Inspired by the life and work of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, ‘How Do I Love Thee?’ is an ambitious and emotionally intelligent piece of new writing from new company Aside Hustle. Tracing the Victorian poet’s journey from confinement in England to liberation in Italy with Robert Browning, Ruby Thomas’s script explores creativity, illness, love and the struggle of a woman determined to be heard in a society intent on restricting her.
There is considerable beauty in the writing. Drawing upon Browning’s poetry and correspondence, Thomas constructs a thoughtful portrait of an artist discovering the courage to define herself. Her script possesses genuine emotional power and demonstrates substantial future potential, particularly in its examination of the relationship between personal freedom and creative expression.
Unfortunately, this inaugural production from the young company does not yet possess the theatrical experience required to serve the material effectively. With the notable exception of Thomas herself, who also directs and performs as Elizabeth, the acting is consistently underdeveloped. While Thomas demonstrates clear strength and ability, bringing emotional conviction and authority to her leading performance, elsewhere, the performer’s lines are frequently spoken without appearing to have been fully felt or understood.
With such a mature script, the delivery of the text requires great care, control and melodic variation. At times, lines appear to be spoken primarily with the urgency of getting the words out, rather than communicating their full meaning. Effective delivery is not simply about slowing the pace, but about allowing the language to breathe, finding its natural rhythm and giving each word appropriate weight. Greater attention to phrasing, pauses, emphasis and variation would prevent the dialogue from becoming rushed or monotonous, while allowing the emotional intention behind the writing to reach the audience. In a play so deeply rooted in poetry, the musicality of the language is particularly important, and every line must feel considered, inhabited and genuinely expressed. On top of this, the casting also struggles to communicate the age, experience and emotional maturity demanded by several of the characters, leaving important relationships without sufficient weight or credibility.
Much of the difficulty appears to originate in the production’s underdeveloped direction. Thomas has taken on an enormous creative responsibility, and the production would have benefited considerably from an experienced external director able to challenge and refine the work. The staging is cluttered with unnecessary movements. Performers repeatedly sit, stand, climb onto chairs, fold papers and reposition themselves without these choices revealing character or advancing the narrative. Rather than strengthening the physical storytelling, the activity often distracts from the language and positions the piece as a school production rather than serious, professional theatre.
The technical execution is similarly uncertain, with inconsistent lighting leaving performers standing both awkwardly within isolated pools of light and, at other moments, partially in darkness, or worse under dark green lighting. These choices rarely establish atmosphere or provide a coherent visual language.
Noah Davis’s accomplished original composition is one of the production’s strongest elements. Beautifully crafted and calming in tone, the music complements the piece without overwhelming it, sensitively supporting both its period setting and emotional journey. It brings warmth and atmosphere to the production, demonstrating considerable musical skill and an assured understanding of how composition can deepen theatrical storytelling.
‘How Do I Love Thee?’ contains the foundations of a moving and accomplished play, but this production does not yet fulfil its promise. Thomas is clearly a theatre-maker with talent and vision, and it will be exciting to see her career flourish. With experienced direction, a more mature cast and considerably stronger technical support, her beautiful script could become something genuinely affecting.
‘How Do I Love Thee?’ performers at the Circle and Star Theatre again on 20th August as part of Camden Fringe. Tickets are available at: https://camdenfringe.com/events/how-do-i-love-thee/
Reviewer: Alan Stuart Malin
Reviewed: 19th August 2026
North West End UK / Theatre Muse UK Rating: