Stage Review The 39 Steps
Stage Review
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The 39 Steps
The Thirty-Nine Steps a novel by John Buchan
Adapted from the screen version The 39 Steps directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1935)
Adaptor for stage Patrick Barlow (2005)
Directed by Cal McCrystal (2026)
This stage adaptation from the old Hitchcock comedy/thriller film of 1935 The 39 Steps has a cast of four performing multiple roles - plus actor, Ryan Starling who plays the lead character Richard Hannay.
Before the curtain opens with the Hannay character rattling around in his flat in London's W1, two ensemble players Kathryn Perkins and James Keningale deliver a 'welcome to the show' circus ringmaster style introduction. This amusing intro is part of the playscript and this parody play's set-piece design and we know from the very beginning that this is going to be so much fun!
Without too many spoilers then a short overview follows...
to get away from his flat, Hannay goes to the theatre. Two Clowns in tuxedo dress (Perkins and Keningale again) are performing a memory act. In the auditorium gun shots are fired, everyone is panicked; a female stranger especially so. She tells Hannay she's being followed by the gunmen and she insists he takes her back to his flat to hide out.
Back home, Hannay learns her name is Annabella (Sophie Bloor) and she divulges information that connects Auchterarder in Perthshire with a spy ring leader operating from that location. She refers to a mysterious 39 steps but does not explain what it means or its significance.
Hannay's boredom is about to be busted because Annabella is literally stabbed in the back in another room inside his flat, she stumbles through to him and dies. He quickly realises he'll be framed for her murder and so decides to follow his own investigation. As he flees the flat he meets the morning milkman (also Keningale) he disguises himself in the milkman's coat and makes a run for it.
Acting on the information Annabella told him he decides to head up to Scotland on the train. Meanwhile, when his cleaning lady (also Perkins) discovers the dead body in the flat she raises the alarm.
Hannay's face is all over the front pages, suddenly, he is a murder suspect on the run and determined to clear his name. In doing so he inadvertently involves Pamela who he met on the train, she reluctantly, at first, gets tied up with the whole thing. The Pamela character is also played by actor, Sophie Bloor.
Comment
An adventure story of mid-century City of London and Scottish Highlands this period and its settings is considered in every scene. The work of the creatives massively shapes this parody more than most. Putting the fine direction in regard to the physical comedy and showcasing the marvellous versatility of the cast to one side, it has to be acknowledged that there is so much detail to the wardrobe and set design as well as puppetry, mime, dance, movement and musical score - all of which really complements the classic, though somewhat absurd story source which is famous for mocking the thriller genre, with the ridiculous stiff upper lip of Hannay and the over-the-top characters he meets on his quest - it's a winner. Actor, Tom Mitchell is a fifth ensemble member and his roles gives rise to much of the action and the jokes.
This is crowd pleasing and memorable - loved it!
Stage Review The 39 Steps by theatre critic Debra Hall who attended the matinee performance on Saturday 03 October, 2026 at 2.30pm
REFERENCES
Derby Theatre The 39 Steps Press Night 30 September 2026
Derby Theatre The 39 Steps Printed Programme
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