The Ocean at the End of the Lane (West End) London Reviews and Tickets
Member Reviews (65)
See it if you enjoy Gaiman’s original novel or if you simply want to see theatre at its dark, fantastical, captivating best. A masterpiece.
Don't see it if you don’t like dark, fantasy plays or you find it hard to follow slightly complicated stories.
See it if want to see a terrific tale wonderfully staged
Don't see it if you are easily scared
See it if You enjoy stories with supernatural or fantasy elements and want to go on a theatrical adventure. Dark and fun! ‘Stranger Things’-Esque!
Don't see it if You dislike fantasy or the supernatural. Although this show does explore deeper themes.
See it if Fast paced entertaining. Greatly told story. Great movement. Darkly delightful. Grabbing.
Don't see it if You don’t like darkly fairytale-like stories.
See it if you can.
Don't see it if no reason not to. Read more
See it if You appreciate fantastic staging, are looking for a different and magical story with an intriguing storyline, great acting.
Don't see it if You're easily creeped out, are looking for a conventionally family friendly story or are looking for a fluffy and fun story.
See it if You like drama that is offbeat, mysticism and fantasy
Don't see it if You like a clear, linear story, as this was somewhat confusing and murky
See it if Good staging
Don't see it if N/A
Critic Reviews (7)
If anything, the diverse disciplines of theatre work even more closely together here to weave a spell than they did at the National. We all thought this transfer wouldn’t happen, even Gaiman. I’m glad we were wrong.
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The bottom line is, shows like this don’t come along very often. Maybe it’s changed, maybe I’ve changed, but second time out ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ felt bigger, stranger, sadder and more beautiful – I wish I could swim in its twilight waters for longer.
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It’s a coming-of-age tale that will appeal to all ages, fascinatingly muddying our sense of time, blurring the boundaries between memory and imagination – if it feels true, it is true – and showing how stories can make sense of our reality.
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Capturing the darkness and dreamlike strangeness of Neil Gaiman’s bestselling 2013 novel, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a pacy fantasy thriller occasionally overloaded by its own ambitious exuberance.
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[Neil Gaiman's] story is brought to life in Joel Horwood’s thunderous adaptation, which finds wonder even in the most unremarkable of moments.
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No other production I’ve seen has captured the experience of childhood, the terror and the beauty – not what actually happened, but what it felt like (which is also what adaptation is about).
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Though the sentimental ending goes on a bit, this is a genuine rarity – a show that enthrals all generations without patronising any.
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