Based on Novel & Film: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Stage Adaptation: Jack Thorne
Director: James Dacre
Reviewer: Christine Stanton
“Completely Captivating”
4.5 / 5
~This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub~
John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel ‘Let the Right One In’ found success in film, and Jack Thorne’s stage adaptation ensures the narrative retains both its unsettling brutality and tender coming-of-age heartbreak.
Set in a quiet, wintery, Stockholm suburb – Oskar (Nicky Dune) is lonely; bullied at school, his teachers oblivious to his struggle, his father living away and his mother, despite caring, unable to fully understand him. When he initially meets Eli (Rachael Dowsett) his guard is up, careful to let anyone close and sceptical of her motivations in trying to get to know him. He’s curious though, and once she rids her ‘infected bandage’ smell, he’s slowly intrigued to get to know her more. The pair become close, finding solace in each other, while a series of unsolved, brutal murders unsettle the otherwise uneventful town. But this isn’t just a tender coming-of-age romance – Eli is not just an eccentric young girl, she’s a vampire, desperately trying to quell her bloodlust alongside saving Oskar from his internal suffering.
The NYT Rep Company have covered every single base with this captivating, chilling and carefully crafted production. Featuring a cast of 20, the pacing is fast and everchanging, with scenes quickly transitioning from swimming lesson, to sweet shop, familial conversation to news bulletin. Where some productions may struggle to switch location and scene so frequently, NYT Rep have this down to an art, smoothly and swiftly adapting to each new location to avoid any clunkiness that can sometimes occur with constant adjustments. The lighting from Matt Haskins and Dan Balfour’s sound design add an impressive atmospheric layer of tension, ensuring the unease remains simmering in the background throughout.
Jonathan Fensom’s set design is simple but adaptable, featuring only a climbing frame and a table, with an occasional sprinkling of snow falling to the ground. Although the set is sparse, it is purposeful, and bought to life by the collaborative efforts of the impressive cast. Dune and Dowsett are outstanding within their roles as central characters, both masterfully depicting childlike innocence, emotional vulnerability and tentative connection with ease. Mascuud Dahir (Jonny) and Rhys Quilley (Micke) portray the harsh, nastiness of school bullies fantastically, their scenes so well done that they’re almost uncomfortable to watch. Louise Coggrave is spot on with her cold, authoritarian depiction of the police officer, while Kurt the shopkeeper (Nicholas Bhar) adds an unexpectedly kind, calm persona, that balances some of the harsher scenes out well.
The production strikes an impressive balance between tender, touching, teenage angst alongside the sinister, supernatural, savagery, juggling the two with confidence and control. The horrific, violent scenes are expertly done, causing shock and unease in the audience, before moving into the equally unsettling, but more poignant themes of haunting, human loneliness. An impressive, cohesive, collaboration by the talented cast and creative team.
Runs until 23rd May 2026
RatedReviewed 
Leave a comment