North by Northwest at HOME
Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor
Emma Rice returns to Manchester this spring with her take on Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest – and it’s anything but a straight remake. Rice turns Hitchcock’s 1959 thriller on its head, delivering a riotously funny, theatrically inventive reworking that switches cool suspense for high style and sly wit.
Running at HOME Manchester, this two-and-a-half-hour caper reimagines Hitchcock’s classic tale of mistaken identity, espionage and cross-country pursuit with just six shape-shifting performers, a fabulous 1950s soundtrack, and an entire world conjured from little more than suitcases and split-second timing.
At the centre of the chaos is Roger Thornhill – a suave New York ad man mistaken for a spy and dragged into a whirlwind of intrigue. Rupert Young (Merlin, BBC; Dear Evan Hansen, West End) leads the cast with just the right mix of charisma and comic timing, while Olivia Fines brings elegance and edge to Eve Kendall, the mysterious woman he meets on the run.
This isn’t Hitchcock by numbers. Rice’s production is full of theatrical play – fast costume changes, tongue-in-cheek visual gags, noir-ish lighting, and a lovingly chosen period soundtrack that keeps the mood buoyant even when the stakes are high. Scenes unfold and dissolve at speed, with physical comedy and technical precision working in perfect harmony.
Designer Lez Brotherston (known for his work with Matthew Bourne) dresses the stage in crisp mid-century style, while Simon Baker’s sound design and Malcolm Rippeth’s lighting complete the filmic atmosphere – all mood, shadows and well-timed flourishes.
Expect glamour, romance and jeopardy – plus a liberal sprinkling of tender truths. Beneath the cleverness is a show that plays with the heart, mind and soul; a love letter to storytelling itself.
