Midnight Cowboy

Tori Allen-Martin plays a range of female roles, including the enigmatic Cass and is a clear standout in this production. She brings emotional nuance and vocal power to the otherwise underwritten parts she inhabits. Her performance of “Whatever It Is You’re Doing” is the musical’s most grounded moment, honest, and unafraid of stillness. She shows her versatility as an actor bringing warmth and edge to each character she plays. A special mention to the ensemble and the multi-rolling cast, often taking on many roles as the story unravels.

Director and choreographer Nick Winston boldly sidesteps realism, staging the action in a stylised monochrome dreamscape that hovers between memory and fantasy. His direction is clear and concise adding depth and character to the action. Andrew Exeter’s set and lighting design evoke the raw edge of 1960s New York, neon outlines, looming shadows, and surreal shapes conjure a city that exists more in Joe Buck’s imagination than on a map. This is a smart decision. It supports the story’s central motif of illusion versus reality giving us an essence whilst remaining classy.