John Galsworthy’s play of society norms and expectations is now over 100 years old, yet Loyalties retains a contemporary relevance. The Questors production is the first to reach the English stage for two decades, with its ensemble including company members both old and new.
Charles Winsor (Ant Foran) is a country gentleman, with a house full of guests following race day at Newmarket. When Ferdinand de Levis (Euan Charles), a wealthy Jew, accuses a highly decorated former soldier, Ronald Dancy (Alex Perez), of stealing a sum of money from his room, ranks close and loyalties come into play. In Loyalties it is quickly clear that the question of justice and truth is secondary to the code of ‘esprit de corps’: in essence that those of a similar class and grouping stick together because being a thief and a gentleman is unthinkable.
Director Francis Lloyd utilises a small portion of the main Playhouse stage for the play, which made me wonder if it might not have been equally effective in the Studio space with a few tweaks to the scene changes. However, this is a drama that retains its intimate feel whether set in a drawing room, a solicitor’s office, or a gentleman’s club, with a screen backdrop to add flavour or comment.
Loyalties is a play that underlines the difference in society between those with money, position, and recognition, and those either lower down the social scale (the grocer, Gilman) or from another country or culture (de Levis; Inspector Dede (Mark Redrup); and the Italian, Ricardos (Philip Sheahan)). Class and prejudice play a large part in this story.
The women in the play are strongly defined: Lady Adela Winsor (Sophie Platts-Martin), Mrs Dancy (Nerea Idigoras), and Margaret Orme (Alexandra Upton). All ghastly in their own way, seeing court proceedings as entertainment and distraction, and dismissing the feelings of de Levis in favour of society honour. As for the men, they hardly fare better. Winsor and General Canynge (Robert Staines) almost conspire to discredit de Levis for breaking the code of honour by accusing one of their own – and involving the police. In the club, a couple of Lords and grandees talk of blackballing and duels.
Loyalties is from a time where those with money demanded respect, not because they earned it, but because they could easily cause harm with influence and closed ranks. That de Levis asserts he is “not a gentleman” and doggedly insists his accusation is correct, marks him out as different. Dancy, meanwhile, calls him “a damned Jew” and seeks reassurance from his friends, including fellow soldier Major Colford (Dan Thompson), who angrily defends a brother officer from any stain on his character.
The conclusion is perhaps easy to guess, although the language is often clipped (a sign of its age). This is a play more of prejudice against the outsider than specifically the Jew, although the presentation of de Levis as a dignified man in contrast to his duplicitous acquaintances is stark.
Questors Playhouse and Studio – https://www.questors.org.uk/
Reviewer: Louise Penn
Reviewed: 31st January 2026
North West End UK Rating: