REVIEW - NORTH BY NORTHWEST | HOME MANCHESTER | 30/04/2025

“Suitcases, spies and showbiz flair – Hitchcock like you’ve never seen before!”

Emma Rice, known for her boundary-breaking theatrical style, takes a swing at Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 cinematic classic North by Northwest—and the result is a heady cocktail of comedy, caper and Cold War thrills. This world premiere adaptation, co-produced by Wise Children, HOME Manchester, York Theatre Royal and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, trades big-screen spectacle for ingenious stagecraft, all delivered with Rice’s trademark wink. With just six actors, a stack of suitcases, and a set of jaw-dropping revolving doors, the show reinvents the iconic thriller with theatrical flair and fearless energy.

At the centre of the chaos is Roger Thornhill, a suave advertising executive who finds himself in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. Mistaken for a mysterious government agent, Roger is suddenly plunged into a world of espionage, coded messages, shady dealings and double-crossing spies. Chased across America—from hotel lobbies to train compartments, crop fields to Mount Rushmore—he must navigate a web of danger while trying to prove his innocence.

Along the way, Roger encounters the enigmatic Eve Kendall, a woman as captivating as she is mysterious, with secrets that unravel as fast as the plot itself. Their romance crackles with tension, especially with the villainous Phillip Vandamm lurking in the wings.

But this isn’t just a straight-laced spy story. Rice has no interest in recreating the film scene-for-scene. Instead, she leans into theatricality, embracing the absurdity of the plot with tongue firmly in cheek. Audience interaction, witty narration, musical interludes and laugh-out-loud physical comedy all serve to both clarify and complicate the narrative in glorious fashion. It’s North by Northwest as you’ve never seen it before—playful, pacy and full of surprises.

Rob Howell’s set is a marvel of minimalism and invention. The centrepieces—four towering revolving doors—are used with incredible versatility, becoming everything from elevators to farmlands to shadowy corridors of espionage. Lighting by Malcolm Rippeth plays a key role in transforming the mood, while handheld torches, silhouettes and stark palettes pay homage to Hitchcock’s cinematic style with a theatrical twist.

Simon Baker’s sound design blends original compositions with era-defining classics from Peggy Lee, Nina Simone and Jackie Wilson, all lip-synced or danced through with panache. The music doesn’t just accompany scenes—it becomes part of them, thanks to Etta Murfitt’s choreography, which is both witty and sharp. The costumes offer vintage glamour in spades—think sharp suits, bold silhouettes and the occasional killer red dress, anchoring us firmly in the stylish 1950s.

With only six actors playing dozens of roles, this cast is nothing short of remarkable. Ewan Wardrop leads as Roger Thornhill, capturing all the charm, confusion and comic timing needed for a man caught in a web he can’t quite unravel. His physicality is as impressive as his comedic instincts, managing to channel both Cary Grant and Buster Keaton in the same breath.

Katy Owen is a total scene-stealer, not only as the enigmatic Professor but as a narrator, crowd-rallier and mischief-maker. Her command of the stage and the audience is magnetic—whether she’s guiding us through the narrative or prompting a pantomime-style response, she’s a riot.

Patrycja Kujawska smoulders as Eve Kendall, the classic mysterious blonde, balancing seductive confidence with emotional depth. Karl Queensborough is deliciously dastardly as the villain Vandamm and earns extra laughs as Roger’s overbearing mother. Mirabelle Gremaud and Simon Oskarsson bring flair and finesse, switching between multiple roles with acrobatic agility—literally, in Gremaud’s case. The ensemble's quick character changes, dynamic accents and physical comedy are seamlessly delivered.

Emma Rice’s North by Northwest is a theatrical triumph—a genre-defying blend of homage and invention that transforms a cinematic classic into a bold new stage masterpiece. It’s clever, chaotic, and packed with humour, heart and high drama, turning suspense into spectacle and reinvention into an art form.

This may not be a purist’s Hitchcock, but Rice’s playful adaptation delivers something just as satisfying: a celebration of storytelling, ingenuity and theatrical joy. It’s theatre that knows it’s theatre—apologetically bold, gleefully absurd, and brimming with invention.

With stylish staging, whip-smart performances and suitcase-fuelled silliness, North by Northwest is theatre that dares to be bold, bonkers and brilliant. A masterclass in adaptation, and a joyful reminder that the stage—when in the right hands—can do absolutely anything.

🎩 “A Cold War caper with a warm heart and a suitcase full of surprises!”

 North by Northwest is at Home Manchester until Saturday 10th May 2025. Tickets are available for purchase through the link provided below.

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If you would like more information about the show, please click the button below to visit the show's official website.

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Photo Credit - Steve Tanner

*Our tickets for this show were kindly gifted in exchange for an honest review.