REVIEW: Vanity Fair (after Thackeray) at Keats House, 26 June 2025 (and touring until August 2025)
'a constant infusion of humour, pathos, and innovation' ★★★★★
What must the neighbours of Keats House in Hampstead (peering over the fence) have thought? What a ruckus was made by Moving Parts Theatre. It certainly lives up to its name as performers regale its audience as the classic story is turned into a circus-like event, with fire sticks and stilts, musical instruments (violin, clarinet, drums), a jester, and acrobatics (well, an attempt). Nine performers will take on Thackeray’s tale of 40-plus characters. It is based on Thackeray’s story, and yet harkens back to the originator of the concept of “not a moral place, but a merry one”, subtly referencing Paul Bunyan’s A Pilgrim’s Progress, and speaking to greater themes of need and greed that come through well.
The opening scene sees Rebecca -Becky- Sharp (Katrina Michaels) and her wealthy and well-loved friend, Amelia Sedley (Anna Blackburn) leaving their childhood school. Becky is poor and not well-connected, but clever and a social climber. Through her travails, Becky is able to meet the myriad of characters who are constantly switching gender, roles, and costumes. To say this ensemble works well together is an understatement. One particularly memorable moment was watching them use two large metal hoops, two umbrellas and four coconut shells (with two humans as slow horses) that led them to their next adventure.
As Becky moves onto the Pitt Crawley household to make her new destiny, the male actors (Greenidge, South, Hill, Canadine) really come to shine: whether grandiose, comic or snivelling, they are captivating to watch and able to do anything (male, female, young, old, serious, hilarious). Joanna Nevin is a real jewel in her ability to play Rawdon, Crawley’s son, and transform as needed quickly at the openly visible clothing rack (beautiful set by Freya Alexander and Lily Baik) with versatile costumery (Anna Pearshouse). The jester at the opening becomes the truest love, Dobbin (Tom Beattie) and works steadily to a sweet and breath-taking climax to the story. Michaels performs a beautiful song in French to the accolades of both the troupe and the audience. Anais Tran Ngoc, the musician, merges with the ensemble perfectly while providing entrancing music with her violin and other instruments. The direction of this piece is stellar, with support from both director Simona Hughes and movement director Nevena Stojkov.
Despite the complexity of the story, this show never feels dry or ebbs, with constant infusion of humour, pathos, and innovation. This troupe can make anything engaging, even the cry of a baby! I’m really glad that this is a touring production because my new theatre wish is that every person could experience such vivacious, enthralling theatre in their lifetimes… even if over picket fences.
VENUES/DATES & BOX OFFICE https://movingpartstheatre.com/whats-on/
Written and co-created by Joanna Nevin, Martin South & Simona Hughes
Performed by Katrina Michaels, Anna Blackburn, Jarhys Greenidge, Tom Beattie, Joanna Nevin, Martin South, Keith Hill, Andy Canadine, Anais Tran Ngoc
Directed by Simona Hughes
Composer / Music Director: Tamara Douglas-Morris
Movement Director: Nevena Stojkov
Costume Design: Anna Pearshouse
Set Design: Freya Alexander & Lily Baik
Brighton Open Air Theatre , East Sussex- 3rd/4th July. Tickets Here
Keats House, Hampstead – 5th July. Tickets Here
Coram’s Fields, London- 6th July. Tickets Here
Abney Park, Stoke Newington – 9th/10th July. Tickets Here
Norwich Plantation Garden– 11th July. Tickets Here
Stow Hall, Norfolk – 12th July. Tickets Here
Creake Abbey, Norfolk- 13th July. Info & Tickets Here
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London – 17th July. Tickets Here
The Actors Church, Covent Garden – 18th July. Tickets Here
Berkhamsted Castle, Hertfordshire – 19th July. Info & Tickets Here
Ingatestone Hall, Essex – 20th July. Tickets Here
Stephens House & Gardens, Finchley – 24th July. Tickets Here
Hindringham Hall, Norfolk – 25th July. Tickets Here
Hoveton Hall, Norfolk – 26th July. Tickets Here
Thorington Open Air Theatre, Suffolk – 27th July. Tickets Here
Pembroke College, Cambridge- 31st July/1st August. Tickets Here
Leicester Cathedral- 2nd August. Tickets Here
St Pauls Walden Bury, Hertfordshire – 3rd August. Tickets Here
The Actors Church, Covent Garden – 8th August. Tickets Here
Lewes Castle, East Sussex – 9th/10th August. Tickets Here
