6 / 10
Nodding to Narnia, Peter McKintosh's staging reveals a hidden, magical world from behind a bookcase. It suggests that beyond the shadows of life, there is something beautiful waiting. Even as doubt creeps in, infecting Lewis’s once-unwavering faith, it's an image that hangs in his every thought.
8 / 10
Shadowlands examines love, loss, hope, and grief in a compelling and engaging way. It is well suited to the stage and enables Bonneville and Siff to give emotion-filled and detailed performances. The play allows the audience to contemplate marriage, divorce, religion, poetry, and philosophy, exploring the possibility of finding love when it is least expected and the belief that grief is a lasting manifestation of all the love we still have to give. A fantastic and powerful production!
Check out the trailer with footage from the upcoming production of Shadowlands starring Hugh Bonneville, coming to the West End's Aldwych Theatre later in 2026.
A new trailer has been released for the West End production of SHADOWLANDS, written by William Nicholson and directed by Rachel Kavanaugh. Watch the video!
The West End production of William Nicholson’s Shadowlands, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, is now playing at London’s Aldwych Theatre. See what the critics are saying about the production in BroadwayWorld's Review Roundup.
In his book, A Grief Observed, C.S. Lewis wrote, 'The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That's the deal'. It's that deal that William Nicholson's poignant play explores in the true story of Lewis's late-in-life love, marriage and loss. Thoughtful, tender and touching, Shadowlands examines joy and grief as a profoundly human experience.
Full casting has been announced for the West End production of William Nicholson's beloved and deeply moving play SHADOWLANDS, directed by Rachel Kavanaugh. which opens at London's Aldwych Theatre in February.
Maggie Siff will star as Joy Davidman in the West End production of William Nicholson’s beloved and deeply moving play SHADOWLANDS, alongside Hugh Bonneville.
Hugh Bonneville will return to the West End in SHADOWLANDS, a touching play about love and loss, starting February 2026 at Aldwych Theatre.
