The Guilty
01 July 2026
Donmar Warehouse
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Guilty, currently running at the Donmar Warehouse until 15 August and starring Russell Tovey, is based on the screenplay Den Skyldige by Gustav Möller and Emil Nygaard Albertsen, adapted for the stage by Chloë Moss.
Police Officer Joe is stuck on the night shift at the emergency switchboard while he awaits a court hearing regarding his professional conduct. Balancing anxiety regarding his case and a fallout with his family, he fields a variety of emergency calls. But when he is connected with Emily, a young mother in a high-stakes emergency, his world unravels with each twist and turn of the case.
The staging is quite simple but effective, with a few emergency switchboard desks covered in plastic sheeting in the back, and one active desk the lone officer works from. The atmosphere is tense and dark, with stellar lighting design underlining the action as it transforms through many different stages of the story. Not a single sound can be heard from the audience, fully glued to every word and movement on stage. With just one actor navigating the small space, the entire focus is on the narrative, delivered through a series of emergency phone calls.
It’s a high octane story presented in bits and pieces that slowly slot together to present the full picture. At just under an hour run time, it packs a huge emotional punch, keeping viewers engaged throughout. This is a masterclass in storytelling, extremely tense and impressively acted throughout!
