Dark, stylish and psychologically unsettling, Single White Female at Theatre Royal Bath delivers a tense stage adaptation of the cult 1990s thriller that still has the power to disturb.
The world premiere production, based on the iconic 1990s psychological thriller, is visiting Bath from Tuesday May 19 to Saturday May 23 as part of a major UK and Ireland tour.
Full of dark humour, sharp and suspenseful storytelling, this new play updates the original story to the age of social media, in a gripping tale of ambition, obsession, and the desperate need for belonging in an isolated world.
This production adapted by Rebecca Reid and directed by Gordon Greenberg cleverly taps into contemporary anxieties around loneliness, identity and obsession, while retaining the icy suspense that made the original story so memorable.
What begins as an apparently ordinary arrangement between two women sharing a high-rise apartment gradually spirals into something far more sinister, with the tension tightening scene by scene.
At the centre of the drama is Allie, vulnerable after the collapse of her marriage, who advertises for a new flatmate. Enter Hedy - shy, awkward and seemingly eager for friendship. Yet beneath the nervous charm lies something deeply unsettling. The play’s strength comes from the slow-burning transformation of that friendship into fixation, possession and ultimately menace.
The performances are compelling throughout. Kym Marsh, playing Hedy, sensitively captures the character’s fragility and volatility with unnerving precision, shifting seamlessly between needy dependence and chilling control.
Lisa Faulkner, as Allie, is equally convincing, portraying her emotional unravelling as the action proceeds and grounding the thriller in recognisable human vulnerability rather than melodrama.
The pair are ably supported by actor and singer/songwriter Andro as Allie’s business partner Graham, Jonny McGarrity as Allie’s ex-husband Sam, and young drama school graduate Amy Snudden, as Allie’s teenage daughter Bella.
Visually, the production is sleek and cinematic. The apartment set becomes almost a psychological trap - claustrophobic yet stylish - while clever lighting and sound design heighten the growing paranoia, although I found the sound a tad too loud. Moments of silence are used particularly effectively, allowing unease to settle across the audience before the next confrontation lands.
What makes Single White Female work especially well on stage is its focus on intimacy. In a theatre setting, the emotional proximity between the characters feels sharper and more uncomfortable. Themes of identity theft, emotional dependency and isolation resonate strongly in an era shaped by curated online personas and fragile personal connections.
There are occasional moments where the dialogue leans heavily into thriller conventions, but the production embraces its genre confidently. Rather than apologising for its suspense roots, it revels in them, offering audiences an entertaining evening of psychological drama with genuine bite.
This is a gripping and polished adaptation that balances nostalgia with modern relevance. Stylish, unsettling and filled with mounting tension, Single White Female proves that the most frightening threats are often the ones invited willingly through the front door.
Share