REVIEW: CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT @ SOUTHWARK PLAYHOUSE

🎭 Children of the Night

📍 The Little, Southwark Playhouse,  77-85 Newington Causeway, London, SE1 6BD

🗓 Saturday 14th March 2026

⭐️ 4 Stars

BASSLINE, BEATS, AND BRAVERY

This afternoon I popped down to the ever-reliable Southwark Playhouse Borough to catch CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT in their intimate Little space, and it was a proper blast from the past. Written by and starring Danielle Phillips, this is a high-octane "clubland" coming of age story that hits like a shot of something neon-coloured from a sticky bar top.

The play is cleverly structured into three distinct stages, spanning three years in the late 90s. We kick off in 1997, and for me, the nostalgia was real. I was in my mid-teens back then, and seeing the culture of the era reflected on stage - specifically the mention of underage drinking and the legendary (or should that be infamous?) MD 20/20 - had me grinning. It's a very specific vibe, and Phillips nails that sense of frantic, youthful energy.

As we move into 1998, the tone shifts significantly. My heart really went out to our protagonist, Danielle Phillips as Lindsay. Her performance is a powerhouse, and watching her life begin to spiral out of control was a genuinely uncomfortable watch at times. Watching that initial dance-floor euphoria crumble into something much darker and more desperate was tough to witness, made even more poignant by the introduction of the HIV element - a sobering reminder of the very real stakes for this community during that era.

The cast are across-the-board excellent. Gareth Radcliffe brings a real groundedness as Lindsay's single father Terry, capturing that complex blend of parental worry and working-class grit. Meanwhile, Charlotte Brown is brilliant as best mate Jen, providing that vital spark of female friendship that really anchors the piece.

The cast are supported by a production team that clearly knows how to use a small space. The lighting and sound work wonderfully together, perfectly capturing the pulse of a 90s club one minute, and the stark chill of a two-up two-down terrace the next. I also loved the set. It's simple but incredibly clever, and seems to shift effortlessly without ever actually physically moving - always keeping up with the play's restless energy.

Being from a certain generation, I caught the references, but there were definitely moments that I felt deserved more laughs than they got. Perhaps it was the lightning speed of the delivery. Perhaps people felt they weren't "allowed" to laugh because there simply wasn't time before the next line hit!

The play is set in Doncaster - the Vegas of the North - and the script is very Yorkshire-centric, meaning that some of the northern specificity didn't land quite as well for a London crowd.

If like me you were a teenager in the 90s, this is a must-see for the soundtrack and the memories alone. But even if you didn't grow up on the Spice Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and alcopops, there's a gritty, moving, human story here that's well worth the ticket price.

CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT continues performances in The Little at Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 4th April. Click here to check availability and to book tickets.

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 Children of the Night 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:

Danielle Phillips as Lindsay; Gareth Radcliffe as Terry; Charlotte Brown as Jen

Featuring the voices of: Luke Broughton as DJ Don; Conor O'Hara as MC Danger

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 30 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

String language; Refrences to death, sex, and HIV related stigma; Depictions of racism, sexism, sex under the influence, and alcohol abuse; Smoking of herbal cigarettes; Flashing lights; Loud music

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

16 +

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