A massive hit in the West End, the National Theatre adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, is currently on its first UK tour and brings together darkness, death and menacing magic.

When a middle-aged man returns to the place of his childhood for his father’s funeral, he is inevitably reminded of his earlier life. He recalls memories of himself as a 12-year-old boy, growing up in the company of his emotionally unavailable dad and his aggravating younger sister. The recollections are made real on the stage. Lonely and mistreated, the boy loses himself in fantasy & science-fiction books, to escape not only the painful reality of his existence but also his overwhelming sense of grief at the loss of his deceased mother. 

Having returned to the place where he grew up, the man finds himself standing by a pond with which he was familiar in childhood. He calls to mind his friend, Lettie, who used to refer to the pond as an ocean. But the pond is no ordinary pond. It is in fact a portal between realities, and Lettie - along with her mother and grandmother - is responsible for protecting the world from evil forces in the universe; evil forces which find their way into the boy’s life in the form of a chilling and sinister wicked-stepmother-type figure named Ursula...     

Keir Ogilvy is excellent as the brave-yet-vulnerable unnamed boy; Millia Hikasa is similarly impressive as the feisty and strong-willed Lettie. There are compelling performances, too, from Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Finty Williams in the roles of Lettie’s mother and grandmother respectively, while as the character of Ursula, Charlie Brooks proves that her talents stretch far beyond the confines of her role in EastEnders. 

As with the book, this stage adaptation is beautiful, fantastical and at times nightmarishly scary. A story involving memories of grief and loss, and focusing on themes of friendship and family relationships, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is utterly compelling but not for the faint-hearted. As the boy is drawn into an epic fight with ancient, malevolent forces that threaten to destroy the whole world, the production makes clever use of stage magic, puppetry and choreography to create a vivid and frightening alternative reality - one which totally justifies the show’s advisory age warning of 12-plus! 

Although laced with humour, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane features plenty of uncomfortable and disturbing scenes, presenting images of horror and violence that will make you at least contemplate looking away. But this is a show it’s hard to ignore even for a second; it demands and richly rewards your attention, presenting more than two hours of theatrical magic that seems to pass in the blink of an eye. 

Extremely well received by last night’s audience, whose enthusiasm was evident in the rapturous applause at the final curtain, The Ocean At The End Of The Lane is one of the cleverest works of theatre I have ever seen and definitely a show not to be missed. I would hasten to add, however, that reading the book first will probably further enhance your appreciation of the production. 

4 stars

Reviewed by Sue Hull at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 26 September

Based on the 2013 novel by Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a play incorporating fantasy, horror, realism and sheer magical brilliance. Arriving in Stoke this is a cultural delight for all ages to savour and contemplate.

Steeped in supernatural perceptions and the vibrant imaginations and visceral memories of childhood, Gaiman’s play is a theatrical masterpiece which has the audience enthralled throughout. 

Ultimately it is a story of returning to times often suppressed in memory but never fully buried involving family and friends and locations. We witness the past and the personal with emotions laid bare and there are elements that will resonate with many. Family pain and dysfunction is a common phenomenon but then so is an incredible depth of love and caring which Gaiman incorporates with honesty and sensitivity.

Using the analogy of a pond as an ocean, the play returns to a time of childhood with the main character taken back in time to when he was twelve-years old - a time of adventure and transitioning spent in the company of his friend Lettie. Lettie lived with her old and wise grandmother who understood the ethereal world of monsters and chilling episodes and she often shared experiences of disturbing and menacing entities, and how knowledge and spirit could defeat them. 

The main narrative of the play is based around the consequences of adventure and exploration but also touches on the reality of bereavement, the eruption of violence and the shattering of innocence. Childhood survival alongside the sentiments of young love, escapism, wisdom and resilience are all key features of Gaiman’s work.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane is a masterpiece of a production with phenomenal choreography, an atmospheric and eerie musical score, outstanding acting and a stage set which is creatively and artistically magical. Although it weaves stories of sadness, loss, abuse and loneliness, the play is essentially about friendship, insight, knowledge and love and is pure physical and cerebral entertainment. An outstanding production not to be missed. 

5 Stars

Reviewed by Carol Lovatt at the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday 12 September.