Beautiful or Beastly? Beauty and the Beast at The Albany Theatre

Alex Hargreaves as The Beast - Production Photograph from the Albany Theatre

Beauty and the Beast, performed at the Albany Theatre, Coventry from 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026

Review by David Court

I’m usually a fan of fresh and distinctive takes on classic material, and Beauty and the Beast is certainly a bold retelling of the Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve story.

In Theresa Heskins’ stage adaptation, the Goblin Queen Ranjhildre is finally captured by the Warrior Queen and, in her attempt to escape, curses the Warrior Queen’s son to remain in the form of a beast until he finds true love. When Bella stumbles upon the Beast’s castle, she encounters the cursed prince, who tries—sometimes awkwardly—to win her affection.

Ellen Chilvers as Ranjhildre - Production Photograph from The Albany Theatre

All art is subjective, of course, but this production didn’t quite connect with me. It’s undeniably lavish, with inventive staging, impressive puppetry, and strong lighting and sound design. However, the narrative itself felt less magical.

At times the production seemed a little overcrowded, with frequent moments of characters talking over one another and pacing that felt unusual. I also found it difficult to pinpoint the intended audience, as both children and adults around me appeared uncertain how to respond, and several of the comedic moments didn’t quite land.

While it wasn’t the right fit for me, others may find much to enjoy in its ambition and visual flair.

For more details on the show, click here.