RAW EMOTION, UNEXPECTED LAUGHTER & A STORY THAT STAYS WITH YOU

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

I’m not usually one for the more serious plays. Give me a musical, comedy, something upbeat, and I’m your girl. But there was something about Shadowlands that called out to me. Firstly, Hugh Bonneville was playing the lead, and I loved him in Downton Abbey. Second, because the story focuses on C.S. Lewis, the man behind The Chronicles of Narnia. And thirdly, because surprisingly, I have never been to the Aldwych Theatre.

I grew up watching adaptations of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe with my Grandad. I loved the idea of escaping into another world through the back of a wardrobe. So, when I read the show summary about Lewis and his unexpected love story, I was intrigued. I expected something emotional, sure, but gentle. Maybe some ups and downs, some grit maybe. What I didn’t expect was to be put through the emotional wringer.

WHEN A QUIET LIFE OF ROUTINE MEETS A LOVE STORY NO ONE SAW COMING

Hugh Bonneville is great as C.S. Lewis. He plays him as both a strong, respected figure and someone who feels emotionally contained, almost cut off from real connection. Lewis is surrounded by books, work, and routine, but you get the sense that without his brother and small circle of friends, he would be very lonely. Lewis connects to people mostly through letters, and one of those letters comes from American poet, Joy Davidman.

What starts as a thoughtful pen-pal style friendship slowly becomes something much deeper… though not in the way you expect. Their relationship grows in such a natural, layered way. There’s humour, awkwardness, tenderness, frustration, and eventually heartbreak. And when Joy becomes ill, the whole tone of the play shifts. Watching Lewis grapple with grief, faith, anger, and the unfairness of it all is incredibly raw. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It sits right in the discomfort of loss.

GRIEF, FAITH AND THE PAINFUL QUESTIONS NO ONE HAS EASY ANSWERS TO

After Joy’s death, at the hands of cancer, you see Lewis completely unravel. His grief is overwhelming, and his faith is shaken in a way that feels incredibly real. He questions how a God could allow suffering, loss, and pain. How you could love someone so deeply only to have them taken away. And honestly? That part really hit home for me. Especially as I have lost someone to cancer, who similar to Joy, had a brief period of remission.

That said, Shadowlands isn’t just heavy. There are genuinely funny moments. Warm moments. Awkward moments that make you laugh. Watching Lewis slowly realise he can love, feel passion, and open his heart is beautiful, even knowing it won’t last forever. The light makes the dark moments hurt more, but in the best storytelling way.

A SIMPLE SET WITH A MAGICAL TWIST THAT NARNIA FANS WILL LOVE

The set is also deceptively simple. At first it feels like being inside a library, with stacks of books and academic surroundings. But there’s a hidden magical element woven into it that Narnia fans will definitely appreciate. I won’t spoil it, but it’s a really clever and emotional touch. Add in the revolving stage for scene changes and it all flows effortlessly.

Shadowlands completely surprised me. It’s emotional, raw, funny in places, devastating in others, and beautifully performed. By the time the curtain came down, I was emotionally drained. And I spent the journey home reading more about Lewis and Davidman’s lives. Always a good sign when a show stays with you. Not my usual type of theatre trip, but one I’m very glad I made.

Shadowlands is running at Aldwych Theatre until Saturday 9 May.

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Photo Credit: Johan Persson