Playbox Theatre's Goodnight Mister Tom - Fantastic!

ann-evans
Sep 27
4 min read

World War II evacuees. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

Goodnight Mister Tom, adapted by David Wood from the novel by Michelle Magorian. Directed by Mary King. At the Playbox Theatre, Warwick running from 25 -28 September 2025.

Review by Ann Evans.

What a delightful production of Goodnight Mister Tom by the talented young performers of Playbox Theatre. A cast of 50 youngsters staged this classic story and absolutely captivated the packed auditorium, bringing the audience to their feet in a standing ovation at the end.

The play is based on Michelle Magorian's 1981 novel, Goodnight Mister Tom, which is regarded as one of the 20^th century modern classics. It tells the story of young William Beech (Teddy Travis) evacuated from London along with other children to live in the countryside where it was safe from Hitler’s bombing raids.

Teddy Travis as William Beech. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

William is placed with Mr Tom Oakley (Dylan Somanathan) a widower and recluse, regarded by other villagers as a bit of a misery. He lives alone with his black and white dog, Sammy. Excellent puppetry by Jack Hobson bounding around the stage bringing the dog to life.

It soon becomes obvious to Mr Tom that timid William has been badly mistreated by his mother ( Hannah Keyte) in London, he is covered in bruises from being hit by a leather belt. In fact, she even packed the belt for William to take with him so he could be disciplined.

Hannah Keyte as Mrs Beech. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

Mr Tom quickly assures William that he won’t be using that belt and treats the boy with kindness and patience. Gradually he and his dog bring William out of his shell. Mr Tom soon realises what an awful life William has had with no one caring for him, no one taking the trouble to teach him to read or write, constantly bullied, and a very troubled mother drumming into him how sinful he is.

Mr Tom and William are good for each other, and once settled in the village school William begins to shine - and Tom after years of being a recluse starts to involve himself in the community again. Another evacuee, Zach (Ben Foulerton) makes friends with William, and the timid, frightened-of-everything boy gains his confidence and finds happiness living with the kindly Mr Tom and his dog.

Dylan Somanathan as Mr Tom with Sammy his dog and puppeteer Jack Hobson. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

However, this peaceful existance all changes dramatically when Tom’s mother writes to tell him to return home. She says she’s ill and needs him there. No spoilers – but what follows is heartbreak and trauma for both William and Mr Tom.

Wonderful acting by Teddy Travis as the quiet, gentle William, he really does win the hearts of the audience. Mr Tom is also acted brilliantly by Dylan Somanathan - it's hard to think that all the actors are under 19 years of age, as Dylan portrays the elderly Mr Tom so well in his mannerisms, his tone of voice and his patient, caring manner towards the boy. And a special mention also to Ben Foulerton as Zach. He takes on the role of the confident, talented budding performer with great gusto. Whizzing in and out of scenes on his bicycle, forever quoting Shakespeare and bursting into song and dance at the drop of a hat, which the audience loved. But also, well done all of this young cast who really caught the mood of what life must have been like in 1939 at the start of the second world war.

Hospital Ward Sister Ida Ledwitch-Madsen and Mr Tom Dylan Somanathan. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

The setting for the play was quite simple but very effective, with a small graveyard where Mr Tom’s wife was buried, and where he, William and his constant companion, Sammy, would often sit and talk - and occasionally cry. Props such as a table, chairs, cupboards, a bed, a coat-stand, swiftly took us from one scene to another, aided by the large screen at the back where relevant old photographs of where we were, added to the effect.

Incredibly, on that stage we found ourselves in Mr Tom's cottage, in William’s London home, in an air raid shelter, outside the village school, in a hospital, a library, a post office, and the very atmospheric London Euston railway station, with steam and crowds and commotion.

Mr Tom (Dylan) Somanathan. Photo by Lucy Barriball.

There really was a wartime feel to this production, from the costumes to the sound recordings of Winston Churchill and the wail of sirens to the songs the characters sang such as Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye. Great work by the backstage crew in creating such an authentic atmosphere.

Excellent directing by Mary King and her three young Assistant Directors: Eve Hatz, Lyla McCleod and Josh Stoker as they steered the actors through major issues of sudden death, child abuse, bullying, grief and fear. The balance was just right as the children and adult characters also found happiness and enjoyment in their lives creating a really joyous production that kept the audience gripped from start to finish - and a show the whole of Playbox Theatre should be proud of.