‘Feels important’ ★★★☆☆

The story behind Gerry & Sewell’s evolution to a short run in the West End is terrific and I would urge you to read London Pub Theatre’s recent interview with Jamie Eastlake (writer & director) here - From a small pub theatre space (big shout out to pub theatres, obv) to the 1,122 seat Aldwych Theatre is ‘purely belter’ and there’s resonance with what has happened to, say, Operation Mincemeat and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. 

So - to the show itself which frustratingly by turns disappoints and gives a lot of joy. Gerry and Sewell are two young Newcastle United loving ‘down on their luck’ scallywags who want to do more, be more and see more - namely snagging a season ticket to see their beloved football team. What follows in a very, very loose narrative is their attempt to overcome multiple societal and familial hurdles to achieve their goal (pardon the pun). The journey on which they embark is, in truth, a bit of a mess but it’s a largely winning mess on ‘chasing a dream’.

The action centre around home and play. Gerry’s family are a complete mixed bag struggling in and with life, and so we have mum (Katherine Dow Blyton) who is dignified and stoic in a battle with cancer, dad (a menacing Bill Fellows) who is an alcoholic and a child beater, younger sister Bridget (a nice turn from Erin Mullen) who runs away to find the brighter lights ,and older sister Claire (Chelsea Halfpenny - terrific voice in there) who has a baby and a dream. We also have some jolly puppetry (nb I am no fan of on-stage puppets having seen far too many but this all worked well), some less-than-jolly ‘hooligans’ all in back and some ‘talking to the audience’ narration which is all very Standing At the Sky’s Edge. 

There’s also plenty going on around Power Props’ busy set and Jamie Eastlake’s direction is never stagnant and always looking to move the action forward. The lead cast do a decent job - as the melancholy but driving force Gerry, Dean Logan holds our interest and is believable until an un-ravelling in the final act. As the nugget-loving Sewell, Jack Robertson gets the best lines, the best gags and the best moments to the audience - in fact more than a handful of laugh out loud moments which is to the credit of all.

Having gone through several iterations the show still feels West End ‘un-ready’ in its lack of coherence, its muddled pacing and some very ropey transitions. And yet, Gerry & Sewell feels important and has a ‘state of the nation’ vibe all the way through. The messages and themes of hope, desperation, solitude and representation (or lack of) give it moments of real pathos and life. 

I really wish the show well for this West End away fixture. 

Aldwych Theatre

Gerry & Sewell

A story of friendship, football, and finding your place in the world.

• Sat - Thu: 7.30pm *
  Thu & Sat: 2.30pm
  Fri: 5.00pm & 8.30pm
  (* Thu 15 Jan: 7pm)
• 2 hours (incl. one interval)



Tickets from £10

Until 24 January 2026

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