Russell Tovey stars as a troubled police call centre operator in 'The Guilty', a gripping real-time thriller directed by Felix Barrett, founder of immersive theatre company Punchdrunk. The production runs at the Donmar Warehouse in Seven Dials from 1 July to 15 August 2026, with tickets priced between £15 and £72.
Felix Barrett's return to straight theatre
This is Barrett's second 'normal' piece of theatre in London in the last year, following the West End hit 'Paranormal Activity'. While Barrett is known for immersive epics, his straight plays extend his signature style rather than abandon it. The script, adapted by Chloe Moss from the Danish film 'Den Skyldige' and its Hollywood remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal, is straightforward, but the production is enhanced by disorienting light and sound tricks.
Immersive elements and sound design
Gareth Fry, sound designer for Punchdrunk's 'Viola's Room' and Complicité's 'The Encounter', returns, along with much of the 'Paranormal Activity' creative team. The show opens with the thunderous deployment of Massive Attack's 'Angel', a track also used in 'Viola's Room'. Subtle shifts in light and crackly phone calls create a feverish, nocturnal atmosphere that grows stranger as the play progresses.
Alex Eales' set features computers covered in dust shrouds, adding to the ambiguity. Barrett's direction provides an alluring air of mystery, but the core remains a tightly paced real-time thriller.
Russell Tovey's performance
Tovey plays Joe, a jaded call centre operator who handles calls with surly efficiency: he wearily directs a woman near a leaking car to move away, only pretends to call help for a robbed man, and passive-aggressively questions a woman complaining about a loud party. Hints emerge that Joe has been put on desk duty due to a past incident, and a surreptitious call with his daughter reveals its impact on his family.
The plot kicks into gear when Joe receives a call from a woman who has been abducted and pretends to ring her daughter. He becomes engaged, calling in favours and trying to direct the response team. The hour-long play builds momentum with fateful decisions, avoiding cynicism despite some melodramatic twists.
Beckettian flourishes and ambiguity
The production includes intriguing Beckettian touches: the flickering of neon strips, the question of whether Joe can leave the room, and the late reveal of the source of phone voices. These elements suggest a metaphysical layer, but the focus remains on the gripping narrative.
As with 'Paranormal Activity', Barrett's immersive experience has equipped him to create tech-driven thrillers rare in theatre. 'The Guilty' is unabashedly middlebrow, with Moss' lean adaptation avoiding excessive exposition or literary flourishes. It is a stylishly told story anchored by Tovey's terrific performance.
Performance details
The play runs 1 hour without an interval. Venue: Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9LX. Nearest tubes: Covent Garden or Leicester Square. Performances include evening shows at 19:30 and matinees at 14:30 on select dates throughout the run.
