REVIEW - Single White Female is a slick, character-led drama that keeps you invested from start to finish

We were invited to the Manchester Opera House to see Single White Female. Read what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this entertaining play...

I went into Single White Female completely blind, not having seen the film or known much about the storyline at all. All I knew was that it was billed as a psychological thriller, which instantly piqued my interest. There’s something quite exciting about sitting down in a theatre with no expectations and letting a story unfold in front of you, especially when you’re promised tension and drama.

Single White Female centres on Allison, a divorced mum trying to balance raising her daughter with getting her tech business off the ground. In need of both financial support and a fresh start, she advertises for a new flatmate. Enter Hedy – quiet, polite and seemingly grateful for the opportunity. But as the two women grow closer, the relationship begins to shift. Boundaries start to blur, small behaviours feel a touch too intense, and what starts as friendship turns into something far more unnerving as obsession creeps in. It’s a gradual shift rather than a dramatic one, which makes the story feel grounded and believable.

The set design perfectly captures the sleek, modern apartment where the action takes place. It’s a stylish and fairly minimal living area setting, allowing the tension between the characters to take centre stage. Clever lighting choices subtly shift the mood from warm and welcoming to cold and claustrophobic as the story darkens. Sound effects of classic broken apartment problems, like a creaky lift, go from unquestionable to suspicious as the play goes on. 

Leading the cast as Allie is Lisa Faulkner (Holby City, Murder in Suburbia, Spooks), who brings a relatable warmth to the role. She makes Allie’s vulnerability believable without ever making her feel weak. You really sense the pressure she’s under, trying to hold everything together while slowly realising she may be losing control of her own space.

Opposite her, Kym Marsh (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Abigail’s Party) delivers a measured and quietly unnerving performance as Hedy. Marsh doesn’t go straight for obvious villainy; instead, she allows the character’s intensity to build gradually. Small shifts in tone and body language make all the difference, and by the second act there’s a noticeable chill in the air whenever she enters the stage.

Marsh does a brilliant job of delivering a character with multiple layers. From the off, you know there’s a secret she’s hiding or something that’s not quite right. This works as a great contrast to Allie, who is dealing with far more relatable, everyday problems and is much more open about her worries, whether that’s her previous marriage or the pressures of being a single mum to Bella.

Jonny McGarrity (The Mousetrap, The Full Monty UK Tour, The Hound of the Baskervilles) as Allie’s ex-husband Sam adds another layer to the drama, bringing charm and frustration in equal measure. Meanwhile, Amy Snudden (River City, The Steamie, The Crucible) gives a strong supporting performance as Bella, Allie and Sam’s daughter, helping elevate the drama and tension as she finds herself caught in the middle of the two women - it’s Hedy’s growing obsession with Bella that really gets you questioning just how far things might go. Alican Aytac (Doctors, EastEnders, The Archers) adds an element of humour and light to the story, yet still adding to the darkness and tension when needed.

The play itself isn’t a jump-scare, edge-of-your-seat thriller, instead it’s a slick, character-led drama that keeps you invested from start to finish. The pacing flowed smoothly, and the audience at the Manchester Opera House were clearly hooked, reacting audibly at key moments and fully engaged throughout.

Single White Female is a polished and thoroughly enjoyable psychological drama. With strong performances at its core and a storyline that steadily tightens its grip, it makes for a very watchable night at the theatre. If you enjoy contemporary dramas with a darker edge, but nothing too terrifying, this is definitely one to book.

WE SCORE SINGLE WHITE FEMALE...

Single White Female is on at the Opera House, Manchester until Saturday 14th February 2026


Watch our "In Conversation with Kym Marsh" video discussing the show


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