The Secret Keeper at the Theatre Royal Plymouth Review

Reviewed by Teresa Jones

This all takes place in a strange far away kingdom full of ordinary people with a lot of different secrets weighing them down, there are thefts, affairs, government cover-ups and a murder.

The play starts on a sad note we see a family in turmoil after the murder of an uncle 9 years previously. The murderer has never been caught and the father is the prime suspect. He is depressed, and this has affected his whole life.

He has a daughter who he always calls the good daughter and she is very worried about him and wants to help she asks him often what makes him sad and he won’t say until one day she says, “tell me your dark secret I promise to keep it safe” he does and is so relieved by doing this he feels it’s a miracle.

Thinking that his daughters gift to keep secrets can help the other people in the village he tells them all how wonderful they will feel if they come and unburden themselves by telling her their secrets not giving a thought to what all these secrets will do to his little girl.

We all know that a little daughter however good she maybe would struggle with keeping all this inside.

The set is dark at first with a spotlight on the head and torso of a doll with a pull string that tells you of the changes of acts and there are also magpies quite a lot of magpies presuming (7 for a secret never to be told).

The co- writer Angela Clerkin plays the part of the good daughter with a perfect childlike air. With Niall Ashdown, Hazel Maycook and Anne Odeke playing all the other characters brilliantly.

Saying this, the play did not live up to what I expected of it, there were some badly performed songs and it seemed a little too long.

The Drum within the Theatre Royal was full for this show with a real mixture of ages we had good seats, but you would have had a perfect view of the stage where ever you sat. The staff were cheerful and very helpful throughout the theatre which also has a lovely small coffee shop if you arrive early selling a wide range of snacks, food and drinks. The theatre is in the centre of Plymouth and very easy to find with ample parking available.

Rating: 3/5

Tickets cost £15 (booking fees may apply).

The Secret Keeper is at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth from 31 October to 4 November 2017, for more information or to book tickets visit www.theatreroyal.com or call the box office on 01752 267222.

Theatre Royal Plymouth, Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR | 01752 267222