Let the Right One In – Underbelly Boulevard

Let the Right One In, by Jack Thorne, adapted from the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, is a bold blend of two genres: vampire horror meets coming-of-age romance. Set in a bleak Swedish suburb in winter, the plot follows the blossoming relationship between awkward, bullied teen Oskar and un-aging vampire Eli. The narrative is both touching and gripping, and the script is full of fascinating moral shades of grey, while richly exploring themes around puberty and masculinity.

This production features a large ensemble cast of twenty, including eighteen NYT REP members. Every member of the ensemble does an excellent job, and the physical group scenes feel dynamic and polished.

At the core of the play is the sweet and somewhat concerning teen romance that develops between Oskar (Nicky Dune) and Eli (Rachael Dowsett). Both performers are fantastic; they are highly successful at capturing the awkwardness of youth and portraying the complex nuances of their characters’ feelings. Dowsett gives a frightening physical performance during the more horrific, supernatural moments. They are also both very funny: their characters’ awkwardness is often played for laughs, which endears the characters to the audience, and makes their burgeoning relationship feel like a welcome respite from the dour brutality elsewhere in the play.

The set design by Jonathan Fensom is very effective in its stark minimalism. Dan Balfour’s sound design, by contrast, is overbearing. The near-constant musical underscore more often detracts from the tension of the scene, drawing attention away from the action and dialogue. Likewise, the script has a tendency to move too quickly from scene to scene, which prevents a build-up of tension and dread. The violence (fight direction by Ruth Cooper-Brown and Rachel Brown-Williams) is visceral and slick, although only some moments are as bloody as they ought to be while the rest are oddly bloodless.

Despite some slight issues, Let the Right One In ultimately makes for a highly engaging and thought-provoking piece of theatre, owing to the intriguing plot, nuanced characters, and fantastic ensemble of actor.

Let the Right One In runs until May 23^rd at Underbelly Boulevard, with tickets available at https://underbellyboulevard.com

Reviewer: Charles Edward Pipe

Reviewed: 7th May 2026

North West End UK Rating: