Redcliffe at Southwark Playhouse Review
Walking into Southwark Playhouse, the world of Redcliffe is established before a note is sung. Hanging wooden beams announce the names of William Critchard and Richard Arnold alongside “Redcliffe Bristol 1752–1753,” immediately grounding us in the true story behind this new musical.
Written by and starring Jordan Luke Gage, ‘Redcliffe’ centres on the persecution of LGBTQI+ people in the mid‑18th century through the forbidden love between William and Richard.
William is a young man trying to find his place in the world while carrying the pressure to marry, meanwhile his younger sister Abigail dreams of marrying the baker’s son. Yet the law and religion of the time make William’s desires dangerous — and ultimately devastating.
Though the events took place nearly 270 years ago, the show underlines their contemporary resonance. The coda reminds us that homosexuality remains punishable by death in at least twelve countries and criminalised in sixty‑five more. Gage has said he hopes the musical will reflect “how far society has come and how far there is still to go,” and the production makes that point with sincerity.
The score leans into a modern folk‑rock sound. “The Most Amazing Wedding” is a lively, playful duet between Mother and Abigail, while “A Pint or Four” is a warm, boisterous ensemble number that makes you want to join them for a drink in the pub. “A Million Things I Know”, charting the blossoming romance between William and Richard, is sweet, though some of its musical choices briefly pulled me out of the moment. The big ballad, “Void of Love”, is sung with real intensity, but the evening’s strongest vocal performance comes from Rebecca Lock, whose anguished delivery of “Hurricane” is a standout.
There is more humour than the subject matter suggests, especially in the first act, with the second shifting into darker territory. One scene — the introduction of a new character who appears only briefly in Act Two — feels unnecessary and disrupts the narrative flow, a moment that could be cut without loss. There are also some minor rhyming issues, and a few pieces of contemporary phrasing pull the piece out of its 1750s setting.
Daniel Krikler’s Richard and Gage’s William anchor the love story with sincerity. Rebecca Lock is superb as Mother: a familiar overbearing‑parent archetype, but played with warmth, comic timing and real emotional weight. Jess Douglas Welsh, making her London debut after being attached to the show’s workshops, brings charm and vulnerability to Abigail — a bubbly fifteen‑year‑old forced to grow up too quickly. Her dream sequence, with the ensemble weaving silks around her like dancers at a maypole, as she imagines a future with the baker’s son Arthur, is one of the production’s most visually striking moments.
The cast also includes Adrian Hansel as Baber, Melissa Jacques as Georgie/Judge, Jade Johnson as Landlady, Phoebe Kyriakopoulos as Esther, Joseph Peacock as Arthur and Steven Serlin as Officer/Felix.
Paul Foster’s direction makes strong use of the in‑the‑round staging, keeping the action fluid and intimate. The wooden platform incitporates a bench with crates storred beneath, willhich are pulled out and transformed into stools or tables, quickly shifting us from home to pub. I really liked the water feature at one end of the stage, serving as both the docks and providing a space for practical tasks such as the women washing clothes- a simple touch that hinted at the period. Costumes nod to 18th‑century working‑class life — blues, greys and worn fabrics — but with a contemporary edge. The lighting design is particularly effective, especially the use of candles.
‘Redcliffe’ is a story of love, persecution and resilience that still resonates, and the cast brings it to life with conviction. After eight sold‑out workshops at The Other Palace in 2024, it now arrives as a fully staged production and the show’s heart, energy and emotional sincerity shine through.
Redcliffe is performing 22nd May to 4th July 2026. Monday- Saturday at 7pm, and Tuesday and Saturday 2:30pm. Tickets from £28 (£22.50 concession).
Address: Southwark Playhouse Borough, 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 68D
Website: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swkplay
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