Expert Review: A Spectacular Theatrical Gamble That Pays Off
The Verdict
The Hunger Games: On Stage represents one of the most ambitious theatrical undertakings London has seen in years. Constructed inside a purpose-built £26 million venue at Canary Wharf, this world premiere adaptation by Olivier Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson and director Matthew Dunster transforms Suzanne Collins' dystopian saga into a visceral, overwhelming live experience. Walking into the 1,200-seat theatre-in-the-round for the first time is genuinely awe-inspiring — and the production more than lives up to its surroundings.
What Makes It Special
- Revolutionary Immersive Staging: Audiences are seated in sections named after Panem's districts. When a tribute falls, their district section flashes red — a chilling theatrical device that creates genuine emotional complicity in the spectacle you're watching.
- World-Class Creative Team: Conor McPherson (Girl from the North Country) adapts with storytelling precision; Matthew Dunster (2:22 — A Ghost Story) directs with total command of the vast space. Lucy Carter's lighting and Ian Dickinson's sound design create an overwhelming sensory environment.
- Technical Mastery: London's largest hydraulic stage, four tonnes of rigging capacity, pyrotechnics, illusions by Chris Fisher, and video design by Tal Rosner combine to create theatrical magic that cinema cannot replicate.
- Mia Carragher as Katniss: A committed, physically fearless performance that anchors the spectacle in genuine human stakes. Her Katniss is fierce, vulnerable, and utterly believable as an unwitting revolutionary.
Perfect For
Fans of the Hunger Games books and films seeking a fresh theatrical perspective on Katniss's journey; theatre enthusiasts interested in innovative immersive staging; audiences who appreciate physical theatre and spectacular production values; and anyone curious about the future direction of large-scale theatrical storytelling. The production rewards both franchise devotees and newcomers to the story equally.
Everything You Need to Know
About The Hunger Games: On Stage
Welcome to Panem. In a nation built on oppression and spectacle, The Hunger Games: On Stage brings Suzanne Collins' dystopian masterpiece to life in a groundbreaking theatrical experience. This world premiere stage adaptation, written by Conor McPherson and directed by Matthew Dunster, transforms the beloved story into an electrifying event featuring extraordinary stunts, illusions, and revolutionary staging that places audiences at the heart of the action.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the brutal annual Hunger Games, she becomes an unwitting symbol of rebellion against the oppressive Capitol. Rising star Mia Carragher delivers a powerful performance as Katniss, joined by Euan Garrett as Peeta Mellark and Joshua Lacey as the cynical mentor Haymitch Abernathy. The production features John Malkovich as President Snow in pre-recorded segments that integrate seamlessly with the live action.
The World of Panem
Set designer Miriam Buether has created a dynamic arena that transforms throughout the show, utilising London's largest hydraulic stage and a ceiling capable of supporting up to four tonnes of equipment. With no traditional wings, performers and set pieces appear from above and below, creating moments of genuine theatrical magic. Choreographer Charlotte Broom and fight director Kev McCurdy have crafted visceral sequences that honour the source material's intensity while remaining theatrically compelling.
Immersive Theatre Redefined
Rather than asking audiences to participate, this production places them within the world as witnesses — citizens of the districts forced to watch the Capitol's brutality. The uncomfortable complicity this creates serves the story's central themes about spectacle and power with remarkable theatrical intelligence. When your section lights up to represent your assigned district, you feel the weight of the Games in a way that traditional staging could never achieve.
Cast & Creative Team
Principal Cast: Mia Carragher (Katniss Everdeen), Euan Garrett (Peeta Mellark), Joshua Lacey (Haymitch Abernathy), Tristan Waterson (Gale Hawthorne), Tamsin Carroll (Effie Trinket), Stavros Demetraki (Caesar Flickerman), Nathan Ives-Moiba (Cinna/Mayor), Ruth Everett (Mrs Everdeen), Sophia Ally (Prim Everdeen)
Creative Team: Conor McPherson (Writer), Matthew Dunster (Director), Miriam Buether (Set Design), Moi Tran (Costume Design), Charlotte Broom (Choreographer), Lucy Carter (Lighting Design), Ian Dickinson (Sound Design), Tal Rosner (Video Design), Chris Fisher (Illusions), Kev McCurdy (Fight Director)
Performance Schedule
- Opening: 20 October 2025
- Booking until: 25 October 2026
- Evenings: Monday–Saturday, 7:30pm
- Matinees: Thursday & Saturday 2:30pm, Sunday 3:00pm
- Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes including interval
Getting There
- Tube: Canary Wharf (Jubilee Line) — 5 minute walk
- DLR: Canary Wharf or Heron Quays — 5–7 minute walk
- Elizabeth Line: Canary Wharf — 6 minute walk
- River: Thames Clippers to Canary Wharf Pier — 10 minute walk
- Bus: Routes D3, D7, D8, 135, 277 stop nearby
Age Guidance & Content Warnings
Recommended for ages 12+. Under 3s not permitted. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult over 18.
The production contains loud noises and explosions, haze and smoke, flashing lights and strobe effects, and depictions of violence. Themes include oppression, child endangerment, and political violence. Suitable for mature audiences who can handle intense theatrical experiences.
Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre
Purpose-built in 2025 specifically for this production, the 1,200-seat theatre-in-the-round is one of London's most technically advanced venues. The space features moving hydraulic staging, pyrotechnics systems, advanced rigging, and multiple bar and restaurant facilities including the Songbird restaurant. Step-free access via lifts to all levels; infrared hearing assistance available; accessible toilets on all floors.
Booking Information
Tickets from £36.60. Advance booking strongly recommended — many performances sell out weeks ahead. The extended run to October 2026 reflects exceptional audience demand since opening.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full Expert Review
The Hunger Games: On Stage sets a new benchmark for large-scale immersive theatre in London. The decision to construct a purpose-built £26 million venue specifically for this production is a statement of intent that the show emphatically fulfils. Matthew Dunster's direction utilises every inch of the extraordinary space — performers materialise from above, below, and through the audience, and the central arena transforms continuously through Miriam Buether's ingenious hydraulic set design.
What Works Brilliantly: The staging is nothing short of revolutionary. Charlotte Broom's choreography integrates seamlessly with Kev McCurdy's fight direction to create visceral combat sequences that honour the brutality of Collins' source material without becoming gratuitous. Lucy Carter's lighting design is particularly masterful — when a tribute falls and their corresponding district section flashes red, the emotional impact lands with devastating precision.
Mia Carragher delivers a committed, physically fearless performance as Katniss Everdeen, capturing the character's fierce determination and psychological complexity with equal skill. Joshua Lacey brings welcome cynicism and dark humour as Haymitch, providing necessary relief from the relentless tension. The ensemble work is exceptional throughout — every performer embodies both their specific character and the larger world of Panem with total conviction.
Technical Achievements: Tal Rosner's video design creates the Capitol's broadcast feeds and arena environments without overwhelming the live action. The integration of John Malkovich's pre-recorded President Snow adds genuine gravitas and an unsettling omnipresence. Conor McPherson's adaptation finds theatrical language for Katniss's internal monologue that preserves the psychological depth of Collins' first-person narration.
The Immersive Experience: What distinguishes this production beyond its technical spectacle is its intellectual approach to audience placement. Being seated as a district citizen — a witness rather than a participant — creates an uncomfortable complicity that serves the story's themes about the corrupting power of entertainment. You are the Capitol audience, and the production never lets you forget it.
Final Verdict: Spectacular, visceral, and genuinely moving — The Hunger Games: On Stage is essential London theatre. It pushes the boundaries of what immersive staging can achieve while keeping Collins' story of resistance and sacrifice at its emotional centre. Book well in advance.
Rating: 4.8/5 Stars