Newcastle Theatre Royal | 22nd July 2026
Review by Stephen Stokoe
What an absolute treat to be invited to join Newcastle Musical Theatre Company for their production of the wonderful old-school musical Guys and Dolls at the iconic Theatre Royal on their Presidents Day performance. Right from the off the audience were taken back to times gone by with a New York soundscape of bustling streets, horns, and atmospheric sound (Tyne Audio.)
As the glorious overture struck up conducted by Malcolm Moffat, you really knew you were in for a fantastic night of entertainment. The curtain rose on a cartoon-style montage of New Yorkers going about their business with crooks, hawkers selling their wares, and policemen casting a watchful eye on proceedings before the trumpet signalled the principal gangsters to step forward and give their tips for the upcoming horse race. It was a feast for the eyes and set up the performance perfectly. Director Sandra Laidler should be very proud of herself and her cast.
The story follows two blossoming and unlikely relationships, firstly between the debonair and dashing Sky Masterson (Tyler Neuman and at alternate performances Kaie Bosworth) and the prim and proper Salvation Army sergeant Sarah Brown (Sarah McKinnell and at alternate performances Gina Faed) and the terminally engaged wrong ‘un Nathan Detroit (Jonathan Goodman) and his long suffering fiancée Adelaide (Lucy Sutton.)
Neuman cuts a handsome figure as the smartly dressed Masterson and sing wonderfully. I may feature to suggest that he tones down the make up just a notch so as not to distract from his accomplished performance. McKinnell is superb as Sarah Brown perfectly encapsulating the broom-up-the-bum stiffness with the flighty and funny side as she has one or two dolce de leches too many in Havana.
Goodman is outstanding as the ne’erdowell Nathan Detroit as he battles to find a suitable venue for his floating craps game while being doggedly pursued by Lieutenant Brannigan (Stephen Mason.) He is ably assisted by his companions, Nicely Nicely Johnson (Jack Hawkins) and Benny Southstreet (Liam Olsen) who puts in a physical acting masterclass and is clearly revelling being on the Theatre Royal stage.
Sutton excels in the role of Adelaide and really brings out the heart of this tortured but loveable character and, when joined by McKinnell at the end of the show they really get to stick it to the men in their lives as they plot to marry their men today and change their ways tomorrow.
The set (Scenic Projects) is superb and lit very colourfully by the theatre’s in-house team. It really gives a sense of the bustling city which never sleeps. The stage crew helmed by Stage Manager Karen Cadwallader worked extremely hard to keep the action flowing throughout the production.
It was fantastic to see the orchestra pit full of extremely talented musicians and Malcolm Moffat led them magnificently as usual. Big shout out to the brass section who really nailed the difficult score this evening and for hitting the opening of Runyonland exquisitely!
I really do not want to pick out particular performances but I must applaud Jack Hawkins as the loveable Nicely Nicely Johnson. He puts his heart and soul into everything he does and shines from the stage in this role which could easily have been written for him. I am not a huge fan of standing ovations but I definitely twitched to stand at the end of his big number Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat.
This is a musical which has a little bit of everything. There is romance, comedy, peril, a fantastic score and a good old fashioned happy ending. You would be out of your minds not to get along to see it before they all pack up their dice and close at the weekend.