The Book Thief Musical, Curve 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 Katy Nettleton
I was fortunate to be able to see “The Book Thief ” on October 4, 2023, at the Curve Theatre in Leicester. The evening was an emotional and unforgettable one, with performances that will stay with me forever.
Truly, it’s challenging to express in words the full scope of this production; the narrative, the performances, the vocal artistry, the stage design, and the musical accompaniment all came together to create something truly remarkable.
The performance by Oliver Gordon as Rudy was one of the show’s high points. He gave the role an invigorating, youthful vitality that had you mesmerised. Gordon’s portrayal of the lovable rascal perfectly conveyed Rudy’s infectious energy and enthusiasm for life. His on-screen chemistry with Liesel, played by Eoromo Louskou, was exciting and gave the story new layers and truly encompasses friendship at a time when everyone was suffering.
The performance by Eoromo Louskou as Liesel was superb. She did an excellent job of capturing Liesel’s growth from a shy and reserved tween into a confident young lady with a big heart. Louskou’s ability to capture Liesel’s nuanced feelings and her development throughout the novel was very emotional. Her performance showed how much time and effort she puts into her work and the result was special.
Obioma Ugoala’s narration was not only essential to the story’s progression, but also provided much-needed comic relief during otherwise sombre scenes. Ugoala’s “multi-hat performance” brought something different to the show. His captivating appearance and amusing delivery were a welcome relief from the story’s heavy subject matter, striking a fine mix between sorrow and happiness. Which at times had me in tears.
The presentation as a whole was visually magnificent, with a set design that effectively reflected Germany at those times and immersed the audience in that time and place. The combination of projections, wooden doors and lighting gave each scene greater dimension and increased the audience’s ability to feel what was happening, I felt cold when they did! Especially when Max Vandenburg (played by Daiel Krikler) was in the cellar, I had chills from being moved by the performance between himself and Liesel as their friendship and support for one another grew. The set was pure brilliance, I loved seeing my library of dreams turn into a pub, then a street and houses, even the cart turned into a car! For me, there was no stone left unturned with the staging and props and truly brought a sombre story to life.
I don’t want to disclose too much in this review, as it is truly needs to be watched to be fully appreciated, but special mention needs to go to the puppet team, as it was a lovely element and really worked within the story and scenes.
The music and songs were seamlessly woven into the story, adding to the overall effect of being fully submerged in Liesel’s world and the potency of the writing. The song (Hello Stars) which was wove throughout the show really made me look for the stars on my way home and appreciate what we have. I am not sure this was the aim, but it resonated with me, and will do for years to come.
I may have been one of the few in the audience who had not read the original book, by my daughter (13) has read the book and says, “The Book Thief Musical stays true to Markus Zusak’s novel, with a few slight changes.”
The storyline is thoroughly detailed on the Curve website, and for me, the profound impact of words’ transformative power is authentically reflected in the performance. However, beyond that, it has deeply struck a chord with me, providing not just a theatrical production or a musical experience but a profound sense of belonging, gratitude and true admiration for those who lived through WWII.
The cast’s performances and the production did a wonderful job of conveying the story’s themes of love, sorrow, resilience, and the enormous power of words.
Overall, “The Book Thief Musical,” which I saw at the Curve Theatre in Leicester was both a moving and amazing artistic achievement. Outstanding production values combined with the stellar performances of Oliver Gordon, Eoromo Louskou, and Obioma Ugoala to create a night that will not soon be forgotten.
Overall, this is a must watch, 5 out of 5. The story is deep and meaningful full of sorrow and hope.
The Book Thief at Curve Theatre, Leicester is running now until Saturday 14th October.
Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, with Act 1 being 1hour 30 minutes.
Tickets can be bought at:
BOX OFFICE — 0116 242 3595 —
TICKETS@CURVETHEATRE.CO.UK
£20 Under 16s
£25 tickets on Fri 29 Sep 7.30pm or £5 off 16-26 yrs and/or Students (with a free 16-26 & Student Membership), and Curve Connect (Tue – Thu only, from Price Band B)
£18 Under 18s School Groups
£5 off Groups 10+ (Tue – Fri only, from Price Band B)
£6 off Groups 20+ (Tue – Fri only, from Price Band B)
15% off for Members
Photo Credit Pamela Raith.
Rating: 5/5
https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-book-thief/