The Incident Room at The Little Theatre Leicester Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Leanne W
The Little Theatre always holds a cherished place in Leicester’s cultural life, routinely welcoming audiences with a friendly atmosphere and a genuine passion for community-led storytelling. There is an undeniable warmth to the venue, and the volunteer-driven spirit that shapes their productions is always admirable.
The production takes audiences inside the high‑pressure world of the Millgarth police incident room during one of the most challenging investigations in British criminal history. Rather than focusing on the crimes themselves, the play attempts to follow the officers tasked with piecing together an increasingly complex case. It is a narrative meant to reveal the strain, misjudgements, and human stories that unfold behind closed doors. Through its character‑driven storytelling, the drama explores how institutional pressures, competing priorities and overlooked voices shape the course of an investigation, creating an absorbing portrait of a team pushed to its limits.
The casting for this performance is excellent and without weak links. Matt Evans as George Oldfield and Andy Longley-Brown as Dick Holland perfectly emanate the ‘Cops’ of the police dramas of the 80s and 90s, thoroughly believable. Evans takes the character through from strong lead to a slowly crumbling man. This is perfectly contrasted by the arrival of Ed Turner as Jack Ridway who delivers perfectly executed comic relief as the tension starts to rise and frustrations are felt at the time it takes for the case to be solved, whilst women continue to be murdered.
Natasha Carr as Meg Winterburn delivers a quietly frustrated woman who’s story we follow through her memories of working in the incident room. At times I felt that a little more was needed both in terms of volume and the show of frustration – a woman who was down trodden in a male dominated environment feeling helpless as the Yorkshire Ripper took more women’s lives. Jane Towers’ Sylvia Swanson, Russell Hughes as Jim Hobson and Joe Allen as Andy Laptew make up the rest of the investigation team and bring a balance to the story. Further support From Holly Matusiewicz, Natalie Tebbutt and David Stevens bring balance to the story by puncturing the room with a variety of characters both directly and indirectly affected by the case.
The set, designed by Matt Sykes-Hooban is perfectly reminiscent of offices of the time, wooden desks, boxes of paper and not a computer in sight. It cleverly moves to become the ladies’ toilets of a night club via the moving of a notice board. Supported with low level office sounds and the use of coloured lighting to demonstrate Winterburn’s memories ably designed by Jeremy Thompson and Amanda Priestley.
In all this is a great cast who have been well directed by Jake Leonard, a strong set and some clever ideas. What is missing however is that little bit of tension, we never fully feel the stresses and strains of the room, time passes but we don’t feel that it has passed, there was no heart stopping moment when the correct name is mentioned and discarded. Having said that this is a really strong amateur performance. It runs until Saturday 27th June 2026 (In a theatre with air conditioning!!)
https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-incident-room/
22 June 2026–27 June 2026 Tickets are priced between £17.50 and £19
Rating: 4/5