Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVEW - Malory Towers is heartwarming, full of laughter, nostalgia and charm

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We were invited to HOME in Manchester to see Malory Towers. Read what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about the great show...

Growing up, Malory Towers always sounded like the absolute dream. A boarding school on the Cornish coast where your biggest concerns were midnight feasts, friendship drama and trying not to get caught breaking the rules? Hardly the same thing as my school years in Salford.

Based on the beloved books by Enid Blyton, Malory Towers follows Darrell Rivers as she leaves home for the first time to start life at boarding school. What follows is adventures, mishaps, friendship fallouts, school traditions and plenty of lessons learned. It's the sort of story where the stakes aren't life or death, but when you're thirteen and your best friend is annoyed with you, it may as well be.

What I wasn't expecting was just how much I'd want to pack a suitcase and move into Malory Towers myself by the end of it. There's something so infectious about the excitement of it all. The whole production feels like being wrapped up in your favourite childhood book. It's warm, funny and full of that nostalgic feeling that makes you wish life was a little bit simpler.

What I loved most is that it never tries too hard. There's no need for huge special effects or dramatic plot twists because the story itself is so charming. Instead, it leans fully into the friendships, and that's what makes it work. The girls bicker, fall out, make up and get themselves into all sorts of trouble, but underneath it all there's so much heart.

The staging is incredibly imaginative too. With a few props, clever movement and plenty of creativity, we're whisked from classrooms to dormitories, and even to the Cornish coastline in a matter of seconds. It has that wonderfully playful quality where you're constantly surprised by how simple ideas can create something so magical. The backdrop is an old school building, with the central section opening up to help transition between scenes, keeping the whole flow going nicely throughout.

My favourite moment from the production aspect was the girls’ first morning at the Cornish coast, with puppetry used to show them jumping into the sea. It’s so simple yet effective - it was unexpected and got a good laugh from the audience.

The music adds to the fun too, helping to keep the story moving and giving the whole thing an infectious energy that never really lets up. The cast themselves are the musicians, which I always love, and their talents are really exceptional. Some cracking voices too. The songs were of the 1940s vibe, a bit of swing and toe tapping tunes, just as uplifting as the story itself.

The cast are brilliant throughout and throw themselves wholeheartedly into the world of Malory Towers. Robyn Sinclair (Blue Beard, A Child's Christmas in Wales, Wuthering Heights) makes a wonderfully likeable Darrell Rivers, capturing both her determination and occasional stubborn streak as she navigates her first year at school. You completely buy into her journey from nervous newcomer to someone finding where she belongs.

Around her is a fantastic ensemble who bring the school to life, with Bethany Wooding (The Crucible, The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde), Zoe West (Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night's Dream), Eden Barrie (Grease, Sweet Charity, The Sound of Music), Molly Cheesley (NOW That’s What I Call A Musical, Emma, Jack and the Beanstalk), Rebecca Collingwood (A Man For All Seasons, Roman Holiday The Musical, Malory Towers) and Stephanie Hockley (Wuthering Heights, Blue Beard, Malory Towers) all creating a believable community of friends, rivals and classmates. The chemistry between the cast is what makes the production so engaging, with the friendships feeling genuine enough that you quickly become invested in every fallout, reconciliation and adventure.

I also couldn't help comparing it to St Trinian's throughout, but in the nicest possible way. It's got the schoolgirl chaos, the rule-breaking and the larger-than-life characters, just without anybody setting fire to anything. Think St Trinian's after a cup of tea and a hug - just all the wholesome bits.

One of my favourite things about the evening was looking around and seeing just how many different generations were enjoying the show together. There were grandparents, parents and plenty of children completely engrossed in the story. I sat next to a young girl who was absolutely captivated from start to finish. Every bit of schoolgirl drama got a reaction, every prank was hilarious and by the end she was singing along with a huge smile on her face. Honestly, seeing how much she loved it was almost as enjoyable as the show itself.

It’s the kind of show I would’ve loved as a young girl, and the type of show that would’ve sparked my love of theatre. A musical with catchy songs and a lovely story, it’s all you need for a good evening out

Watching the audience react, it wasn't hard to see why Malory Towers has remained such a beloved story for so long. Enid Blyton is a legend for a reason. Her stories have entertained generations of readers and, despite being written decades ago, they still hold up today. The friendships, adventures and sense of belonging at the heart of Malory Towers are timeless, which is exactly why this adaptation feels just as magical for today's young audiences as it would have done for those discovering the books years ago.

Malory Towers is funny, heartwarming and packed with the sort of friendship that makes you wish you'd had your own boarding school adventure growing up. It's wholesome in the very best way, full of laughter, nostalgia and charm, and left me with a huge smile on my face. If you need a couple of hours of pure escapism, this is exactly the ticket.

WE SCORE MALORY TOWERS...