Lyonesse (West End)
Ends Dec 23
Lyonesse (West End)
78

Lyonesse (West End) London Reviews and Tickets

78%
(43 Ratings)
Positive
78%
Mixed
11%
Negative
11%
Members say
Clever, Ambitious, Delightful, Funny, Absorbing

About the Show

Kristin Scott Thomas & Lily James star in Penelope Skinner’s new play about an actress looking to make a comeback.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (9)

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23 Reviews | 0 Followers
90
Thought-provoking, Must see, Great staging, Great acting, Clever

See it if Want to see a smart and thoughtful play with great writing, direction and staging. On top of this a brilliant ensemble and world class leads

Don't see it if Have stuffed from abuse especially gaslighting and coherence control.

26 Reviews | 2 Followers
70
Thought-provoking, Disappointing acting, Overly ambitious, Disappointing, Heart breaking

See it if you love Kristin Scott Thomas, stories of women supporting each other, bohemian lifestyles

Don't see it if if you can't handle misogyny, disappointment, bohemian lifestyle, or you have very high expectations of acting from the lovely Lily James

11 Reviews | 0 Followers
80
Relevant, Good acting, Delightful

See it if You want to be riveted by Kristen Scott Thomas.

Don't see it if Not a heavyweight, intense play. There are many lightweight, comedy moments. Loosely based around the theme of a Me Too story.

7 Reviews | 0 Followers
11
Ambitious, Confusing, Cliched

See it if You have to see these actors, they've done great work in their careers

Don't see it if It can't decide if it's serious, farce, comedy ... Characters and relationships aren't credible. Could have been cut by 1/3.

3 Reviews | 0 Followers
100
Delightful, Entertaining, Great, Absorbing, Clever

See it if Both of the ladies are absolutely amazing on the stage. A lot of important themes were drag under the light

Don't see it if Nothing to mention here

5 Reviews | 0 Followers
92
Recognizable, Outstanding, Empathetic, Enchanting, Clever

See it if Love the superb actors play. "Me too" is not just words for you.

Don't see it if You're a sexist (but maybe on the contrary - see it to change your mind)

4 Reviews | 0 Followers
60
Slow, Dizzying, Funny

See it if Like Kirsten Scott Thomas class actress

Don't see it if I wasn't sure what the storyline was

1 Review | 0 Followers
80
Ambitious, Quirky, Funny, Entertaining, Thought provoking

See it if Looking for something thought provoking, challenging, entertaining, asks questions without having all the answers but still with humour.

Don't see it if you want a light easy to follow unchallenging story with a tidy happy ending.

Critic Reviews (12)

The London Evening Standard
October 26th, 2023

“Whatever drew Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James to Penelope Skinner’s shambling, implausible exploration of the raw deal women get utterly fails to materialise on stage. The characters are underdeveloped, the narrative heavy with exposition”
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The Guardian (UK)
October 25th, 2023

“A character speaks of the importance of keeping up the fight but that fight seems to have died in them both by the drama’s end. If this is Skinner’s conclusion on where we are in our post #MeToo world, it is bleak indeed.”
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The Times (UK)
October 26th, 2023

“If you were to stumble across Penelope Skinner’s new drama in a thinly populated corner of the Edinburgh Fringe, you would put it down as an undergrad experiment. To find it in the West End, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James in the lead roles, is bizarre.”
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WhatsOnStage
October 26th, 2023

“The whole thing is a bit baggy and broad, moving suddenly in different directions, but it’s bound together by Ian Rickson’s sensitive, detailed direction. Its themes are riveting, and although the final destination isn’t entirely satisfying, it’s hard not to enjoy the journey especially in the company of so strong a cast.”
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London Theatre
October 26th, 2023

“There’s so much to explore here, but neither Skinner nor director Ian Rickson ever settle on a consistent tone. ‘Lyonesse’ has some good moments of satire – mainly via the always-excellent Doon Mackichan as morally bankrupt film boss Sue – and even a strange slapstick sequence...But it doesn’t have a secure foundation for a drama involving such sensitive issues because the characters don’t ring true”
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The Stage (UK)
October 26th, 2023

“Skinner’s sharply observed writing is full of humour, wit and fragments of poetry. Director Ian Rickson never rushes the sprawling, stately scenes, allowing plenty of time for the endearingly flawed characters to grow on us, and for doubts to fester”
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The Independent (UK)
October 26th, 2023

"Lyonesse is a flimsy but fascinating creation, an elaborate structure built on a solid bedrock of feminist truths."
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All That Dazzles (UK)
October 26th, 2023

“Penelope Skinner’s ‘Lyonesse’ is incredible at best. Through multilayered and complex writing which leaves you questioning the reality at times, it is a thought-provoking and powerful look at the silencing of women.”
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