REVIEW: THE DAUGHTER OF TIME by M. Kilburg Reedy at Charing Cross Theatre 18 July – 13 September 2025

‘Unexpectedly compelling’ ★★★★

This is a refreshingly old fashioned play. The action takes place mostly in a single setting. You have to listen to what is said and there are no theatrical gimmicks. It could very easily be dull but isn’t.



Based on Josephine Tey’s 1951 novel, M Kilburg Reddy’s version comes with borrowings from Tey’s other four Inspector Grant novels. Grant (Rob Pomfret) has broken his leg in the course of his duties and is now obliged to spend six weeks in hospital. He is bored and bad tempered until his flighty actress friend, Marta Hallard (Rachel Pickup – nice performance) brings him a photograph of the famous portrait of Richard III. Richard, as nearly every one knows, has long been perceived – largely thanks to Shakespeare – as a villainous, ruthless, power-hungry murderer, guilty of infanticide. Grant studies the face, decides that this benign, wise looking man can’t have done what he is blamed for and sets out to prove his innocence.

Of course – with the help of a young researcher and his friend/colleague from the Met – he eventually succeeds. At the same time there are two gentle 1950s-style love stories winding their way along in the background. Both are eventually resolved happily

The history is carefully researched despite flaws in Tey’s argument which becomes a quasi-courtroom scene in a hospital room. And court room scenes generally make good drama. I thought it was a fine novel when I first read it in my teens and – although by then I was more au fait with the background history – I quite liked it again when I reread it a couple of years ago. Now it also makes an unexpectedly compelling play. And although I remain unconvinced that it was the Duke of Buckingham wot-did-it, I can suspend disbelief long enough to appreciate this piece.

Pomfret’s central performance is nicely sustained as he goes from being a curmudgeonly “bad” patient to a professional detective at work. He is horizontal in bed for most of the play’s two and three quarter hours and that can’t be easy. He gets a brief respite when Noah Huntley (good) as actor, Nigel Templeton treats us to extracts from his current play at the Old Vic – Richard III of course – in front of a traditional red velvet curtain. There are also some short scenes when Templeton and Marta meet in the Ivy which is nicely depicted on a half stage flat, complete with distinctive diamond stained glass.  

The support cast is generally strong although Hafsa Abbasi, as one of three nurses looking after Grant, isn’t always audible from Row H. Harrison Sharpe is entertaining as the earnest, excitable young American researcher, Brent Carradine. And Sanya Adegbola is enjoyably naturalistic as Grant’s gravelly, no nonsense sidekick. Janna Fox, the nurse who listens patiently to Grant’s developing theories and constantly pours cold water on them, adds dramatic tension and a lot of humour.

It’s quite a treat to see such satisfyingly grown up theatre. It doesn’t set out to be “edgy” or to explore difficult territory but sustains interest throughout. Take it on its own terms and The Daughter of Time is rather good.

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME by M. Kilburg Reedy, adapted from Josephine Tey at Charring Cross Theatre 18 JULY - 13 SEPTEMBER 2025

BOX OFFICE https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/the-daughter-of-time

Directed by Jenny Eastop

Produced by Excelsior Entertainment and Mercurius Theatre

The production’s cast includes:

Hafsa Abassi

Sanya Adegbola

Janna Fox

Noah Huntley

Rachel Pickup

Rob Pomfret

Harrison Sharpe

The cast also includes:

Henry Douthwaite

Sophie Doyle

Gregor Roach

Creatives:

Author: M. Kilburg Reedy

Novelist: Josephine Tey

Director: Jenny Eastop

Set and Costume Designer: Bob Sterrett

Lighting Designer: Oliver McNally

Composer: Haddon Kime

Sound Designer: Andrew Johnson

Hair, Wigs, and Makeup: Diana Estrada Hudson

Casting: Neil Rutherford

Key Art: Kurt Firla

Production Manager: James Anderton

Produced by Excelsior Entertainment, Mercurius Theatre, and Steven M. Levy for Charing Cross Theatre Productions Limited.