The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Review

Are you ready to enter a place where everything is possible? Are you ready to have your imagination transported to a world you couldn't possibly have imagined? The Ocean at the End of the Lane has arrived at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

From the imagination of Neil Gaiman, best-selling author of Coraline, Good Omens and The Sandman, comes the National Theatre’s major new stage adaptation of THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE. Based on his 2013 novel of the same name, this story inhabits a no man’s land between the stuff of childhood nightmares and the disappointments that come with adulthood.

Returning to his childhood home, a man finds himself standing beside the pond of the old Sussex farmhouse where he used to play. He’s transported to his 12th birthday when his friend Lettie claims it wasn’t a pond, but an ocean… Plunged into a magical world, their survival depends on their ability to reckon with ancient forces that threaten to destroy everything around them. On his journey, the boy must navigate the loss of his school, and mother, the grief of his father and the suicide of their lodger as well as everyday life. Alongside this, there are dark forces at work with nothing as it seems. Something is afoot, and soon, the boy becomes entangled in Lettie and her family's fight.

This tale is brought to life by the excellent staging and acting, which ensure an unforgettable production, and the suspense ensured we jumped out of our seats at times. This is a production which highlights the power of theatre, it is a force to be reckoned with. There are recognisable elements of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Stranger Things, and The Lord of the Rings. This production blends imagination and reality in front of your very eyes. It is a spectacular fusion of storytelling and theatrical magic. The props and set design are a spectacle to behold. I was particularly mesmerised by the LED sliding doors, which to my mind conjured up a feeling of magic and alluded to the notion that otherworldly forces were at play.

The cast brought this production to life. Their acting was sublime, particularly Charlie Brooks who played Ursula/Skartach. The chemistry between characters felt so genuine which added to the production as each cast member embodied their character. Their use as a cast of physical theatre and the execution of movement choreography was seamless. They had a fluidity to their movements which helped to tell the narrative story as they were very expressive. As is with the nature of live theatre there were a couple of cast changes with Sis being played by Aimee McGolderick and Dad being played by Joe Rawlinson-Hunt.

This is a very poignant story about how the choices you make impact the people you know and love, for better or worse. It's that familiar lesson about how children are open to exploring the world, brave and carefree. While adults are closed off, scared, and stay on the path.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane continues at The Wolverhampton Grand Theatre until Saturday 30thSeptember 2023. Tickets are available at the following link https://www.grandtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane/