To Kill A Mockingbird
Adapted for the stage by Aaron Sorkin, Harper Lee’s novel, although set in 1934, has a timeless message of injustice, bigotry, and discrimination.
The story focuses on Atticus Finch, a lawyer who encourages empathy in his children Jem and Scout. But when faced with defending Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a young white woman, his calm demeanour is pushed to its limits.
The original novel was inspired by Lee’s own childhood and Sorkin’s adaptation, and Bartlett Sher’s direction certainly do it justice, remaining as close to the story as is possible with a transfer to the stage.
Patrick O’Kane appears as Atticus, his portrayal is seamless, capturing the relationships between characters and the laidback diligence of the role perfectly. Andrea Davy as Calpurnia, Atticus’s housekeeper, is also delightful to watch, with just enough impertinence for her character to show emotions without overstepping her mark and her relationship with Atticus, but enough to stand her ground in a frightening and dangerous time in the world for her.
The villain of the piece, Bob Ewell, is played by Oscar Pearce whose interpretation of the role is brilliantly dislikeable. The audience cannot wait to see him get his comeuppance.
The story itself is narrated by Jem (Gabriel Scott) and Scout (Anna Munden), Atticus’ children, and their friend Dill (Dylan Malyn). All three characterisations are fantastically acted, and they feed off each other well. With Scout’s dry humour and Dill’s simple nature, they are delightful to see and draw the audience in from the start.
Miriam Buether’s set design is detailed yet simple to transport us from Atticus’s home porch to the court room, and with Ann Roth’s costume design they both capture the time of the piece perfectly and we are unquestionably transported.
The themes of the piece are unfortunately still as valid and significant today as the time they are set and the time they were written. It’s important to identify that whilst the majority of mankind has evolved and the ideas that once were considered the norm are now firmly in the past, a small minority of people still identify with these ideals and even a small minority is too much when it comes to these beliefs.
A poignant, viable, impacting piece of theatre.
This show was reviewed on the 14th April 2026 at Birmingham Hippodrome where it runs until the 18th April 2026. Tickets can be found here: To Kill A Mockingbird – Birmingham Hippodrome
Full tour dates can be found here: TOUR — To Kill A Mockingbird
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit: Johan Persson
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