The stage adaptation based on the book series by Suzanne Collins is now officially open in its specially built venue in Canary Wharf.
Broadway World: “The size of the production makes it all come off slightly fabricated and unnatural, but that was always going to happen. If you expect to be wowed to the edge of your seat, the technical aspects will do that. If you look for emotional depth and the same thematic inquiry as the source material, you might be disappointed.”
The Guardian: “The biggest advantage the stage production has over the film and book is that the auditorium of this new theatre really does seem like a gameshow space, with us as its bloodthirsty audience, and there are even some moving blocks of seats to create a sense of immersion.”
The Daily Mail: “Ms Carragher’s Katniss is likeable – apprehensive, conflicted, yet resolute. But Matthew Dunster’s production is at its best when most active and least reflective.”
The Independent: “This latest expansion of Suzanne Collins’ mega-franchise has all the bells, bangs and whistles you’d expect – but it misses the point of her story.”
Time Out: “Dunster is not a subtle director, and in many ways that suits Collins’s novel. He picks out the themes of class oppression between the gaudy dandies of the Capitol and dirt poor folk of District 12 – from whence heroine Katniss Everdeen hails – with day-glo aplomb”
WhatsOnStage: “It has just enough theatrical invention to justify its existence beyond the films, while Carragher’s debut is a genuine highlight. A lot of fan emotions have been riding on this going well. This may not be a flawless victory for either McPherson or the franchise, but you can’t fault anyone for lack of ambition by giving it a go.”
All that Dazzles: “There are plenty of ideas to be had in The Hunger Games – some of them land while others fall at the first hurdle. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this may have been a case of “too many cooks” in the sense that all these conflicting ideas were being stitched together in the sense that they fit.”
London Unattached: “Overall, this is a blockbuster production that effectively translates the first part of Katniss’ story onto the stage. The teenage angst of its younger characters is tempered by plenty of big, impressive fights and with Caesar Flickerman and Effie Trinket to keep you entertained, you’re sure to be left satisfied.”
The Stage: “Conor McPherson and Matthew Dunster’s stage adaptation of the hit YA story is ambitious and spectacular.”
Jonathan Baz Reviews: “In short, The Hunger Games is a landmark piece of live theatre — visually stunning, emotionally charged, and conceptually daring. A must-see for both fans of the franchise and anyone passionate about what can be achieved on stage.”
City Am: “The cast as a whole is athletic and energetic enough, and it’s not their fault they have little to work with. With little else to go on, and little time to establish their characters amid such a large ensemble, many opt instead simply to mimic their on-screen counterparts, to varying degrees of success.”
The Standard: “Director Matthew Dunster, and his team choreographing the fights, choric movement and flying, do a fine job of filling this steeply-banked, 1200-seat crucible with roiling, hectic, sometimes confusing action. I’ve never seen the height of a venue used as well as its width and depth for a play before.”
Theatre & Tonic: “Overall, this production is unfortunately a real shame. Whilst it is still an enjoyable standalone show, it is almost impossible to overlook the clunky choices made both technically and artistically that sadly spoil what looked set to be an incredible story translated onto the stage. This is regrettably less ‘girl on fire’ and more child with a sparkler.”
Theatre Weekly: “The concept is undeniably impressive. The venue itself feels like an aircraft hangar repurposed for dystopia, with a circular stage encircled by colossal video panels and industrial walkways. Audience members are seated by “district”, a clever immersive touch that sets the tone before the show begins. From the opening moments, cinematic underscoring and sub-bass rumbles promise a visceral experience. For a while, it delivers.”
To book tickets click here.