The soundtrack is a lot of fun, and the talent on stage will blow your mind. The ideal Summer production. 

You can buy tickets to Legally Blonde the Musical at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre until 2nd July, here.

The Tony Awards are one of the stagiest nights of the year, and we've all been waiting with bated breath for the nominees to be announced. And the moment is finally here! 

It was predicted that British shows and actors would receive a few nominations this year - and those predictions were not wrong. Six the Musical has received a staggering 8 nominations.

The Tony Awards are set to take place on 12th June. And will be hosted by Ariana DeBose; star of smash hit West Side Story.

You can find a list of the full nominees here:

Illicit Signals Bletchley
Rating: ★★★★
Venue: CRYPT, Bethnal Green 
Cast: Timothy Styles, Amelia Stephenson, Al Barclay, Beth Jay, Gabriel Burns, Sandy Murray, Christopher Styles and Jaya Baldwin

Step back in time to 1940s Bletchley Park, a world of espionage, code breaking and secrets. It was here that men and women, both young and old, cracked German codes and unveiled war winning secrets, but these men and women kept secrets of their own, both from each other and the public. 

Illicit Signals Bletchley combines historical drama with rewarding codebreaking to create a fun, stimulating evening.

From the second you enter the gates of Bletchley Park, you're transported back in time. No longer are we in modern day Bethnal Green, but somewhere far more secretive and it's the year 1941. Illicit Signals Bletchley is a piece of immersive theatre, and is a co-production brought to us by Parabolic Theatre and Mechanical Thought.

We are greeted outside the venue by a well-dressed man with a pipe and bowler hat. He tells us briefly about the work we'll be doing at Bletchley Park, and lets us into the CRYPT in small groups. While you're waiting for the production to start, the atmosphere and setting is perfectly reflective on the time period. From the music, to the slightly damp minimalist setting - even the bartender was in character, which really helped to set the atmosphere for me.

Before we begin, you're asked to sign a Secret Act form to ensure that there is no filming, or photography - and the secrets of the piece are kept hidden. As the show is about code breaking and deciphering, it was touches like that which made the piece seem more authentic. 

One of the things I love most about immersive theatre is having choice. You decide where you want to go, and who you want to follow. Not only does this make the show more exciting, but it also means you can revisit the show and experience a completely different version. I was led into a hut (there are three huts within the venue) and was introduced to Dilly Knox. Dilly is completely eccentric, and he just so happened to be my favourite cast member - he was absolutely fantastic. It was here where we were taught to decipher and encipher by Mavis Lever (Beth Jay) and Dilly (Al Barclay). 

The cast are happy to spend as much time as you need teaching you the basics, before you're split into even smaller groups and set your very own missions. You must crack the code to move into the next hut. In the next part of the show, the story is starting to piece together and without any spoilers, homosexuality still being a crime in the 1940's plays a pivotal part. It's a story that left me choked, and I know many other guests felt the same.

We're slowly introduced to the rest of the cast, and all of their own secrets start to be uncovered by Maj. Charles Richards (Christopher Styles), who begins to interrogate them. At the end of the show, members of the audience are given envelopes by the cast members to read out. It's here that I learned that all the characters in this production are based on real people from the second world war; which made the piece even more profound.

From the make up, costumes, set design, venue - it all portrayed the time era brilliantly. Not once did they break character; which must have been particularly hard for Beth Jay, who plays Mavis Lever. One of the guests took audience participation to a new level; and as a fellow audience member, it was absolutely fantastic to watch! That's one of the aspects I love most about immersive theatre - you really have no idea what's going to happen next.

Whether you want to learn more about the basics of coding, an insight into the second world war, or simply enjoy being immersed into a fantastically cast piece of theatre - then Illicit Signals Bletchley is the show for you.

You can buy tickets to Illicit Signals Bletchley at CRYPT, Bethnal Green until 28th May, here.