For book lovers, there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing their favourite books adapted into a new medium. A theatre adaptation offers a fresh and exciting way to retell a story, using techniques such as clever staging, special effects, dazzling set design, and even music and songs to retell a familiar and beloved story.
Luckily for bookworms, London is spoilt for choice when it comes to stage adaptations of classic books. From adaptations of classic novels to children’s books to spy and crime thrillers, here are some book-to-stage adaptations to check out in London this year:
The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum
Corbin Bleu, Rachel Tucker, and Jon Robyns in The Great Gatsby at the London Coliseum.
The book: F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, set during the Jazz Age in New York, tells the story of self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties, hoping to win back his lost love, Daisy. This timeless tale shines a harrowing light on the realities of ambition, corruption, and the dark side of the American dream.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- The glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties comes to life on this gorgeous set that captures the mood of Gatsby’s lavish but ultimately soulless parties, as well as iconic set pieces from the book like the Eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg billboard.
- Keen ears will catch unforgettable quotes from the book peppered throughout the musical, and in some of its song lyrics, most memorably Daisy Buchanan’s ‘that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’.
- The score blends jazz and modern pop to create a truly unique soundtrack, from the cynical ensemble number ‘New Money’ to Gatsby’s tragic love song ‘For Her’ to Wolfsheim’s wickedly wonderful ‘Shady’, each capturing vital moments of the story.
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold at @sohoplace
Rory Keenan in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold at @sohoplace.
The book: John Le Carre was the undisputed master of the spy genre. This Cold War spy thriller is his most famous novel, following an undercover secret agent who goes in for one last deadly mission and exploring the complexities and horrors of covert warfare.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- This play will immerse you into the Cold War era: gritty, grim, and characterised by an atmosphere of paranoia, and the dark nature of espionage and backdoor politics.
- Like the books, the play explores themes that feel hauntingly relevant today, such as how the nature of warfare blurs the lines between heroes and villains.
- If you’re a fan of the spy genre, this novel was the seminal work for many of the tropes and archetypes that we see in works from Bond to Bourne, and the play brings them to life in new and often unexpected ways.
The Hunger Games: On Stage at Troubadour Canary Wharf
Artwork of The Hunger Games at Troubadour Canary Wharf
The book: The first book in Suzanne Collins’ young adult dystopian book series launched a globally beloved franchise. In a futuristic America known as Panem, children are forced to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal fight to the death for the entertainment of the wealthy, elite Capitol citizens. Teenage Katniss becomes the spark of a revolution against the oppressive regime.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- The colourful, outlandish fashion of the Capitol, rich, dynamic settings of Panem, and the story’s theme of spectacle means this will be a feast for the senses. The Hunger Games seems like a book that was made for the stage.
- The purpose-built, state-of-the-art venue designed by the Troubadour team will bring the iconic, terrifying Arena to life, immersing audiences into the Games so we live and breathe Katniss’s fear.
- The story’s themes of rebellion against oppression feels harrowingly relevant today. This immersive theatrical experience will bring to life the emotional stakes, horrors, and tragedy of the Games and all they represent.
The Daughter of Time at Charing Cross Theatre
Artwork of The Daughter of Time at Charing Cross Theatre
The book: Josephine Trey’s 1951 The Daughter of Time is one of the most celebrated detective novels of all time, in which Inspector Alan Grant investigates the oldest and most baffling cold case in history - the murder of the Princes in the Tower by King Richard III.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- The only other time this book has been adapted has been as a radio show, which means this is the first time that fans will be able to see it come to life in a visual medium.
- Clever stage direction and theatrical marvel come together to bring a fresh take on a story that blends history and mystery, unravelling a mystery that has baffled historians for centuries.
- A talented cast, including Rob Pomfret as Alan Grant and Rachel Pickup as Marta Hallard, will bring to life the chemistry, emotional stakes, and romance of Trey’s colourful cast of characters.
Matilda: The Musical at Cambridge Theatre
The cast of Matilda at Cambridge Theatre
The book: Roald Dahl’s children’s books are full of unforgettable characters and powerful lessons for children. Matilda is about a clever little girl who is misunderstood by her parents and finds solace only in books. When she begins to exhibit strange and fantastic powers, she must use them to defend her friends against their child-hating headmistress, Ms Trunchbull.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- The dynamic set brings to life the whimsical tone of the book, with towering bookcases, swing sets, giant building blocks, and ominous iron bars to recreate the terrifying Chokey where Trunchbull imprisons children.
- Many of us grew up with Roald Dahl’s stories and it’s truly a delight, and often an emotional experience, to see the story of Matilda retold onstage. But the musical doesn’t lean entirely on the source material, injecting new scenes that may take you by surprise.
- Clever original songs bring the wonder, themes, and lessons of the story to life, from Matilda scheming against her parents in the wonderfully sassy ‘Naughty’ to Trunchbull’s bombastic villain song ‘The Smell of Rebellion’ to the schoolchildren’s defiant uprising in the revolutionary anthem ‘Revolting Children’.
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Sadler’s Wells
Katy Stephens in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at Sadler's Wells
The book: C S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the most beloved pieces of children’s fantasy. The four Pevensie siblings stumble through an enchanted wardrobe into a magical world, where they encounter talking animals, the wise lion Aslan, and the cruel White Witch. Like his old friend Tolkein, Lewis’s works were one of the seminal pieces of fantasy fiction.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- Like Matilda, many of us grew up with these beloved, iconic books, and seeing Narnia come to life on the stage is like stepping back to our childhoods. For parents, this is a wonderful chance to introduce children to the stories they loved.
- Clever stage magic brings to life the enchanting world of Narnia, from the snowfall that greets the Pevensies to the talking lion Aslan to the battle between the talking animals and the White Witch’s monstrous army.
- The story’s powerful and familiar themes of good versus evil and children growing into heroes will undoubtedly translate into some epic and awe-inspiring scenes onstage.
Les Miserables at Sondheim Theatre
The cast of Les Miserables at Sondheim Theatre
The book: Victor Hugo’s epic 1862 novel is one of the most famous pieces of French literature. Among its sprawling cast of iconic characters are ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, who adopts the daughter of a tragic prostitute, Cosette, who falls in love with young revolutionary Marius. It’s a timeless story of revolution, redemption, and love in a time of historical turmoil.
Why fans of the book should see the show:
- Les Miserables is the longest running musical on the West End, and for good reason. The lengthy, dense, and complex novel has been distilled into a sweeping theatrical experience that perfectly captures the soul and themes of the book.
- Gorgeous set design, a talented ensemble cast, and clever stage direction bring to life the beauty and poverty of 19th century Paris.
- A big part of this is the soundtrack, full of gorgeously orchestrated, unforgettable musical numbers that propel the story forward, from the heartbreaking lament ‘I Have a Dream’ to the powerful revolutionary anthem, ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’.
So if you fell in love with one of these books and wish you could re-experience reading it for the first time, these stage adaptations are sure to make you fall in love with the story all over again. Book your tickets and see these beloved stories, characters, and iconic moments as you’ve never seen them before.
