The Addams Family | Sunderland Theatre Company
The Royalty Theatre, Sunderland |28th May 2026
Invited | Review by Stephen Stokoe
First of all I would like to thank Sunderland Theatre Company for inviting me along to their production of The Addams Family. It is one of my favourite modern musicals and as an alumnus of the society, it was a pleasure to be back in their company. The Royalty Theatre is a lovely venue with a generously sized bar and excellent facilities. Surprisingly, it was the first time I had visited so this wonderful venue in the heart of Sunderland is worth a mention.
Sunderland Theatre Company under the watchful and exacting gaze of long time director Brian Waldock-Leach really have brought this spooky, kooky, and altogether ooky musical to, for want of a better word I will say, life. Even before the audience enters the auditorium, the ancestors are present, in character and, along with the superb choice of background music in the hall really set the patrons up for a superb night.
This musical is based on the 60’s Charles Addams TV series andfocuses on no fewer than four very distinct love stories. The main one is the blooming relationship between The Addams’ eldest Wednesday (Chantelle Taggart) and clean cut all-American good guy, Lucas Beineke (Danny Ross). These two young performers were perfectly cast and their chemistry together worked very well indeed. They sang well individually and together. Ross’ singing was strong throughout and his character rounded. Taggart interacted well with all the characters and her bond with Pugsley Addams (Erin-Rose Richards) was particularly sweet.
Our second love affair centres around the wholesome and close bond between Gomez (Mathew Clarke) and his 25 year marriage to Morticia (Rebecca Crackett.) Clarke and Crackett gelled wonderfully and very much looked the part. I have seen several versions both professional and amateur of The Addams Family and Clarke was very much channelling his inner Nathan Lane with movement and facial features to match. Crackett for her part glided elegantly around the stage and commanded the no-nonsense Matriarch of the household character.
Our third love story starts out as a strained marriage between Lucas’ mother Alice (Rebecca Smith) and her stand-offish husband Mal (Sean Barratt.) Smith played the part impeccably switching from ludicrously romantic poet, through manic depression to full on frustrated housewife hilariously. I think my best praise to Barratt is that he managed to keep a straight face and in character while his world was falling apart around him. It is a fantastic part and Barratt did a great job.
The final and most ridiculous love affair is between Uncle Fester (Kristan Bailey) and the closest celestial body to earth. If you do not know what that is, then you will have to catch one of the performances. Bailey is everything you would want from a Fester. He is impish, silly, naughty and adorable in equal measures. His song in act two – one of my absolute favourites was performed with heart, soul, and just a little bit of tongue in cheek. Bravo, sir.
Aside from these love stories we have a whole ensemble of ancestors who act as chorus, stagehands, and prop holders throughout the show. They, to a corpse, fulfilled these roles admirably and were kept incredibly busy by stage manager Jane Talbott. It did not go unnoticed. Very well done to you all.
The majority of the show is set in the Addams Family’s spooky mansion and this was cleverly created by Mark Turner of Brightstar Light and Sound who also provided some imaginative lighting with Duncan Baxter – East Durham Audio skilfully making sure the company could be heard. The costumes were superb – as they have to be for something as iconic as the characters in The Addams Family. In Disguise in Choppington did a superb job in recreating the looks that everybody expects.
Much praise has also to go to not one but two musical directors. Matthew Ainsworth and James Pennell-Tutill who have done a marvellous job whipping the vocals into shape. This is particularly noticeable in the opening number and all the full company numbers but also with the solos and duets which were all performed brilliantly this evening.
Which leads me neatly onto the choreography (Kate Walker with Dance Captain Abigail Bowman.) Wowsers! Some of those numbers were outstanding – particularly the opening number and Tango De Amor. It is very clear that a great deal of hard work has been put in.
There are two main characters I have yet to mention. There is a mad old bat who may or may not be grandma and is played with panache and a leaky gusset by Lily Lambton. Last but certainly not least is the old faithful retainer, Lurch played by Stephen Dodds. Lurch’s presence is felt throughout the show but all he does pretty much is – well – lurch and moan. Dodds’ looming and moaning was out- and upstanding!
I see a lot of theatre and I often talk about magic and energy emanating from the stage. This production from Sunderland Theatre Company does not just cast it from the stage but it seeps up from the floorboards and out of the walls. The entire company are clearly enjoying every single moment of this production and it shows.
Many congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and creatives on a job done very well indeed.