The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Sheffield Lyceum

This tour-de-force piece of theatre launches the entire theatrical arsenal at the audience. In fact, every trick in the book is used to keep the audience on the edge of their seats by the unexpected and stunning theatrical magic.

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman, adapted by Joel Horwood and directed by Katy Rudd, the National Theatre’s acclaimed The Ocean at the end of the Lane delivers a terrifying theatrical thump as we journey to a long forgotten childhood and the darkness that lurks at the very edge of it.  With the collaboration of Gaiman whose other novels include Coraline, Stardust and The Sandman and the National Theatre who are responsible for the Curious Incident of the Dog – this allegorical production was always going to be cutting edge storytelling that is unafraid to explore the fantastical and break with the convention of the mundane. The coming of age story is described as a thrilling adventure of fantasy, myth and friendship – Returning to his childhood home after the death of his father, a man stands next to a pond at an old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He is transported back to his 12 year old self when his remarkable friend Lettie claimed it wasn’t a pond but an ocean – a place where everything is possible… Plunged into a magical world, their very survival depends on their ability to defeat ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them.  

Fly Davis creates the perfect mystical set in which the journey is….suspended and Samuel Wyer’s spectacular costume and puppet design are fantastical and elaborate without fixing them into a time frame. The puppets are menacing and quite frightening and expertly manipulated by the ensemble cast. Jherek Bischoff’s compositions dramatically add to the mysticism and heighten the danger.

The show’s magical lethal weapon is Jamie Harrison’s illusions – I don’t want to spoil it – but they are fantastical, prolific and very unexpected! You have to witness it to believe it!

The Physical Theatre is exceptional in this production with a fluidity that carries the audience on the journey seamlessly. The ensemble manipulate both the set and the main characters, interacting and transporting the illusion with a glue that holds the whole essence cohesively.

Keir Ogilvy as the Boy and Millie Hikasa at Lettie Hempstock lead the cast with unadulterated energy and delight. Whilst Charlie Brooks is terrifyingly maleficent as Ursula and Laurie Ogden is characteristically annoying as the Sis, it is the lonely desperation of the Dad, played by Trevor Fox that most resonated with me. Flinty Williams as Old Mrs Hempstock and Kemi-Bo Jacobs as Ginnie Hempstock are both very effective at adding the magical mystery to the production. In its entirety this is a very hard working cast, filled with energy and expression.

Theatre at its very best – thought provoking, powerful and immersive. The fact that the characters are playing by rules we don’t know and dealing with things we don’t understand, does not detract from the universal allegory of the piece and making us ‘think’ is the power of good theatre. The Ocean at the end of the Lane is at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre from Tuesday 9^th – Saturday 20^th May 2023. This really is a spectacularly stunning production. Note: not suitable for young children as there are some visually very scary moments!

https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

Reviewer: Tracey Bell

Reviewed: 9^th May 2023

North West End UK Rating: