BWW Reviews: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Theatre Royal, Glasgow, February 4 2015

Based on the award winning novel, To Kill A Mockingbird is a story of racial injustice set in the Deep South. A black man is accused of raping a white woman and Atticus Finch is the lawyer chosen to defend him. The court case takes a back seat during the first Act and initially the narrative focuses on the relationships between Finch and his children, Jem and Scout. Events are seen through Scout's eyes as they unfold.

The supporting cast take turns as narrator, reading aloud from paperback novels which I thought was a nice touch. The addition of gentle folk songs give the impression that this production has been lovingly crafted rather than some straightforward page to stage adaptations which come across as lazy. Despite being familiar with the story, this performance managed to create enough tension in some scenes when I already knew the outcome.

The setting was simple, but effective. There were no fancy set changes but I doubt anyone missed them. The lone tree and tyre swing was the only permanent fixture, with other smaller pieces being moved around seamlessly during the performance.

While the entire cast were fantastic, special mention has to go to Ava Potter as eight-year-old Scout. The young actress was nothing short of astounding and brought just the right amount of attitude to the role.

This adaptation is true to the original material with a few interesting additions. Both heartwarming and moving, it is easy to see why To Kill A Mockingbird is so frequently labelled as one of the best novels ever written.

To Kill A Mockingbird runs at the Theatre Royal until February 7th and then is on tour.

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