The Ocean at the End of the Lane (West End)
Closed 2h 35m
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (West End)
86%
86%
(119 Ratings)
Positive
91%
Mixed
9%
Negative
0%
Members say
Absorbing, Great staging, Enchanting, Clever, Ambitious

About the Show

The stage adaptation of Neil Gaiman's best-selling adventure novel returns to the West End.

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Critic Reviews (11)

BroadwayWorld
October 12th, 2023

"The whole production can be seen as an astute study of the psychological defence mechanisms children employ to escape possible abuse and definite grief and loneliness."
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The Arts Desk
October 13th, 2023

"This is a show in which illusions and magical tricks – cups appearing out of nowhere - sit side by side with powerful appeals to the imagination."
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Theatre Weekly (UK)
October 12th, 2023

“It’s no wonder The Ocean at the End of The Lane has been such a success, and this brief return to the West End is one final chance to see a production that is breathtakingly magical, in more ways than one.”
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Lost in Theatreland (UK)
October 14th, 2023

Alongside them, the entire cast is just remarkable. The way Trevor Fox (Dad) goes through the motions and how Finty Williams (Old Mrs Hempstock) carefully balances grandmotherly warmth and ancient powerful being left me speechless at times. The Ocean at the End of the Lane is probably the most well rounded production I have seen in a while - wholesome and healing.
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The Arts Desk
November 6th, 2021
For a previous production

No other production I’ve seen has captured the experience of childhood, the terror and the beauty – not what actually happened, but what it felt like (which is also what adaptation is about).
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The Guardian (UK)
November 5th, 2021
For a previous production

Though the sentimental ending goes on a bit, this is a genuine rarity – a show that enthrals all generations without patronising any.
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Time Out London
November 5th, 2021
For a previous production

The bottom line is, shows like this don’t come along very often. Maybe it’s changed, maybe I’ve changed, but second time out ‘The Ocean at the End of the Lane’ felt bigger, stranger, sadder and more beautiful – I wish I could swim in its twilight waters for longer.
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The London Evening Standard
November 5th, 2021
For a previous production

If anything, the diverse disciplines of theatre work even more closely together here to weave a spell than they did at the National. We all thought this transfer wouldn’t happen, even Gaiman. I’m glad we were wrong.
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