REVIEW: SALOMÉ @ THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET

🎭 Salomé

📍 Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4HT

🗓 Tuesday 30th September 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

UNSETTLING, MAGNETIC, AND BEAUTIFULLY STAGED

Maxim Didenko’s SALOMÉ is a bold and visually striking take on Oscar Wilde’s play. It creates a decadent world where desire and faith clash in unsettling ways.

One aspect I particularly liked about this interpretation was the set, designed by Galya Solodovnikova. A huge pool of water dominated the stage – in a way reminding me of a church font. Part of me took this to be a nod to Jesus and how, even though he’s not in the play, his influence, the attention he’s getting and the how he’s mentioned in Jokanaan’s prophecy, seem to have an invisible yet powerful hold over these characters. 

The strongest performances came from the leads. Neta Roth was captivating as Salomé, her youthful determination and dangerous obsession evolving beautifully as the play went on. Doron Tavori gave Herod more depth than I’d expected, softening him slightly and adding humour, which made him more than just a grotesque, lecherous ruler. 

For me, the real standout was Shir Sayag as Jokanaan (John the Baptist). His singing was extraordinary – haunting and powerful. Though his character is meant to be locked in a dungeon, the staging placed him above the others in an illuminated box at the back of the stage. This, to me, highlighted the fear he inflicted on the characters – even if they maintained his words were lies.

Two scenes stayed with me the most. The first: the moment when Salomé first meets Jokanaan. Roth’s taunting and teasing of the prophet was at times unsettling to watch, but that edge-of-your-seat unease made it all the more powerful. And Sayag’s maddened response to Salomé's words and actions was captivating. The second: the brutal end scene, where the protagonist gets exactly what she asked for. Salomé’s response is stark and disturbing, but it left me transfixed. Despite the grotesqueness, I couldn’t help but watch, and it made me think of all the times in the play people are warned not to look at her. 

For all its strengths, there were a few moments that felt weaker in comparison. Some of the supporting characters didn’t feel as fully developed – the soldiers and attendants were a bit flat, and I felt the energy dropped whenever the focus shifted away from the main cast. 

The decision to run the play straight through without an interval worked well in terms of keeping the atmosphere tense and immersive, but it also highlighted to me that there were a few scenes that felt a bit overlong.

Overall, this production of SALOMÉ was dark, daring and, in my opinion, beautifully staged. While some of the minor roles didn’t shine, the leads carried it with intensity and style, making it a memorable interpretation of Wilde’s provocative play.

SALOMÉ continues performances at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket until Saturday 11th October. Click here for more information and to book tickets.

Estelle Luck

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 person.

My ticket for this performance of Salomé was gifted by Chloe Nelkin Consulting who invited me to watch the show on behalf of Pink Prince Theatre 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 LIST:

Doron Tavori as Herod; Lena Fraifeld as Herodias; Neta Roth as Salomé; Shir Sayag as Jokanaan; Yuval Yanai as Cappadocian; Agam Azalvo as Naaman; Itay Tarhanov as Soldier; Itamar Peres as Young Syrian; Ori Yaniv as Tigellinus; Gary Nofin as Page of Herodias; Nikita Oleinikov as Nubian bartender; Nir Knaan as Pianist

RUNNING TIME (approx):

1 hour 40 minutes, with no interval

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

14 +

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