John Proctor is the Villain | Royal Court

There’s something quietly electrifying about John Proctor Is the Villain at the Royal Court Theatre, a production that doesn’t just unfold on stage but lingers long after the final bow. Without giving anything away, the play centres on a group of high school students in small town America studying The Crucible, and from that familiar starting point, it blossoms into something sharp, contemporary, and deeply affecting.

It explores power, perspective, gender, and the stories we inherit versus the ones we choose to tell. What makes it so compelling is how deceptively simple it feels at first, naturalistic and even playful, before tightening its grip and revealing layers that hit with startling emotional precision. It’s funny, it’s uncomfortable, it’s painfully real. And above all, it feels urgent.

You know when you see something so incredible that you travel home in silence, just sitting with your thoughts, replaying moments over and over again? This is that kind of play. The kind that doesn’t need immediate discussion because it’s still unfolding in your mind. Every line, every glance, every shift in tone feels deliberate and it leaves you with that rare, almost sacred theatre feeling: that you’ve witnessed something special.

Transferring from Broadway to London, and now completely sold out, the buzz surrounding this production is entirely justified. Kimberly Belflower has absolutely smashed it with the writing. The dialogue is razor-sharp yet completely natural, capturing teenage voices with uncanny authenticity while threading in bigger themes with skill and subtlety. It’s not heavy-handed; instead, it trusts the audience to connect the dots, making the impact all the more powerful.

At the centre of it all is Sadie Soverall as Shelby Holcomb, who quite simply blew me away. Her performance has an edge to it which is raw, unpredictable, and utterly magnetic. She commands the stage without ever feeling forced, balancing vulnerability and defiance in a way that feels completely real. It’s the kind of performance that shifts the air in the room.

Alongside her, Miya James as Raelynn Nix delivers something equally compelling, bringing nuance and emotional depth to a character that could easily have been one-note. There’s a quiet strength in her performance that builds beautifully throughout.

Then there’s Dónal Finn, perfectly cast and incredibly clever in his portrayal of Mr Smith. He manages to make the character feel likeable, almost disarmingly so, while still allowing something more complex to simmer underneath. It’s a finely balanced performance that adds so much to the play’s tension and ambiguity.

The wider ensemble deserves just as much praise. Holly Howden-Gilchrist as Beth Powell, Lauryn Ajufo as Nell Shaw, Clare Hughes as Ivy Watkins, and Molly McFadden as Bailey Gallagher all bring distinct, fully realised personalities to the stage. None of them fade into the background; each character feels lived-in and essential.

The same goes for Charlie Borr as Lee Turner and Reece Braddock as Mason Adams who help create a believable world where every interaction feels charged with meaning. There’s a real sense of chemistry across the group which is messy, funny, awkward, and painfully honest in a way that perfectly captures adolescence.

What elevates this production even further is its pacing and direction. Moments of humour land effortlessly, often catching you off guard, only to be followed by beats of tension or discomfort that settle heavily in the room. The staging is deceptively simple but incredibly effective, allowing the performances and writing to take centre stage without distraction.

Ultimately, John Proctor is the Villain isn’t just a great play, it’s an essential one. It challenges, it provokes, and it resonates in a way that feels both deeply personal and widely relevant. It’s no surprise it’s completely sold out. If anything, it deserves an even bigger stage. Although there’s something special about experiencing it in the intimacy of the Royal Court, where every moment feels that bit closer, that bit sharper.

John Proctor is the Villain is currently celebrating a sold out run at the Royal Court until 25th April - however, some return tickets and rush tickets may remain - more information can be found here.

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Camilla Greenwell