Review | Bonnie & Clyde | The Old Joint Stock | 12 October 2025

Bonnie & Clyde tells the story of real-life criminal couple Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, who received fame during their two-year rampage across America in the early 1930’s. After limited success stateside, the musical has found its audience here in the UK, with a cult following that grew from the acclaimed Theatre Royal Drury Lane concert to two triumphant West End runs and a national tour. Yet, for all its charm, previous versions have often romanticised the duo’s crimes, creating an uncomfortable tension between glamour and brutality. Never afraid to be brave in their programming or staging, The Old Joint Stock have taken the source material and created a version which finally gets the balance right.

Set designer George P. Martin has completely reimagined the space, transforming the theatre into a traverse stage with two banks of seating facing each other. Scenes unfold in the narrow strip between them, placing the audience within arm’s reach of the outlaws themselves. This proximity creates an electrifying sense of immersion with guns pointed directly at spectators and knowing glances exchanged, as if we too are complicit in their crimes.

Producing theatre in such small spaces can often be difficult to direct smoothly, however Emily Susanne Lloyd more than rises to the challenge in this non-replica revival. By having certain scenes played at opposite ends, it allows for seamless transitions to take place whilst maintaining pace and energy throughout.

The cast are outstanding across the board, led by India Lily Cooper as Bonnie Parker and Samuel Murray as Clyde Barrow. Cooper captures the innocence of lovestruck Bonnie perfectly, with the most beautiful pure vocals to match.

Murray, tackling a role immortalised by Jeremy Jordan and Jordan Luke Gage, is nothing short of remarkable. Whilst we see Clyde’s cocky charm, we are never allowed to forget his dark side, with Murray simultaneously injecting a knowing menace through his performance. Fresh from graduating at Mountview, where I was lucky enough to see him perform in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, it is hard to believe he hasn’t been leading shows for years. Watching him here evokes memories of watching Tom Francis’s breakout performance in Rent at Hope Mill Theatre; with a similar feeling of witnessing the arrival of a future star.

This production also reinstates the use of child actors to portray young Bonnie and Clyde, a detail missing from the most recent West End and tour versions. Evie Pavlovs and Beau Eaton bring poignancy and context to the story, giving real emotional impact at key moments during the show.

A special mention must go to Thomas Oxley, who stepped into the role of Clyde mid-performance following a brief show stop. His assured, commanding portrayal never missed a beat, a reminder of the immense skill and dedication of swings and covers in live theatre.

The Tony-nominated music by Frank Wildhorn and Don Black sounded as fantastic as ever in this production. Several songs were unexpectedly performed with the large ensemble alongside lively choreography from Ellie Begley, which breathed new and exciting life into the score. The standout however is Samuel Murray’s haunting rendition of ‘Raise A Little Hell’ towards the end of the first act. His acting through song was bursting with grit and raw emotion, a truly unforgettable.

While we’re drawn into the intoxicating bond between Bonnie and Clyde, this production never romanticises their crimes or spares them from consequence. When the names of their twelve murdered victims are projected across the theatre walls, the audience leave with a sobering reminder of their actions. Dark, daring, and profoundly moving, Bonnie & Clyde at The Old Joint Stock sets a new gold standard for this musical and plays until Sunday 2 November 2025.

Click here for booking details

Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a ticket is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.