Last Updated on November 13, 2025
There is certainly anticipation awaiting this new lavish production of The Hunger Games, but are the odds in its favour?
4.0 out of 5.0 starsThis is a big production with a proper emotional heart and an ever-apposite message. As a West End show outside of the West End, The Hunger Games is sure to help Canary Wharf become a destination for fans of the big hitters on Shaftesbury Avenue.
The Hunger Games on Stage adapts the hugely successful book and film series ‘The Hunger Games,’ which was one of the more inspired hits of the mid-2010s’ young adult novel boom. The original book, written by Suzanne Collins, follows Katniss Everdeen, a stoic young hunter in a dystopian future America. She takes her baby sister’s place when she is nominated to fight in ‘The Hunger Games’, a televised annual battle to the death of the underclasses’ children. It’s Theseus and the Minotaur meets American Idol in a battle royale for the elite’s entertainment.
Collins’ novel (over 100 million copies sold) was adapted into a hugely successful series of films for Lionsgate starring Jennifer Lawrence (more than $3.4 billion at the box office) as well as two prequels, the second of which releases next year. The Hunger Games, as in their novels, are now clearly big business and after Netflix’s Stranger Things: The First Shadow made its debut on stage in London, it looks like we are set for a new slew of high-budget co-productions with Hollywood. This rendering clearly takes its cues from the movie, lifting key graphic, musical and dramatic elements from the film version; Lionsgate’s ‘Global products and experiences’ division is directly involved with it.
Arriving on the DLR does not quite live up to the superspeed trains of Panem, Hunger Games’ future North American state. Still, it gave us a sweeping introduction to Canary Wharf, Europe’s very own erstwhile financial Capital. As in the story, we are surrounded by gleaming and glittering skyscrapers, and the newly redeveloped Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre floats confidently alongside them. Essentially an enormous black box from the outside, the set designer, Miriam Buether, called it an aircraft hangar in dimension; this purpose-built 1,200-seater made the most of its space.
The interior is decorated in industrial chic, with all the usual amenities and a sizeable merchandise range available. I wouldn’t be surprised if fans of the franchise attend in full Capitol costume. Luckily, the seating is arranged steeply, so elaborate headdresses are unlikely to cause too much obstruction of view. Even the bar staff are in elegant futuristic garb, and we enjoyed a lovely and crisp Chapel Down rosé under the ‘Hanging Tree’ nearby.
Entering the theatre itself, the space is ready to be a wrestling arena, complete with LED screens, trumpet speakers, hydraulic lifts and lighting gantries which get used in increasingly creative ways. Watching on press night, everyone was a little tentative to get loud, but there are plenty of moments when showing your support for your favourite contestants can only add to the immersion. The seats are arranged, like Panem, into districts, one to eleven, twelve being the stage. Unlike Panem, as the performance for the most part is in the round, the experience and view for districts one to ten are similar regardless. District Eleven justifies reduced ticket prices with an obstructed view. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are surprises to come while in your seats, and that makes it difficult to sneak out to spend a penny mid-show. As ever, it is wise to keep ablutions beforehand and during the interval.
Conor McPherson’s (The Girl from the North Country, The Weir) script retains Katniss’s narration from the book; her monologues to the audience act as a window into her inner world and a useful method of imparting the level of exposition required to communicate a near-future post-apocalyptic dystopia. These lengthy asides are carried by Mia Carragher, who picks up Katniss’ signature bow and arrow from J Law and makes her professional stage debut in this production. Matthew Dunster’s (2:22 A Ghost Story, The Pillowman) direction is dynamic and fluid, capturing the range of drama from emotional turmoil to gritty and brutal hand-to-hand combat. Charlotte Broom, as choreographer, matches this energy with dance elements in almost every scene, keeping the plot racing along. This is helped by a cast with clear movement ability. Fight choreography and aerial stunts are completed with precision.
Carragher is joined on stage by her teammate in the games, Peeta Mellark, played by Euan Garrett. With bleached blonde highlights, his sympathetic portrayal most resembles a young Niall Horan of One Direction fame. This is apt, as the story goes that Collins first conceived of the idea for the book when switching between a singing competition and footage of the Afghanistan war late at night on TV. Another contestant in the games whose performance was most effective was Aiya Agustin as Rue. A younger ally to Katniss, her performance provides a solid emotional core to this fight to the death.
The show isn’t all flames, smoke, fights and explosions, however, (although there is a lot of that). In fact, the key to winning the games is by winning the hearts of its audience. Katniss is helped on this journey by her supporters Haymitch, Cinna and Effie Trinket (Tamsin Carroll). Trinket is a product of the decadent Capitol, the city of elites that controls Panem. She is a Hollywood TMZ type taken to the extreme, encased in maroon and topped off with a powder white meringue wig. Carroll’s performance in Mid-Atlantic twang is Catherine O’Hara’s character from Schitt’s Creek x1,000. The Capitol’s inhabitants are where costume designer Moi Tran is allowed to really show off, with fun and playful Club kid/ Ballroom/ Swinging Sixties looks, complete with ruffs, go-go boots and miniskirts.
The real villains aren’t Katniss’ competitors in the games, of course; the big baddies are the symbols of the entire system. This includes Stavros Demetraki, channelling a bloodthirsty Graham Norton, as Caesar Flickerman and John Malkovich, on video, taking over from Donald Sutherland as Panem’s dictator, President Snow. Looming over Katniss like 1984’s Big Brother on 10-foot-tall screens, there is less opportunity for the charm that Sutherland brought to the part to shine through.
Overall, this is a blockbuster production that effectively translates the first part of Katniss’ story onto the stage. The teenage angst of its younger characters is tempered by plenty of big, impressive fights and with Caesar Flickerman and Effie Trinket to keep you entertained, you’re sure to be left satisfied.
The Hunger Games on Stage opens on Wednesday, 12th of November 2025
Tickets for The Hunger Games: On Stage are on sale at www.thehungergamesonstage.com.
Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre
Water Street
Canary Wharf
E14 5GX
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