Patsy Ferran must have drawn in quite the audience to this show with the promise of a dazzling performance, and boy does she deliver. Ferran is mesmerising as ‘Her’ alongside strong male lead Luke Thallon playing ‘Him’. The two demonstrate an amazing connection and responsiveness to one another, which allows the audience to be fully immersed in the story which they tell of two teenagers’ summer romance at German Youth Camp Siegfried in Long Island, 1938. Detailed, fully realised characters, who are equally sympathetic as they are laughable as young naive teenagers occupy the stage and engage audiences' emotional involvement from start to finish. 

The play is beautifully directed by Katy Rudd, who blends all the elements of set design, lighting, sound and the lead performances into a subtle, poetic and engaging piece. This is theatre done at its very best - not one moment passes where you as an audience member come out of the world of the play. Whilst evidently confidently directed, all parts seamlessly come together so that the stitch work cannot be seen, creating a vivid world where the hard work cannot be traced with only the beauty of the artistry left behind, in its effortless precision.

The minimalist set designed by Rossana Vize allows the lead performances to occupy the space, cleverly giving us only the essential elements to paint the scene of the camp location; such as the specificity of logs of wood, which Tharron chops to demonstrate his manly strength, or a pool of water up stage towards the end which becomes the ocean over which the leads look over to see Europe from quite literally, across the pond. Rob Casey’s atmospheric lighting design not only signifies changes in time of day, with a beautiful moonlit spotlight on Ferran and Thallon during a poignant intimate moment, but also symbolically communicates the characters inner worlds and the shifting emotional landscape of their relationship. 

Playwright Bess Wohl effectively brings audiences to reflect on the grander political themes behind this story of the susceptibility of individuals/society to extreme political ideals, by intimately focusing on the relationship between two young teeangers one summer, their desires, ideals, insecurities and as Wohl voices their craving for a sense of ‘belonging’ being dangerously exploited.  A brilliant new play which ticks the boxes on all fronts. 

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Viv Williams

Camp Siegfried plays at the Old Vic Theatre until 30 October 2021. To book tickets, please click here.