Review - We Happy Few

We Happy Few | Show Review | Stevenage Lytton Theatre | Hertfordshire

The Lytton Players

The Lytton Theatre - 17th April 2026

Director – Sophie Harris

We Happy Few tells the story of seven female amateur theatre performers who took plays around schools during the Second World War.

Sophie Harris directed this play well. I think the use of the space was well thought out, and the characterisations of all the characters — including accents and diction — were clearly well rehearsed. I do think the pace of the piece needed to be quicker; there were moments when the dialogue felt slow.

Hetty and Flora were played by Corrina Winnett and Linda Friis. Their relationship was believable and developed well throughout the play. Corrina had a great accent that never slipped, which is not an easy thing to achieve.

The relationship between Charlie (Grace McGee) and Rosalind (Gemma Bright) was, for me, a real highlight of the piece. It built slowly until they finally gave in during Act 2. It was a relationship that made me smile and root for them to get together. The whole pace and energy of the play lifted when Grace came on stage; she gave the production a muchneeded boost.

Sharon Stocken played Helen, Rosalind’s mother. I thought this was a wellmeasured performance. Helen came across as harsh, even mean, towards Rosalind, but by the end it was clear she did care for her daughter. I could also feel her frustration at being a failed actress.

Joe Poppy played Joseph. His German accent was excellent, and his piano playing was brilliant. Emma Dorrington did not have much dialogue, but the scene towards the end — with Joseph’s death and the birth of her granddaughter — was well done and showed her caring, motherly instincts.

Nikki Hamilton played Jocelyn. In the programme she mentioned that she found the character difficult to grasp, and I can understand why, as Jocelyn stood out as being completely different from the other characters. I could see what she was trying to achieve, and at times it worked.

Ivy was played by Amelie Coy. I felt she played the role well and was believable as a young woman falling in love with a German and facing the difficulties that would have brought.

The set was well designed, and I really liked that the whole space was used. It never felt cramped, and the different areas were well lit and well thought out. For example, Hetty’s letters to her son were lovely moments that fleshed out her character and showed the impact of the war on a mother.

Thank you, as always, to the members of The Lytton Players for their hospitality.

Thank you

Scott Welch

NODA Representative - NODA East District 9

NODA owns the intellectual Property Rights to the content of all show reports written by NODA Councillors, Reps and Assistant Reps