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REVIEW | Heisenberg, Arcola Theatre
- Harry Brogan
- Apr 16
- 2 min read
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review
Simon Stephens’ Heisenberg receives a refreshing reimagining at the Arcola Theatre, directed by Katharine Farmer. Recasting Alex as a 70-year-old woman offers new insight into this offbeat romantic comedy—a story about ageing, loss and human connection told with tenderness and quiet charm.
In bustling St Pancras station, Georgie (Faline England), a chaotic and impulsive American, kisses the neck of a stranger—Alex (Jenny Galloway), a reserved London butcher. What unfolds is a delicate and moving portrayal of two lives unexpectedly colliding.
The set design is simple: two chairs, a thrust stage, and a single glowing strip of neon. But with Rajiv Pattani’s painterly lighting and Hugh Sheehan’s layered sound design, the atmosphere becomes vivid. From train platforms to café conversations and quiet domestic moments, each shift is conjured through sound and light, with barely any change of scenery.
Music plays a powerful role—Alex finds solace in it, whether it’s classical Bach, funk, or electro. These personal playlists root her character and become a touching emotional thread throughout the piece.
Galloway is magnetic in her stillness, blending vulnerability with razor-sharp wit. England is unpredictable—full of nervous energy and warmth. Their chemistry is not flashy; it’s slow-burning, believable and rich with nuance.
The romantic comedy works, the humour lands and the philosophical undertones linger. At times, the pace drifts and the final third feels a little too long—a slight trim would help maintain momentum.
Still, Heisenberg resonates. It reminds us of the unpredictability of intimacy and how love can take shape in the most unlikely places—and at the most unexpected time.
★★★★
Heisenberg plays at Arcola Theatre until the 10th of May.
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