REVIEW: JUDGMENT DAY at Old Red Lion Playhouse 22 September – 10 October 2026
‘Gripping, like watching a runaway train closing in.’ ★★★★
New theatre company Fright Train bring a large cast production of Ödön von Horváth’s JUDGMENT DAY to the tiny space at Old Red Lion Playhouse. This revival, translated by Christopher Hampton, in some ways resembles a series of trials for a community and the judgement of individuals from within.
The set up reveals the protagonist Thomas Hudetz, the railway signalman, to be diligent in his work, without ever having made a single mistake. Whilst everyone has nothing but praise for him, the villagers have much to say about his wife, who is some years older than him and whom they dislike. The local publican’s teenage daughter has a crush on him, but he does not reciprocate her affections. It all feeds into the ever- tightening grip of this close-knit community.
After a train derails and kills several people, the public prosecutor is tasked with finding out who is responsible. One of the strengths of the play is that the audience already knows exactly what happened and this dramatic irony provides fascinating theatre. In the first act the villagers’ prejudices swing one way and then in the second they have arbitrarily changed sides, with some notable exceptions of upstanding citizens, one in particular who upholds his principals over loyalty. It’s a good cross section of society and, to the credit of the company, the cast also offers a good representation.
The cast is a little uneven in acting skills but they work well as an ensemble and the stage positioning has been exceedingly well worked out by the director. It looks good. this is important because the staging is minimal. Added to the pleasing montages of villagers, the play feels very immersive thanks to an exceptional sound design. Those trains really sound as though they’re passing in front of the audience and behind them.
In this expressionistic play the fete of the Signalman is decided by others, and he is powerless to escape the final reckoning. Each scene notches up another nail in his coffin, he is on an hellish journey of no return. Unfairly judged and condemned. Written in 1937 as Nazism was gaining ground, Ödön von Horváth play warns of the dangers of herd mentality. He was forced into exile for his anti-fascist writing and activism. These are reasons enough to revive the play.
Added to this, new company Fright Train, was founded by the director Matilda Ziegler who is revisiting this play after 37 years, having played Anna in Stephen Daldry’s award-winning UK premiere of Judgment Day in 1989 at the Old Red Lion. Her daughter Faye Ziegler, a recent graduate of Oxford School of Drama, joins the cast to take on the same role.
Ziegler does well, a worthy performance, and she is joined by her mother, Matilda Ziegler, in a well observed character performance as the village gossip Frau Leimgruber. Several other performances also catch the eye including a scene stealing performance from experienced actor Michael Higgs as the Landlord, and newly graduated Beyagy Demba in supporting roles. Also a mention to Craig Hamilton as the Signalman for his portrayal of the handsome silent man, being targeted by the community. Finally, also a mention to Lewis Blomfield, as the policeman, who brings a little light relief and sense of bonhomie in the midst of this rather sinister play.
Fright Train present
JUDGMENT DAY
Written by Ödön von Horváth
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Old Red Lion Playhouse
BOX OFFICE https://weareoldred.co.uk/whats-on/judgment-day/
Cast list:
Thomas Hudetz: Craig Hamilton
Anna: Faye Ziegler
Frau Hudetz: Agni Scott
Alfons: Alfie Webster
Landlord: Michael Higgs
Leni: Adrian Greensmith
Ferdinand: Florian Saturley
Kohut/Severe Angel: Rafaela Nicolay
Detective/Customer/Pokorny: Patrick O’Leary
Policeman: Lewis Blomfield
Travelling Salesman: Henry Alexander Bryan
Woodsman/Platelayer: Beyagy Demba
Public Prosecutor: Michael Palmer
Frau Leimgruber: Matilda Ziegler
Director: Matilda Ziegler
Set Design: Lily Booth
Live Musician: Harry Fisher
Score, Composer and Sound Designer: Evie Hilyer-Ziegler
Press Officer: Alice Rickett
Fight Director: Nathan Flowers & Theo Brignall
Intimacy Coordinator: Ros Philips
Lighting: Felix Gibbons
On-Set Painting: Bobbie Wilson
Photography: Alex Storey
