Last Updated on September 4, 2026
Clint Dyer Brings Kinetic Energy to a Newsroom Battle
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
The newsroom has always struck a chord with storytellers, both on the screen and on the stage, depicting everything from world politics in the 1976 film “All the President’s Men” to comic satire in the 90s TV series “Drop the Dead Donkey”. Drama fuelled by journalistic adrenaline, with its on-the-pulse retelling of events, is undoubtedly addictive, and The Story, written by Tracey Scott Eilson, which has just opened on the Olivier stage at the National Theatre, is no exception.
The Story, set in the US in the early 2000s, focuses on four journalists racing to get the headline after a white teacher, Tim Dunn (Josh Goulding), is killed in a black neighbourhood in front of his wife. In many respects, this play feels remarkably timely, especially in the light of the recent death of Jason Arday. At its heart, The Story asks who gets to tell a story, who controls the narrative, and what happens when ambition, race and institutional power collide.
But since this play was first performed in New York in 2003, much has changed. The rise of social media has given new power to the retelling of stories, making it even more difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
Clint Dyer (Death in England) directs the production with kinetic energy and meticulous precision. Throughout the first act, scenes unfold in parallel, with split staging allowing two separate scenes to be played out simultaneously. It certainly demonstrates the cast’s rapid rapport and clever performances. Still, this theatrical device becomes increasingly frantic and feels overused, making it quite exhausting to watch by the end of the first half.
Anna Fleischle’s set is simple yet dynamic, using the backdrop of a community centre with a gym floor, which stretches the length of the grand Olivier stage. Projections and TV screens pump out new reports, along with desks that swiftly take their place, transforming the space into a newsroom, home, hospital and even a car journey. Natalie Pryce’s costumes fit perfectly, and Paul Anderson’s lighting is highly effective.
The Story is primarily set in the offices of a regional US newspaper (location unspecified). Letitia Wright (of Black Panther fame) astutely plays Yvonne Wilson, an ambitious young Black reporter, with a youthful energy and steely determination. She’s working in the paper’s section, called the ‘Vanguard’, which covers the Black community, but has set her sights on the more prestigious news desk. But she isn’t simply seeking promotion; she wants the power to tell the story herself. Her ambition puts her at odds with those who traditionally control which stories are told, and how they are told.
Yvonne is secretly dating Jeff, convincingly portrayed by Wilf Scolding, a young, white-privileged senior editor on the news desk with family connections, whose position gives him considerable influence over her career. She works for a formidable boss, Pat, brilliantly captured by Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), alongside Neil, played with great energy and humour by Ashley Thomas, better known to some as rapper Bashy.
When the story breaks, relationships are tested, each character playing their own game and competing to shape their version of events. Pat wants the story but is acutely aware of the racial politics surrounding it. Neil is driven by ambition; he’s competitive and determined to get the scoop first. Yvonne and Neil clash, as her bold, arrogant demeanour shows she is prepared to walk all over anyone to get what she wants.
The narrative unfolds through repeated retellings and flashbacks. It cuts to a community centre, where we meet a group of girls singing in a high school choir and dancing (great choreography from Lucie Pankhurst), alongside the presence of AOB, a girl gang associated with the murder.
Antonia Bernarth makes for a believable Jessica Dunn, who is pregnant at the time of her husband’s murder. Early scenes see her hounded by the press, but her story is left hanging without being followed through, a thread that feels underdeveloped.
Wilson’s powerful storytelling raises important questions about whether institutions truly protect and support talented people from minority backgrounds. At its heart, The Story is as much about power as it is about journalism: who controls the narrative, whose version of events is believed, and what happens when ambition, race and institutional power collide. Although I was left questioning the play’s conclusion, it’s a compelling story, with great performances and a visually exciting production. Gripping, fast-paced and full of energy, you’re certainly unlikely to be bored.
The Story
Olivier Theatre
National Theatre,
Upper Ground,
South Bank,
London SE1 9PX
3rd September – 24 October 2026
Looking for something different? Check our review of Electra/Persona also showing at the National Theatre.
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