REVIEW: UNDER MILK WOOD @ THE QUESTORS THEATRE

🎭 Under Milk Wood

📍 The Studio, The Questors Theatre, 12 Mattock Lane, Ealing, London, W5 5BQ

🗓 Wednesday 11th June 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A POETIC JOURNEY: LISTENING DEEPLY TO DYLAN THOMAS

Having studied Dylan Thomas at university, I was very excited to see UNDER MILK WOOD brought to life on stage. First written as a “play for voices,” Thomas’ lyrical ode to the sleepy Welsh village of Llareggub was always intended for radio. At The Questors Theatre, director Simon Roberts leans into that intention — and then some — with a sparse, evocative production that invites its audience to do most of the imagining.

The evening began with a single image: a radio microphone projected onto the back wall of the stage. But as the nine cast members took their places, the projection vanished — as did the lights. The theatre was plunged into near-total darkness, and for the entire performance, the actors remained visible only in silhouette as they recited the poem, forcing our ears to take over.

At first, I found it a little disorienting. I’m used to theatre as a visual medium — a feast for the eyes as well as the ears — and it took me some time to settle into the slower rhythm and subtlety of this approach. But as the performance unfolded, I was drawn into the warm, whimsical, and often wistful world of Llareggub. And it confirmed to me that this is the best way for the poem to be read.

The cast worked sublimely together, responding deftly to one another’s cues and giving voice to the wide range of colourful characters. Each actor played around five or six roles, and while it was initially a little confusing to keep track of who was who, it gradually became easier as the performance went on. The ensemble did a remarkable job at distinguishing each villager through voice — using subtle shifts in tone, pace, and inflection — supported occasionally by gestures or movement a few feet away from their chairs to help bring to life a story or scene. This delicate movement added a key but subtle visual element to the performance and helped invite us fully into the town of Llareggub.

The experience, for me, felt cosy — and at times, slightly challenging. In a fast-paced world where culture is often consumed in snappy visuals and soundbites, this was something else entirely: a slowing down. A quiet act of listening. And ultimately, a heartwarming reminder of the richness that can come from words alone.

Whether or not it felt like “a play” in the traditional sense is up for debate. But what this production offered — with confidence, care, and a strong ensemble cast — was something equally theatrical and memorable.

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 Under Milk Wood was gifted by The Questors Theatre 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.