Marys Seacole (London)
Closed 3h 0m
Marys Seacole (London)
54

Marys Seacole (London) London Reviews and Tickets

54%
(6 Ratings)
Positive
17%
Mixed
50%
Negative
33%
Members say
Confusing, Thought-provoking, Funny, Simple, Quirky

About the Show

The UK premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Jackie Sibblies Drury’s new play.

Read more Show less

Show-Score Member Reviews (6)

Sort by:
  • Default
  • Standing in our community
  • Highest first
  • Lowest first
  • Newest first
  • Oldest first
  • Only positive
  • Only negative
  • Only mixed
446 Reviews | 81 Followers
68
Great acting, Information heavy

See it if the history interests you.

Don't see it if you don’t like biopics. Read more

34 Reviews | 1 Follower
44
Intelligent, Excruciating, Ambitious

See it if You want to learn more about Mary Seacoles life.

Don't see it if You don't like modern adaptations of 19th century nurse's. You have hearing difficulties. You know about Mary's journey. Read more

34 Reviews | 0 Followers
35
Quirky, Slow, Indulgent, Confusing, Cliched

See it if You love black history and don't mind a confusing take

Don't see it if You have an objection to confused storylines

12 Reviews | 0 Followers
56
Bizarre, Confusing

See it if You're interested in learning about Mary Seacole's Life.

Don't see it if Absolutely bizarre, they tried way too hard to make this show 'out there' - didn't work at all.

5 Reviews | 0 Followers
76
Thought-provoking, Funny

See it if An interesting exploration of attitudes to non white workers that is viewed from both a historical focus and parallel experiences today

Don't see it if You thought it would be about Mary Seacole and her part in the Crimea. The title is "Marys" not Mary!!

4 Reviews | 0 Followers
55
Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Simple, Disappointing

See it if You know very little about Seacole. It's not enlightening about their story. You want to see modern commentary & comparison about Big themes

Don't see it if ?? Read more

Critic Reviews (10)

Time Out London
April 22nd, 2022

Nonetheless, it does nothing to detract from the fact Drury is one of the most fascinating US playwrights out there. Even her failures would probably have more ideas than most other playwrights’ successes, and ‘Marys Seacole’ is a long way from a failure.
Read more

The Guardian (UK)
April 22nd, 2022

The play makes its bigger point about the racial outsourcing of care for the sick, elderly people and children through satire...It also leaves us with a sense that the figure of Mary Seacole is a vehicle used to explore our current-day issues too nakedly rather than a study of a singular life and its forgotten achievements.
Read more

WhatsOnStage
April 22nd, 2022

What holds the piece together, apart from the sheer questing intelligence of the writing, is Latif's controlled direction and a performance of extraordinary range and power from Meikle. Both dignified and comic, doubting and assured, her kindly, thoughtful presence gives this bold, brilliant play its centre and its emotional heart.
Read more

The Arts Desk
April 25th, 2022

But there's no denying that Latif, Meikle and their colleagues do a challenging play proud, and that the plural of the title will surely encourage renewed attention, and compassion, towards the Marys Seacole around us in our world right now.
Read more

London Theatre
April 22nd, 2022

Drury’s postmodern play does feel rather like a manifesto made flesh. But it also makes a genuine effort to give us a multifaceted Mary, in all her pain and glory. Instead of a saint or a distant historic figure, she becomes a vivid figure who we must grapple with to make sense of our lives today.
Read more

The Times (UK)
April 22nd, 2022

It feels as if Drury is a draft away from finding the perfect way to make Seacole’s story both literal and metaphorical in the way she wants to, but this is an ambitious evening that lingers in the memory even so.
Read more

The Telegraph (UK)
April 22nd, 2022

It’s an all female cast – note the plural “Marys”, an allusion to black nurses, mother/daughter relationships and the nature of care-giving – anchored by the utterly fantastic performance of Kayla Meikle playing Mary Seacole...Despite the frustratingly opaque storytelling, Marys Seacole is really worth a look.
Read more

The Stage (UK)
April 22nd, 2022

Déja J Bowens makes a confident professional debut as Mamie. Meanwhile, Kayla Meikle steps into her first leading role with the wise energy beyond her years.
Read more