THE PIANIST

Park Theatre

★★★★

“Beautifully melancholic and affecting”

The life of the composer, Wladyslaw Szpilman, was brought to the public consciousness by Roman Polanski’s 2002 film “The Pianist”. Himself a holocaust survivor who witnessed his parents being taken off to the concentration camps, Polanski exorcised some deep-seated scars with his harsh, objective portrayal of a man who survived against impossible odds. Despite sharing the title and also being based on Szpilman’s memoir, Thom Southerland’s new musical is not a dramatization of the epic feature film. Instead, it is a beautifully understated chronicle of the key elements of the life and music of a man who carried the guilt of survival on his slim shoulders. Early on, Daniel Krikler’s Szpilman tells the audience that “I don’t know how I survived”, as he paces the bare boards of Andrzej Goulding’s set; stark wooded slats that continue up the back wall. They slide apart to reveal the musicians and the music, only sometimes to be slammed shut again as Szpilman cries “no more songs!”. Yet we cannot escape the music; with the grand piano that pulls focus centre stage. A prop for Krikler, as he stands aside to let pianist and Musical Director Malcolm Forbes-Peckham recreate Szpilman’s compositions.

An intensely descriptive piece, it relies heavily on narration. Krikler depicts a soul at pains to get his story right, aware that memory is fallible, especially when wrought with trauma. Szpilman’s siblings and parents are on hand to fill in the gaps, and to correct occasionally, but not always reliable witnesses. His father (TJ Holmes) is initially in denial about the establishment of the Warsaw ghettos, while at the other end of the spectrum, his brother Henryk (Nitai Levi) is the prophet of doom. Sadly, the latter is closer to the truth as history has proved. Each family member, along with the many other pivotal characters that propel Szpilman’s journey, are also part of the onstage orchestra, who move and dance and sing, accompanying Forbes-Peckham at the piano. The piano itself dances too, spinning on its revolve, taking the spotlight when needed and retreating into the shadows whenever the music stops.

‘Where words leave off, music begins’ is a famous maxim that applies here. Unspoken thoughts are revealed through the songs, with new lyrics written by a band of lyricists, including Szpilman’s son, Andreas. There is dramatic irony in the opening number, ‘I Am Free’, a rousing choral ensemble. There are delicious 1930s pastiches such as ‘One More Time’ which sees the mother and father waltzing in the cafes. There is poignancy in ‘My Memories of You’ and ‘Forgotten Song’ while the later ‘Out of the Darkness’ tries to inject a very fragile optimism. There is the constant danger, however, that the beauty of the music will eclipse the horror of the story. ‘Without You’ is a misjudged ballad that closes the first act. Gloriously tender, it feels an incongruous accompaniment to the unimaginable terror of being wrenched from your family, watching as they disappear on the cattle trucks.

More in tune are a trio of piano instrumentals – ‘’The Life of the Machines’ – that mix spikes of danger into the melodies; almost a precursor to Stockhausen’s punctuated atonal technique, but still retaining flowing harmonies. It is fitting that these fall in the second act, in which the harsh realities of the story are more pronounced. Southerland’s pacing of the narrative is reflective of the acceleration of events. The dynamics of Szpilman’s family are well executed, particularly Levi’s portrayal of the indignantly righteous rebel, Henryk, illustrating the difficult relationship between the brothers. Melania Maggiore and Elżbieta Kalicka are the spirited but tragic sisters Halina and Regina. Rosalind Ford’s moving portrayal of the mother matches her evocative cello playing and vocals. In similar fine voice is Mischa Jardine as lifelong friend Janina.

All along the way, everybody seems to be on Szpilman’s side, ensuring his survival. But his music is the key. Being recognised as the famous composer frequently helped Szpilman too. Krikler embodies the incredulity of this advantage, even when death is staring him straight in the face. But saved by German officer, Hosenfeld, whose sense of shame is neatly portrayed by Oliver Grant, he lives to tell the tale. A tale that is quite exquisitely told in this musical, even though it does occasionally dip into sentimentality. Yet the staging has a restrained power that accentuates the importance of the music. A Chopin Nocturne bookends the piece, beautifully melancholic and affecting, particularly during the reprise as the ghosts of Szpilman’s family watch on in mute stillness.

“The Pianist” is assuredly moving, and never sets out to be brutal, harrowing or groundbreaking. It speaks of the importance of the music, and then lets the music speak for itself. Szpilman’s life and his music were one and the same. “The Pianist” is a poignant and enthralling reminder of that.

THE PIANIST

Park Theatre

Reviewed on 22nd October 2026

by Jonathan Evans

Photography by Rich Southgate

THE PIANIST

★★★

“They are as talented a bunch of pirates as you’re ever likely to see on the high seas”

This year’s holiday season offering at the Lyceum Theatre is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of piracy on the high seas, and buried treasure. Adapted for the stage by Orkey based writer Duncan McLean, and directed by Wils Wilson, a talented cast of six launch a modern version of Treasure Island set in Leith, in a home for “reformed pirates.”

Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, written in the nineteenth century, has been adapted countless times for film and television. These are the obvious choices of media for a story that ranges across vast distances, and with a large cast of memorable characters. By modernizing Stevenson’s story, McLean tackles both the difficulty of adapting Treasure Island for the stage, and reducing the number of characters to a manageable size. In a home for “reformed pirates”, we meet a contemporary version of the boy Jim Hawkins, who has been left in charge of a bunch of unruly pirates. To pass the time, they tell a story of their swashbuckling days. The cast of six take on various roles, including pirates, a castaway, Jim’s mum—and let’s not forget the puffin. McLean has cleverly updated Long John Silver’s iconic parrot to a bird well known to Orkney Islanders. The puppet puffin plays a major role. This version of Treasure Island is presented in a dramatic form that will be familiar to fans of Kneehigh Theatre. So there’s plenty to look at as the cast deftly goes about transforming the space on stage. From a pirate “home” to a ship at sea, and the ultimate destination, a “treasure” island, the cast are constantly on the move, and that includes climbing up and down a variety of multi-purpose ladders.

The cast themselves are very representative of a modern theatre company. The role of Long John Silver has been transformed into Lean Jean Silver, and Amy Conachan brings all of Silver’s memorable villainy to her interpretation, as she wheels herself nimbly around the stage. She has a lovely singing voice too. Jim is played by Jade Chan, and the rest of the company Tim Dalling (Ben Gunn), TJ Holmes (The Laird), Itxaso Moreno (Billy Bones) and Dylan Read (puppeteer for The Puffin) not only act, but sing and play a variety of musical instruments. They are as talented a bunch of pirates as you’re ever likely to see on the high seas. Set and costume designer Alex Berry has made an equally versatile creations for the actors to play in. Tim Dalling’s compositions range from hearty pirate songs to plaintive ballads. And the puppet designers, directors and makers (Ailsa Dalling, Sarah Wright and Julia Jeulin) have created a delightful puffin who will charm audiences of all ages.

In spite of the updates, though, McLean’s adaptation falls short. It is too long for the slender premise of telling stories to prevent pirates from backsliding into their piratical ways. There is too much of an assumption that the audience is familiar with the novel. And it’s true that Long John Silver’s parrot, “X” marks the spot, and any number of phrases from Stevenson’s classic novel have passed into common usage. Though these days, audiences are more likely to associate ‘“X” marks the spot’ with Indiana Jones, rather than Jim Hawkins. This version of Treasure Island compresses the plot, as it has to do, given the length of the novel, but not in a way that clarifies the story. Moving the action to Scottish locations doesn’t help all that much. McLean’s Treasure Island is still Jim Hawkins’ story, but Jim himself has been transformed from a boy in search of a father figure after his own has died, to a boy who has to take over running his absent mother’s home for reformed pirates. Somehow, it’s not quite the same.

Treasure Island is a bold choice of a show for a theatre wishing to move away from more conventional Christmas fare, but audiences looking for something that celebrates the holiday spirit may feel that this show would be better saved for another time of year.

Tag Archives: TJ Holmes

THE PIANIST

★★★★

Park Theatre

THE PIANIST

Park Theatre

★★★★

“Beautifully melancholic and affecting”