To Kill A Mockingbird

 

Review by Paul Towers, 28/10/25

Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, adapted by Arron Sorkin

Directed by Bartlett Sher

Produced by Jonathan Church Theatre Productions

At Curve til Saturday 1^st November 2025

To Kill A Mockingbird is essentially about racial tension in a small American Deep South town in the 1930’s, a time when ‘blacks knew their place’. There are two black characters in the story, neither of whom have much to say.

Tom Robinson (Aaron Shosanya), a disabled black farmhand is falsely accused of raping a white girl, Mayella Ewell (Evie Hargreaves) and is put on trial.

Atticus Finch (Richard Coyle) is a run-of-the-mill small-town lawyer mostly used to dealing with minor disputes and sundry legal matters. On the advice of Sheriff Heck Tate (Colin C Campbell) and Judge Taylor (Stephen Boxer) he agrees to represent Robinson as he is convinced of his innocence. His judgement may be clouded slightly by the fact that his household is ruled over by old coloured retainer Calpurnia (Andrea Davy) who may or may not be closer to Atticus than he wants to admit.

In order to bridge the gaps in the narrative Finch’s children Jem (Gabriel Scott) and Scout (Anna Munden) along with their frenetic friend Dill (Dylan Malyn) break the fourth wall.

Mayella’s father, Bob (Oscar Pearce) jumps to all sorts of conclusions and whips up the local chapter of ‘The Klan’ into a lynch mob.

A large ensemble, both front and back stage, ensure that the impressive set by Miriam Buether moves seamlessly around Curve’s huge stage.

Harper Lee’s insight into the bigotry and prejudices of almost 100 years ago still resonate. This is a powerful indictment of what was and may, scarily, become again.

To Kill a Mockingbird is at Curve until Saturday 1^st November and then continues to tour.

Pics: Johan Persson

https://www.mockingbirdplay.com/tour

www.curveonline.co.uk

https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/