Emma Rice has never been one to shy away from a theatrical challenge, and with North by Northwest, she takes on one of cinema’s most iconic thrillers and transforms it into a riotous, imaginative stage spectacle. Currently playing at Alexandra Palace Theatre as the final stop on its UK tour, this Wise Children production is a gleeful homage to Hitchcock’s 1959 classic, reimagined with Rice’s signature blend of physical comedy, inventive staging, and heartfelt storytelling.
At the centre of the whirlwind is Ewan Wardrop as Roger Thornhill, the suave advertising executive mistaken for a non-existent spy. Wardrop brings a delightful blend of Cary Grant charm and Chaplinesque physicality, navigating the absurdities of mistaken identity with impeccable comic timing. His chemistry with Patrycja Kujawska’s enigmatic Eva Kendall is electric—Kujawska lends the role a sultry intelligence, grounding the production’s more farcical moments with emotional depth.
Rice’s adaptation is gloriously self-aware, leaning into the theatricality of the medium rather than attempting to replicate the film’s cinematic sweep. The famous crop-duster scene, for instance, is reimagined in a moment that is joyously absurd. Rob Howell’s set design is a marvel of ingenuity, using minimal props and clever lighting to conjure everything from a New York boardroom to the dizzying heights of Mount Rushmore, and all this is wrapped up in a delight of 50s tunes.
The ensemble cast of six—Mirabelle Gremaud, Simon Oskarsson, Katy Owen, and Karl Queensborough alongside Wardrop and Kujawska—juggle multiple roles with chameleonic flair. Katy Owen, in particular, is a comedic standout, morphing from sinister villains to bumbling bureaucrats with wide-eyed glee. The cast’s versatility is matched by Etta Murfitt’s choreography, which infuses the production with a kinetic energy that never lets up.
What makes this North by Northwest so compelling is Rice’s ability to balance homage with reinvention. The suspense and romance of the original remain intact, but they’re filtered through a lens of theatrical playfulness. The result is a show that feels both familiar and thrillingly new—a love letter to Hitchcock, yes, but also to the magic of live performance.
In an era of increasingly cinematic theatre, Rice reminds us of the power of imagination. With just six actors, a few trunks, and a whole lot of heart, North by Northwest becomes a high-octane adventure that soars on stage. It’s a fitting finale to a triumphant tour—and a must-see for anyone who believes theatre should be as bold, bonkers, and brilliant as this.
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