Taken At Midnight - Theatre Royal Haymarket

Review Summary

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars based on 3 review(s)



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The Theatre Royal Haymarket becomes the latest home of the Chichester Festival Theatre’s latest production, Taken At Midnight, a harrowing story set in the lead up to the Second World War. Penned by Mark Hayhurst, the play received a positive reception from critics and proved to be a compelling and fascinating insight into the dark world of 1930s Germany that also offers some stand-out performances from a stellar cast.

Penelope Wilton takes on the lead role of Irmgard, reprising the role from Chichester, and she stars alongside Martin Hutson, who plays the character’s son Hans Litten. The rest of the cast includes Marc Antolin, Allan Corduner, Pip Donaghy, Mike Grady, Christopher Hogben, John Light, Dermot McLaughlin and David Yelland.

In Taken At Midnight we meet Irmgard, the mother of Hans Litten, the famous Jewish lawyer who took on the task of representing Hitler’s opponents between 1929 and 1932. As a result he is ultimately in the bad books of the future Fuhrer and the play focuses on Irmgard’s attempts to fight for his release from imprisonment, a process that could also put her in great jeopardy as well.

When it was seen at the Chichester Festival Theatre it was helmed by the venue’s Artistic Director Jonathan Church, who returns to present the production in the West End. The result will be an expertly handled interpretation of Mark Hayhurst’s acclaimed script.

Another talent returning for the West End run is Penelope Wilton, who has appeared in various west end shows over the years, whilst also making an impression on television and film audiences in the like of Doctor Who (as Harriet Jones), Downton Abbey (as Isobel Crawley), Shaun Of The Dead (as Shaun’s mother), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (as Jean) and Pride & Prejudice (as Mrs Gardiner), among others. Her stage credits include A Delicate Balance at the Almeida Theatre, Hamlet at the Wyndham’s Theatre, Family Reunion at the Donmar Warehouse and Eh Joe at the Duke of York’s Theatre.

Taken At Midnight replaces tabloid satire Great Britain in the West End when it opens at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Monday 26th January 2015 (with previews beginning on Thursday 15th January 2015).