Review: Cyrano de Bergerac, The Noel Coward Theatre

Whilst not exactly relishing the idea of venturing out onto sweaty public transport in the middle of a Met Office red alert heatwave, the prospect of spending the evening in an air-conditioned theatre certainly helps.

Although written in the 1800s, the play is still strikingly relevant for today’s online society where so many seem to be obsessed with ‘perfection’. Add to that the ever-present risk of identity deceit – how can you be sure the words on the screen are being written by the person you have in mind – and the play’s themes feel uncannily contemporary. Still set in a war-weary Paris, Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson‘s adaptation, under Evans’ direction, is modern and up-to-date with carefully chosen words and accents making each character distinct and believable.

Performances are excellent throughout. Adrian Lester‘s commanding Cyrano balances both strength and vulnerability, always delivered with unmistakable ‘Panache’. Susannah Fielding gives us a spirited, sharp-witted Roxane, and completing the central trio is Levi Brown as Christian, a young man who is not fazed by barrack room bullies yet terrified of having to deal with women, naive and inexperienced but certainly not daft. The three share an on-stage chemistry that drives the production forward, but let’s not forget the supporting characters who can make or break a production, and in this case very much make it. Scott Handy as the Comte de Guiche evolves convincingly from a pompous ass at the start to someone more nuanced and unexpectedly sympathetic. The jolly Ragueneau (Christian Patterson) has had his own share of grief and the brief moment this is revealed is heartbreaking. These are just a couple of examples; there are many small but telling moments which add texture and depth to the world of the play capturing the camaraderie, despondency and resignation of a population who have been at war for 20 years.

It is not all gloom and doom; the production is playful and funny with poignant, moving moments interspersed with sharp wit. Cyrano’s private band (which he won in a bet) is a regular source of amusement whilst also providing an excellent musical backdrop to the shifting scenes and emotions. Grace Smart‘s costumes are spot on, never distracting from the performances, the set adding its own storytelling, mostly architectural with an unexpected shift for the final scene. And, hats off to the makeup and prosthetics department for trying to make Adrian Lester unattractive.

So, after nearly three hours of being completely absorbed in a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, was the extra effort involved in travelling during the extreme heat worth it?

Absolutely!

Written by Edmond Rostand
Adapted by Simon Evans, Debris Stevenson
Directed by Simon Evans
Produced by Wessex Grove, Gavin Kalin Productions, Royal Shakespeare Company
Set and Costumes by Grace Smart
Lighting Design by Joshie Harriette
Composed by Alex Baranowski
Sound Design by Donato Wharton

Cyrano de Bergerac runs from now until Saturday, 5 September 2026 at the Noël Coward Theatre