The chase is on as Emma Rice’s Wise Children take on the 1959 Hitchcock thriller North by Northwest – as the company returns to York Theatre Royal for another triumph.
North by Northwest emerged during Hollywood’s Golden Age and quickly became an established cinematic masterpiece. But how does this grand-scale thriller align with Emma Rice’s distinctive style? Alfred Hitchcock certainly had a funny bone, and I have no doubt it would have been tickled by this bold and playful adaptation soaring onto the York stage from Tuesday 18 March to Saturday 5 April.
As our journey begins, we, the audience, don our own detective caps, piecing together the unfolding mystery as told by our six dynamic actors. True to Emma Rice’s signature style, the stage is alive with multi-roling madness – where a simple slip of a hat or shift in accent seamlessly introduces a new, complex character to drive the mayhem forward.
Ironically, despite Roger Thornhill’s ongoing identity crisis, Ewan Wardrop remains the only actor fixed in a singular role, while the rest of the cast tirelessly morphs around him. Many of whom return after their standout appearances in Wise Children’s previous acclaimed productions of Blue Beard and Wuthering Heights.
One of the most welcome returns was Katy Owen, delivering what she does best: captivating narration and razor-sharp comedy. As our ever-charismatic Professor, she had the audience in the palm of her hand from the start, breaking the fourth wall within minutes to ensure we were alert, engaged, and at her service. And we certainly were, eager to embrace her quick-witted humour, playful repetition, and impressive physicality.
Joining Wardrop and Owen’s stellar performances, Mirabelle Gremaud (Anna), Patrycja Kujawska (Eve Kendall), Simon Oskarsson (Valerian), and Karl Queensborough (Phillip Vandamm) completed the sextet. Each brought their own strengths to the stage – Gremaud’s gymnastic prowess added fluidity to transitions, Kujawska infused Eve with both strength and sensuality, Oskarsson delivered a gripping character arc that reached a thrilling climax, and Queensborough embodied the perfect villain, exuding an air of mystery and menace.
So how did they capture the sheer magnitude (and altitude) of the film’s iconic set within the confines of the stage? With simplistic yet delightfully surreal creativity. You want a plane? You’ll get a plane! Mount Rushmore? Oh, you’ll get Mount Rushmore— like you’ve never seen it before!
From cleverly intertwined suitcases to high-flying banners, the cast seamlessly integrated every element, brought to life through Rob Howell’s inventive set and costume design. Far from a compromise, these playful choices only added to the audience’s delight, proving that imagination can outshine realism.
Enhancing this imaginative storytelling was the dynamic fusion of Simon Baker and Malcolm Rippeth’s striking sound and lighting design, paired with Etta Murfitt’s fabulously Fosse-inspired movement. Together, much like the grand revolving doors featured on stage, they ensured the show’s energy never faltered, keeping the production moving and often at pace. Though the pace dipped to an almost uneasy lull in the prolonged finale, the electric energy of the final bows swiftly reignited the atmosphere. The audience left with a spring in their step, yet the deeper themes woven throughout the narrative enabled for some thought-provoking discussions.
It’s always exciting to see so many school and youth groups in the audience, witnessing firsthand how theatre can transform. Productions such as this open young minds to the boundless possibilities of creativity, showing how even the most established ideas can be reimagined in bold and innovative ways.
Unlike many of her past works, this project wasn’t born from Emma Rice’s own imagination – an unexpected challenge she described as ‘a rare bird falling out of the sky and landing snap bang in my lap!’ Yet, this adventure has pushed her to think and write in exciting new ways, proving that great storytelling is always evolving, and long may her legacy continue.
Much like the iconic crop duster, tickets are flying fast! Don’t miss out – join this top secret mission at York Theatre Royal until Saturday 5 April. Tickets start from £15 and are available via the York Theatre Royal website.