Emma Rice Brings Malory Towers to Guildford
Last week, Malory Towers played at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, a production based on the work of Enid Blyton but adapted and directed for the stage by the celebrated Emma Rice. There can be little doubt that Emma Rice understands Malory Towers. Her adaptation captures the loyalty, friendship, resilience and moral certainty that have endeared Enid Blyton’s stories to generations of readers. Rather than slavishly following one novel, she draws from across the series to create a theatrical journey that remains true to Blyton’s world.
A Familiar Visual Language
What disappointed me was not the script but her staging. Emma Rice has earned her reputation as one of Britain’s most imaginative theatre-makers. Productions such as Brief Encounter revealed an originality that seemed effortless. They delighted because every theatrical device appeared fresh, purposeful and full of surprise. Malory Towers felt different. The production certainly possessed energy, accomplished performances and technical assurance, yet much of the visual language seemed familiar rather than revelatory. Instead of discovering something unexpected, I often felt I was recognising techniques from earlier productions.
Modern Technology Clashes with 1940s Setting
Most perplexing was the use of conspicuously modern technology within a story so firmly rooted in the moral landscape of the 1940s. The production asked us to believe in a world where character is built through honesty, courage and friendship, yet frequently reminded us we were watching twenty-first century theatre with hi-tech video effects. That is not to argue for museum-piece realism. Theatre thrives on imagination, not historical reconstruction. But imagination can often achieve more with simplicity than technology. There seemed to me to be countless opportunities to evoke Blyton’s world through inventive stagecraft rather than video intervention.
Heart of the Story Remains Intact
None of this diminishes the affection with which the story has been treated. Rice clearly respects Enid Blyton and never patronises either the author or her audience. The girls emerge as believable young people whose friendships and struggles still resonate. Perhaps that is why my disappointment was all the greater. The heart of Malory Towers was undoubtedly present. I simply wished its theatrical expression had displayed the same originality that has made Emma Rice one of the most admired directors of her generation.
Blyton's Enduring Appeal
Like many established authors, Blyton’s work has not escaped modern reassessment. She has sold more than half-a-billion books, but some have subsequently been revised to remove language and attitudes now regarded as outdated. Yet the enduring appeal of her stories has always rested not in period detail but in those tireless virtues of courage, loyalty, fairness and friendship.
Upcoming Productions
Malory Towers may have moved on, but there is an opportunity to see more Emma Rice this Autumn. Her Tristan and Yseult arrives in Guildford on Tuesday, October 6. The production has often been described as one of the most influential pieces of British theatre from the early twenty-first century. It is all the more intriguing because this won’t be a new production. It will be a revival of what some consider to be Emma Rice’s breakthrough masterpiece, now re-made by her newly renamed company. Tristan and Yseult explores a love story rooted in medieval Celtic legend. It follows the young knight Tristan and the Irish Princess Yseult who are bound together by a love potion. What could possibly go wrong? It’s worth booking ahead to find out.
Opening tomorrow night, Saturday, July 25, in Woking is the much-vaunted production, Burlesque The Musical. It created quite a stir in the West End last year where many considered it as summer 2025’s biggest hit. I am told to expect a scintillating journey of self-discovery that absolutely sizzles, featuring a powerhouse of songs by Christina Aguilera ‘and others.’ We will see: the press night is next week.
For something completely different, A Small and Quiet Light opens on Friday, August 21, in The Minerva, Chichester. It is an especially compelling story about a remarkable Special Operations agent, a woman – Noor-un Nisa Inayat Khan – who was parachuted into occupied France during WWII: it’s a drama of bravery, fortitude and genuine heroism and a story that gives centre stage to a woman each generation needs to rediscover.
