The 39 Steps

The 39 Steps, By Patrick Barlow

Directed by Sallyanne Scotton Moonga

The Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, UK

The Play 

In 1915 John Buchan’s tale of treachery, spies, dastardly deeds and survival at all odds was published. In 1935 Alfred Hitchcock directed his film adaptation that moves rapidly from music hall, misty London streets, the Highlands of Scotland, and ultimately to the mysterious Thirty Nine Steps themselves via suspenseful train journeys, all manner of daring-do and a cast of thousands. In 2005 Patrick Barlow presented his rewrite using only a cast of four and a few suitcases. Ingenious, breathtakingly energetic, side-splittingly funny, it is a brilliant opening to The Crescent’s new season.

Audience responses

"An absolute tour de force, and a cracking couple of hours of entertainment. It's spy-thriller meets stand-up comedy meets Key Stone Cops meets old time variety theatre. The cast of four keep the whole thing boiling along from start to finish, taking in their stride the interventions of the 5th and 6th actors on stage ... viz the sound effects and lighting. This is a superb piece of theatre that clearly stands up and says "this what I am, enjoy me!". And so well done... it could have gone anywhere and everywhere, but it hung together so well .... a huge well done to the director Sallyanne." - John Whittell