REVIEW: BECOMING MR DANVERS by Heather Alexander at Upstairs at the Gatehouse 18 - 22 February 2026
‘A gripping tale of resilience and survival.’ ★★★★
It’s ‘inspired by’.
The titular Mrs Danvers has been analysed and referenced countless times since she first appeared in the original Daphne Du Maurier novel Rebecca, so it is refreshing to see something slightly different in this never-ending cycle of prequels, sequels and re-imaginings that modern pop culture can’t seem to get out of.
It’s 1919. Before Manderley, there was an orphanage. A young girl learns that life is tough here and that she must learn how to cope the only way she can. Full of twists, secrets and moments that will chill you to the bone, Becoming Mrs Danvers is a gripping tale of resilience and survival.
Under Tina Pelini’s direction, the incredibly detailed set makes the story come alive, and the use of Franz Waxman’s score for the 1940 film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock is a nice touch that brings you right back to that world.
And it’s a world beautifully inhabited by Heather Alexander, in a tour-de-force performance, hitting all the right notes, without putting a foot wrong anywhere. She delivers a one-woman show for the ages, (re)creating Du Maurier’s most fascinating character, whose despair, loneliness and strength are palpable in every moment. ‘As a child, she repeatedly watched black-and-white movies to keep from going insane.’ Girl, same.
BECOMING MRS DANVERS, 18 – 22 February, Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Production Credits
Written and Performed by Heather Alexander
Director: Tina Pelini
Dramaturg: Kate Bannister
Lighting Design: Heather Alexander
Sound Design: James Connor
Video/Projection Promo: Smokescreen Productions
Produced by: Emul8 Theatre
Running Time: Approx. 85 minutes +i nterval 15 mins
Age Guidance: [e.g. 12+]
Heather Alexander
https://heatheralexandershows.co.uk/
Reviewer Carol Saint Martin is a screenwriter, playwright and pop culture blogger. Her plays HABITAT and LOBBY have been performed on the London stage, and her film OPEN HELL premiered at the London Lift-Off Film Festival in 2025.
