AD - We were provided with tickets to review this show in April 2026.
Everyone has one book that they read at school that stays with them forever right? Well for me, this book is Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird. It was my GCSE text way back in the year 2000 and up until then I was very much a Babysitters Club / Sweet Valley High / Point Horror kind of gal and had never read anything quite like this. It was a book that had real meaning to it and literally sweeps you away to another time and place whilst raising issues that are still prevalent today.
I'm still good friends with some of my fellow GCSE English Literature students and we still talk about this book today, in fact one of us mentioned it last week! The amount of annotations I made in my copy is kind of a running joke. To Kill A Mockingbird is primarily a courtroom drama that takes us back to Alabama in 1934.
Atticus Finch is a small-town property lawyer who somehow finds himself in court, defending a black man (Tom Robinson) who is falsely accused of raping a white woman.
The stakes are high as Mr Robinson finds himself facing the death penalty if he's found guilty. But there is literally zero evidence that he committed this crime. In fact it's quite the opposite - there's evidence he could not have committed this crime. But can an all white jury let truth prevail or will they send an innocent man to his death?
Meanwhile Atticus' children (Scout & Jem) and their new friend Dill are obsessed with their neighbour Boo Radley. They are scared of him because he's a little bit different and start to spread rumours around town about him. Atticus tries to convince the children to put themselves in Boo's shoes and think about how these rumours would make him feel / leave him alone but kids will be kids......
The story focusses around the themes of racial injustice and prejudice but some people do criticise the 'White Saviour' narrative. This was addressed in some of the scenes though when Atticus' housekeeper holds him to account. It's uncomfortable at times and very confronting and does leave you questioning some of your own behaviours.
Despite selling over 45 million copies and winning the Pulizer Prize, this text has been banned by schools and libraries in the past due to it's racial slurs and graphic portrayal of racisim. They don't shy away from the reality of these issues and I was shocked by some of the horrible outbursts that were shouted out in court but then couldn't help but think in my head that these kind of outbursts still happen today.
There are some scenes of mob mentality that leave you feeling fairly helpless.
Time moves on and times change yet in other ways, things just stay the same.
The story is narrated by the three young characters which adds an innocence and touch of hope to the story. All of the performances are absolutely stellar but for me, Tom Brace-Jenkins as Dill was standout. I could not believe this was his professional stage debut! The depth of his character and how he was old beyond his years really shines on stage.
The staging is so effective as the scene switches from the tense courtroom where you can hear a pin drop to a front porch in the deep South for a time to ponder and back again with ease. This really helps the story move along.
Atticus is trying to be a good role model to his children yet he is challenged by them and his decisions are questioned by them throughout. This really reminded me of my own home-life with my own children - I try to do the right thing and model good behaviour but my own teens will regularly challenge my thoughts and actions too. I think this is societal change in action.
I left the theatre with a real mix of feelings. Why has society really not moved on from the past? Is change ever really possible? Why does racism even still exist? Am I prejudiced? Why is life unfair? Why have we not moved on from this? Is it ok to cover something up for the greater good? Children really are the future and we need to invest in them. How can people still use these words today? Do bad people really deserve our respect? Why does fear span centuries? A captivating and thought provoking evening which I will be thinking about for a long time. It's a big 5 stars from me.
Need to know:
📆 21 - 25 April 2026 at Newcastle Theatre Royal🫶 Audio described and captioned performance with touch tour available
⌚ 2 hrs 50 mins including interval
⚡Triggers: Racially explicit language and themes, references to sexual abuse and violence, gunfire audio.
🎫Tickets available from £25
✅Recommended for ages 12+ 🎟️Book: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/to-kill-a-mockingbird/
About Newcastle Theatre Royal
📌 Newcastle Theatre Royal. 100 Grey Street. Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE1 6BR. Doors open 1 hour prior to each performance. You can visit the Green Room Bar or 100 Grey Street Bar before this time (check opening hours). 🚃 You can travel for free on Tyne & Wear Metro / Shields Ferry for up to 2 hours before your performance and 2 hours afterwards to/from Monument Metro Station. Simply show your theatre ticket to inspectors if asked (and if the gates are closed, show your ticket at a manned gate). 🚗 Paid parking is available nearby at Dean Street Car Park (NE1 1PG) or other City Centre Car Parks (check car park closing times). 🍷 Dine at Cote and show your ticket to receive a complimentary glass of wine. I also recommend The Green Room, Gaucho, PTMY, Dabbawal, Lola Jeans, Cafe Andaluz, Hen & Hops, Mowgli & Fat Hippo for pre-theatre dining. I have dined at all of these restaurants and can personally recommend as providing good value pre-theatre dining within easy walking distance. 🧥 There is no cloakroom and luggage, large backpacks, laptops and holdalls are not permitted. Booster cushions are available (please ask a member of staff), bag checks are in place. Please see here for a list of items which are not permitted. ♿ Wheelchair spaces, free companion tickets, accessible toilets & lifts are available. You can find out more about access here: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/plan-your-visit/access-information_access-facilities/ 🍧 A range of food & drinks are available to purchase inside the theatre and their sale provide much-needed income to the theatre. Bag searches are in operation and banned items include alcohol which has been purchased outside of the venue (including wrapped gifts), cans, glass, metal, ceramic containers and stong smelling or noisy food. You cannot take hot food into the theatre. Selected performances do not allow any external food or drinks to be brought into the theatre (medical exemptions aside). The theatre is cashless. 💰Several discounts are available including £10 tickets for those aged 18-30 for selected performances, theatre membership and group bookings.
What's Next at Newcastle Theatre Royal
Find out more & book here: https://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/- 21-25 April 2026 - To Kill a Mockingbird
- 28 April - 9 May 2026 - The Red Shoes
- 12 - 17 May 2026 - Legally Blonde The Musical
- 21 - 24 May 2026 - The Enormous Crocodile The Musical
- 26 & 27 May 2026 - Les Ballets Trockadero
- 30 & 31 May 2026 - My First Ballet : Cinderella
- 2 - 6 June 2026 - The Ballad of Johnny & June
- 9 - 13 June 2026 - Gerry & Sewell
- 16 & 17 June 2026 - This Is Rambert
- 19 & 20 June 2026 - Peppa Pig's Big Family Show
- 22 - 27 June 2026 - Operation Mincemeat
- 28 June 2026 - Something In The Water
- 30 June - 4 July 2026 - Fawlty Towers
- 7 - 11 July 2026 - The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
- 12 July 2026 - The Cramlington Train Wreckers
- 21 - 25 July 2026 - Guys & Dolls by Newcastle Musical Theatre Company
- 27 July - 1 August 2026 - The Bodyguard
- 4 - 8 August 2026 - Annie
- 11 - 15 August 2026 - Barnum
- 18 - 22 August 2026 - The Silence of the Lambs
- 8 - 12 September 2026 - The Car Man
- 15 - 19 Sept 2026 - The Anastasia File
- 23 September - 11 October 2026 - Mrs. Doubtfire
- 15 - 24 October 2026 - Our Friends in the North 1979-84
- 28 - 31 October 2026 - Cinderella by Northern Ballet
- 10 - 14 November 2026 - The Hollow
- 24 November 2026 - 17 January 2027 - Jack & the Beanstalk
- 18 - 30 January 2027 - Mean Girls
- 9 - 13 February 2027 - Dirty Dancing
- 23 - 27 Februray 2027 - Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
- 11 March 2027 - The Great Opera Mystery
- 13 - 17 April 2027 - Paranormal Activity
- 20 April - 1 May 2027 - Matthew Bourne's Cinderella
- 10 May - 15 May 2027 - Grease
- 8 - 19 June 2027 - Cats
- 19 - 24 July 2027 - Everyone's Talking About Jamie
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