REVIEW: AMANDA - THE NIGHT BEFORE ME @ THE BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE

🎭 Amanda - The Night Before Me

📍 The Bridge House Theatre, 2 High Street, Penge, London, SE20 8RZ

🗓 Friday 25th September 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

DIVINA IS DIVINE

Arriving in Penge at the glorious Bridge House on Friday, the anticipation was already buzzing. As I headed upstairs and into the auditorium, I was immediately struck by the set. This is an intimate 50-seater venue, and I’ve honestly never seen such an incredible set design in such a small space. As I took it in, I could see a glorious lighting rig above, and anyone who’s read my reviews before will know, I love my technical theatre, so I was already excited by what the evening was to hold.

Timo Verse’s set design is an absolute masterclass in maximising an intimate space. It is a stunning, abstract structure that feels both organic and restrictive - almost like a chrysalis - perfectly mirroring the internal world of our protagonist. This gorgeous canvas is elevated to a whole new level by Stephanie Affleck’s spectacular lighting design. Affleck uses light and shadow with surgical precision, bathing the stage in deeply atmospheric hues that seamlessly shift the mood in an instant. Together, the set and lighting don't just dress the stage, they breathe with the performance.

The narrative itself follows Amanda during the final, profoundly quiet hours before her gender-affirming surgery. As she waits, she reflects on the sprawling tapestry of her past. The hidden dreams, the painful silences, the forbidden loves, and the ultimate cost of choosing to live authentically. It’s a deeply personal journey through memory and emotion, capturing the monumental weight of a life-changing threshold without ever resorting to cheap melodrama.

Originally written in German, Rory Six’s script is utterly compelling. It grips you instantly and beautifully weaves through the story. The pace is absolutely perfect. Nothing feels rushed, but neither does it drag. It’s succinct, delicate, and honest. This is writing at its most powerful. We are not merely just told things, we are shown them, delivering captivating theatre at its most brilliant. The songs add extra gravitas to proceedings, allowing us into the depth of the character's thoughts and feelings.

Six co-directed the piece with Jerôme Knols, and together they not only fill the space beautifully, but they completely understand what the audience needs to see, and what they don’t. The stage is not cluttered with unnecessary props, for example. We don’t need to see things such as a telephone or a notepad. We know they’re there, and this direction completely lets the words tell the story.

Now I have to talk about the incredible solo performance from Divina de Campo. Having seen her in many theatre roles previously, I can say with absolute conviction that this is a career-defining performance. Very different to anything I’ve seen her in before, this is such an honest, heartfelt, and grounded performance. She absolutely shows that she doesn’t need big wigs, flamboyant costumes, and zany characters to be able to hold the attention of an audience. Everything is stripped back and she is utterly mesmerising. I was hanging on every word she said. She acted with such vulnerability and honesty that I was gagged.

And it’s not just Amanda that she plays, oh no. She plays everyone from a therapist, to her mother, her son, and many more. In fact, she portrays a total of 14 characters, and with no costume changes, never confuses the audience. And then when she sings, it just gets even better. Not only does she pour so much emotion into the songs, but the vocals themselves are stratospheric. Honestly, I’ve never seen a performance quite like it before. The tone, the softness, and then the power of the vocals were just sublime.

Yes, this is a story about a trans individual, but it is so much more than that. It is a human story. In a time where the trans identity is used for political gain, this musical feels not only timely, but brutally vital. It shows that there are real people behind all the propaganda and hate. The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and manages to wonderfully balance the reality of what she’s going through with some real laugh-out-loud moments.

Plays like this can easily fall into three traps. They can become preachy, they can become political, or they can rely on gimmicks. The creatives here have successfully avoided all of these pitfalls and have delivered one of the strongest productions I’ve seen this year.

I cannot praise this show enough, and I highly recommend you get yourself down to Penge to watch it. AMANDA - THE NIGHT BEFORE ME plays at The Bridge House Theatre until Saturday 10th October. CLICK HERE for tickets.

This is one of the most courageous pieces of theatre I have ever seen, and everyone involved should be so proud of what they have achieved.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair, and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Amanda - The Night Before Me was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting, who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

CAST:

Divina de Campo as Amanda

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 30 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Mature themes

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

16+

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