Review: THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE, New Vic Theatre

Photo credit: Andrew Billington

Told by an Idiot’s latest production sees director Paul Hunter take on The Killing of Sister George, written by Frank Marcus.

Set in London in the 1960’s, Sister George is a much-loved nurse who cycles around the countryside singing hymns and doing good, at least she is in Applehurst, the BBC soap opera. In real life, she is June Buckeridge, an actress who is a gin drinking, foul mouthed, unpredictable woman, and nothing like her radio persona. When low ratings, cutbacks and June’s own bad behaviour becomes too much, the BBC decides that the time is right to get rid of Sister George…for good!

Hayley Carmichael plays June, with frequent outbursts of anger leaving everyone treading on eggshells. Ada Player is Alice, the ‘flat mate’ of June. Her comic abilities are superb and she delivers her lines flawlessly. The rapport between them is equally tense and light, and depicts an abusive relationship well.  

The set design by Lulu Tam is interesting with a spiral staircase centre stage leading down beneath the stage itself, and is used quite frequently throughout the performance. Equally impressive is the use of sound, with design by Sophie Cotton. The use of foley (footsteps, doorbells, pouring drinks, etc.) is a nice little nod to the radio play at the centre of the narrative.

However, there were times during the performance when it isn’t entirely clear if the actors were improvising or had just lost their place in the script, which felt a bit disorganised, and the depiction of domestic abuse, which was adequate for the most part, felt a little inappropriate when comical sound effects were used at the same time.

It was an enjoyable performance overall, with well delivered amusing comical moments.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

The Killing of Sister George plays at the New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire until 13 May, with further information here.