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February 2, 2026

Private Lives review

Hope Mill theatre, ManchesterAmy Gavin’s production amps up the dangerous dance of desire and violence between these troubled ex-spouses but loses the delicate balance between comedy and malice

Private Lives review

TL;DR

  • The Her Productions revival of Noël Coward's "Private Lives" focuses on the dangerous dance of desire and violence between divorced couple Amanda and Elyot.
  • The production amplifies brutality, leading to jarring moments when intense violence sits alongside comic elements.
  • Hannah Ellis Ryan's performance as Amanda is a highlight, showcasing a restless energy beneath a sophisticated exterior.
  • The balance between comedy and malice, a hallmark of the play, is strained in this version, sacrificing nuance.
  • The new spouses, Sybil and Victor, are played for laughs, which at times detracts from the central couple's complex dynamic.

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