Shadowlands returns to the West End with Hugh Bonneville
William Nicholson’s acclaimed drama Shadowlands has made a notable return to the West End, featuring Hugh Bonneville in the role of C.S. Lewis, whose life is dramatically transformed by his relationship with American poet Joy Davidman, reports BritPanorama.
The production showcases Lewis’s late middle-aged life being upended by Davidman, portrayed by Maggie Siff. Bonneville, known for his roles in Downton Abbey and the Paddington films, embodies an elegant English decency, making Lewis a compelling character.
Set designer Peter McKintosh creates an environment reflective of Lewis’s academic world, filled with towering bookshelves that highlight the male-dominated, intellectual atmosphere of Oxford. Lewis and his brother live a modest life in a house without central heating, but their existence begins to shift following their correspondence with Davidman.
The balance in Shadowlands is crucial: Lewis must convey his emotional evolution without undermining Davidman’s expressive nature. Director Rachel Kavanaugh’s production, originally premiered in Chichester in 2019, requires Bonneville to reach deep emotional truths that resonate with audiences. He successfully illustrates how love changes Lewis’s previously unshakeable religious convictions.
On opening night, Ayrton English also impressed as Joy’s young son, Douglas, who grapples with understanding the fiction of The Chronicles of Narnia alongside the reality of its author.
Prior to attending Shadowlands, I viewed a screening of Wuthering Heights and found that, in the landscape of heartfelt storytelling, Shadowlands offers a richer depiction of true love.
To 9 May shadowlandsplay.com
