Bonnie and Clyde | Old Joint Stock Theatre

Bonnie and Clyde, with music and lyrics by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black and a book by Ivan Menchell, follows the story of two outlaws who at the height of The Great Depression went from being two-small town nobodies to two of America's most notorious criminals. Bonnie and Clyde has become a cult classic musical, and after premiering at The Arts Theatre in London in April 2022 with a later season at the Garrick Theatre in 2023, the musical then went on to tour around the UK and Ireland, which unfortunately was cut short.

After the incredible success of their recent production of Be More Chill, the team at Old Joint Stock returns with their most ambitious project yet, with a cast size of sixteen working together in the intimate space of the black box theatre. Director Emily Susanne Lloyd must be admired for her innovative and inspirational methods of allowing the story to come to life in such creative ways for such a small space.

From entering the theatre, one is immediately taken back by how visually stunning the space looks. George P. Martin has created a wooden boardwalk in which the action takes place, with seating sat either side. Each side of the stage is smashed window panes, signifying the crimes that Bonnie and Clyde conducted. Cleverly, a bed becomes Clyde's getaway car, proving that a little bit of imagination can go a long way. Joanne Marshall's dark lighting design provides the essence of the miserable and depressing era this show is set in. Paul Finch's sound design is effective with the radio playing music of the era. However, the gunshots felt a little lacklustre and didn't do enough to fully shock the audience.

Unfortunately, due to the limited space, the set changes often felt clunky and during quieter moments in the show, the moving of furniture felt distracting and took away from what was happening on the stage. Whilst limited props served the purpose in setting the scene, there were occasional times in which the locations weren't always clear.

What sets this production of Bonnie and Clyde apart is the way in which the direction and character portrayals lean more into the grit and desperation of the story, rather than the glamorised and more romantic portrayals that we've seen in its predecessors. A highlight moment of this production is during the show's finale, where statistics about Bonnie and Clyde's crimes and murders are projected onto the backwalls of the theatre.

Samuel Murray makes his professional debut as Clyde Barrow, giving one of the most assured takes on the character that I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing on stage. Clyde is a deeply flawed human, he's charismatic and ambitious, yet his desperation and frustration overrides this all to make him a deeply complex individual. Murray effortlessly portrays all these emotions and gives such a rich depth to his character.

India Lily Cooper stuns with her vocals and her rendition of Dyin' Ain't So Bad is a perfect example of storytelling through song. However, one wishes that there was more gusto in Cooper's performance to make her character arc feel a little bit more believable. Killian Lefevre as Buck Barrow gives a believable performance as someone who is tormented by the desire to make his wife happy along with trying to look out for his younger brother. Faye Campbell gives a more reserved take on Blanche Barrow, which works really well in this production.

An honourable mention must go to Davis Weaver, who breathes new life into the character Sheriff Ted Hinton. In previous productions of Bonnie and Clyde, Ted appears to be the lovesick sheriff pining for Bonnie. However, Weaver has created his character to be subtly menacing and devious, effectively portraying how corrupt the justice system can be.

Wildhorn's music is one of Bonnie and Clyde's biggest assets, with a vibrant score incorporating the blues, gospel and rock musical influences. Under the musical direction of Ben Barrow, each song stands out with the incredible vocals of the cast and the powerful performances from the band. Musically, this show doesn't miss, with Raise a Little Hell, When I Drive, Made in America and You Love Who You Love, in particular, standing out.

The team's ambition for this show shines through in everything from the direction, to the production design, and whilst this still is an enjoyable time at the theatre, one wishes for a little more to fully immerse me into this production.

Bonnie and Clyde plays at the Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham until 02nd November 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Perro Loco Productions