Summer of suspense is perfectly showcased at Theatre Royal Nottingham
I love a good mystery thriller, it is easily one of my favourite genres to watch on stage and read. Lucky for me we are in the midst of the Colin McIntyre Classic Thriller Season at Theatre Royal Nottingham.
It is Nottingham’s much-loved summer tradition which has been running since 1988. Presented by Tabs Productions in association with Theatre Royal Nottingham, the 2026 season showcases three productions packed with suspense, intrigue and moments of wicked humour.
I attended the opening night of The Mantrap on Tuesday August 25. The five night play runs until Saturday August 29.
The Mantrap is the premiere production of Robert Thomas’s original play Piège pour un homme seul, newly translated and adapted by Sean Aita.
A trip to the theatre, especially one that is as beautiful as Theatre Royal Nottingham not only feels like a glorious evening out – it also entertains fans thanks to talented thespians treading the boards.
R>L Sarah Wynne Kordas and Susan Earnshaw are part of a stellar cast in The Mantrap. The play is directed by Karen Henson with a writing team of John Goodrum and Sean Aita.
Headed up by a cast of five characters, The Mantrap opens on a thunderstorm stricken remote Cornish cottage. Daniel Edwards (Pavan Maru) is anxiously awaiting the return of his wife.
The newlyweds, only married a few months, got into an argument, after which Lizzie Edwards disappeared.
When a woman (Sarah Wynne Kordas) claiming to be the lost Lizzie appears – things get super curious… because Daniel refuses to accept this and counter-claims ‘Lizzie’ to be an imposter.
Who do you believe? What threads do the playwrights (John Goodrum, Sean Aita) pull at?
Without giving spoilers away, I enjoyed the multi-faceted angles of the play. In part mystery and drama, with also a nice dash romance – the premise is based on a young couple, albeit estranged, and we are left to wonder if the Edwards will ever find a way back to each other.
I especially enjoyed Maru’s monologue when he was speaking about his wife, which felt like a heartfelt admission of how much he really missed her, and how he couldn’t wait for her to return.
It all comes together in a very satisfying conclusion, because all is definitely not as it seems.
Did I guess the ending? No. Yes there were parts in the play when for a few seconds, I did wonder if Person X was the villain.
I do think the play could have benefitted from light editing in the second half to pick the pace up, however the stellar cast makes this play really watchable.
Humour comes courtesy of Reverend Susan Green (Susan Earnshaw) whose impeccable comic timing added depth as soon as she stepped onto the stage. We all know a Rev. Green, who can’t appear to read the room and outstays her welcome, much to the consternation of Daniel.
Hippy Nat (Juliette Strobel) with a bold northern accent also brought belly laughs – her tea scenes were brilliant – while the Inspector (John Goodrum) cleverly let the duality of his character slip in just the final five minutes of the play.
Thinking about the play the day after, I have to say Kordas was terrifying. I really believed her to be a malevolent force. The scene where she accosts Daniel on the couch stuck in my mind, because what we saw, playing out in front of us – wasn’t really what was happening.
It is one of the best plays I have enjoyed at the Theatre Royal Nottingham and I cannot wait to return for the 2027 season.
Speaking about the return to Nottingham, Karen Henson, co-producer of the season for Tabs Productions, said: “For us, it’s like a big family reunion each summer: the actors on stage, the team behind the scenes, and the wonderful audiences out front all coming together to enjoy this much-loved repertory season. Whether you’re a long-time fan or discovering it for the first time, there’s something for everyone to enjoy so please do come along and join us.”
Tickets for all performances are on sale now via www.trch.co.uk and box office 0115 989 5555.
The Mantrap runs from 25 to 29 August. Age Guidance 12+