To Kill a Mockingbird, Newcastle Theatre Royal

WITH a story so widely known and widely studied world-wide, you would have thought it would be a challenge to wow audiences with a retelling on stage. However, Christopher Sergel’s adaptation contuees to astonish audiences.

The story is set in 1930s Southern America, in the heart of the civil rights movement and the great depression, and is told through young Scout’s perspective in terrific narration.

The show opens with cast members sitting on the steps of the stage, reading out segments of the opening from the book, inviting the audience to be a part of their story. Musician (Luke Potter) plays music on a ukulele and other instruments throughout the play and adds another dimension to the already amazing production.

The cast was fantastic. The children, Scout (Jemima Bennett), Jem (Harry Bennett) and Dill (Leo Miller) portray the innocence of children effortlessly. They captured childhood in those two short hour and were charming and heartbreaking at the same time.

Daniel Betts was the perfect Atticus Finch, exactly what you would imagine him to look like from reading the book. It was great to see the children being sceptical of him and ashamed of seeing him as a hero.

The show has its moments of warmth and laughter despite discussing serious issues such as racism and rape. As I walked out of the theatre, I caught a few people wiping tears away and that’s when I knew this production had exceeded itself in every way possible.

n Runs until Saturday. Box Office: 08448 112121 or theatreroyal.co.uk.

Emily Craig