GREAT PERFORMANCE, CLEVER STAGING, BUT HISTORY LOVERS WILL GET WAY MORE FROM IT THAN THE REST OF US

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

Let’s get this out of the way: if you don’t know much about Richard III, you may spend a good chunk of The Daughter of Time wondering what on earth is going on. That was definitely me. The show doesn’t exactly hold your hand through the facts. It drops you into a detective story loaded with royal names, historic theories, and tangled timelines. If you’re a history buff, you’ll probably love it. If not… fair warning.

The setup is solid: Inspector Alan Grant is recovering in hospital and gets caught up in a cold case investigation. About whether Richard III really did murder the Princes in the Tower. He ropes in nurses, researchers, colleagues, and even a Shakespearean actor to help build his case. It’s a clever premise, but one that moves at a very slow pace. And at nearly three hours, you start to feel it.

That said, the acting helps carry it through. Janna Fox is a standout as Nurse Darroll with her dry wit, no-nonsense attitude, and strong loyalty to Richard I, not III. Rob Pomfret brings a grounded, slightly world-weary charm to Grant, spending most of the play propped up in bed but still driving the action. And Harrison Sharpe brings a burst of energy as Brent Carradine, the enthusiastic American researcher. He injects some lightness into the heavier historical material.

The set worked surprisingly well for the small space. With a quick shift of walls and lighting, we went from hospital room to bar and back with ease. The one downside? We were sat to the far left, opposite the door where the actors entered. A bright light spilt through every time it opened, and it was borderline blinding and quite distracting.

The Daughter of Time has a strong concept and a capable cast, but it leans heavily on your existing knowledge. Or at least your ability to keep up. I think the play is aiming to explore the idea that even the most vilified figures in history might not be as monstrous as they seem. And that the ‘truth’ we’re told often depends on who’s doing the telling. It’s a compelling idea, but instead of a cathartic payoff, I was left with too many question marks and not enough closure.

So, is it worth seeing? If you’re into historical deep-dives and love a bit of detective work, there’s definitely something here for you. But for the average theatregoer, it may feel a little dense and overly long. There’s some sharp acting and smart staging on offer, but it’s definitely a show that asks you to do some homework.

The Daughter of Time is running at Charing Cross Theatre until Saturday 13 September.

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