Mrs Dalloway – HOME Mcr

Fans of Virginia Woolf’s classic novel Mrs Dalloway will be intrigued to follow the new adaptation of the story, written and directed by Jen Heyes and starring Kit Green in multiple roles. The play does not follow the conventional rules of drama, offered as more of a commentary on the story of Mrs Dalloway and how the characters relate to modern life than a straightforward performance. Green frequently breaks character and the fourth wall to engage with the audience and comment on the relevance of Virginia Woolf to aspects of modernity such as mental health, technological change and socioeconomic uncertainty.

If this all sounds like heavy-going, the truth is that these breaks in the story are the highlights of the production, offering funny and upbeat respites in the official narrative. As will be known to readers of the novel, Mrs Dalloway features an introspective account of the life of 1920s society hostess Clarissa Dalloway on a day of organising a party. The novel features several other characters, including her former romantic interests, male and female; her disengaged husband and distant daughter; and combat veteran Septimus Smith who suffers from post-traumatic stress and commits suicide, an event which is both incidental and central to the plot. All these events and characters are featured in this production, and all are portrayed by Green. They are presented in a manner which is kaleidoscopic and borderline hallucinogenic. Not all audience members will be satisfied with this approach, however, as a classic novel is presented is in a contemporary immersive way. This helps to form these thematic connections to the present but also removes it stylistically from what you may expect. However, it does take the edge off the darker elements of the story and allows for the narrative to be punctuated by moments of comedy, music, and audience participation.

The set design and music are the real stars of the show. Designer Simon Kenny, lighting designer Phil Saunders, cinematographer Monika Koeck and composer Stephen Hull all deliver amazing work. The production feels much more immersive and cinematic than its minimal stage design would suggest, and the use of lighting and images especially helps to buoy the narrative through sections of the plot which would otherwise be difficult to follow. The musical moments where Green sits down at the piano and engages the audience in an unexpected singalong are also thoroughly enjoyable and make this production sufficiently different from a straightforward adaptation that it merits wider attention. Indeed, one drawback of the performance was that it didn’t break free from the constraints of the story altogether and offer a more loose and improvisational take on Woolf’s characters and themes while not feeling beholden to move through the plot points.

Overall, Mrs Dalloway is a fun and engaging night at the theatre which will leave some fans surprised, others delighted, and all enriched from this immersive production.

Reviewer: Amanda Hodgson

Reviewed: 24^th September 2026

North West End UK Rating: