This gripping first UK touring, stage adaptation, by director Mark Leipacher, of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic novel to life in a thrilling new production. With razor-sharp dialogue, psychological intensity, and a chillingly charismatic antihero, this is Ripley as you’ve never seen him before.
“I never wanted to murder anyone. It was necessary.”
Ripley is played sensationally by The Crown’s Ed McVey, revealing his paranoia alongside his psychopathy in the opening, and often repeated phrase:
“Have you ever had the feeling that you’re being watched or followed?”
He slickly responds to the conceit is that Ripley is playing himself in a movie based on his life, with the surrounding figures, played by the ensemble cast, shouting at him for retakes when they sense he is not being true to his character. His asides, only heard by the audience, indicates his underlying disturbing reality.
Step into a world of deception, desire, and deadly ambition set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1950s Italy.
Tom Ripley is a nobody—until he’s offered an unexpected opportunity: travel to Italy and bring home the wealthy and carefree Dickie Greenleaf deliciously played by Bruce Herbelin-Earle. One dislikes the arrogant, entitled Dickie and we don’t warm to him at any point which is a remarkable achievement by Herbelin-Earle.
As Tom is drawn into Dickie’s glittering world of privilege, following the request from Greenleaf senior, Christopher Bianchi, to return his errant son home, obsession takes a dark turn. What begins as an innocent invitation spirals into a web of lies, identity theft, and murder.
How far would you go to be someone else?
Maisie Smith also shines as Marge, Dickie’s unfortunate girlfriend. Smith effortlessly portrays the many layers of Marge’s growing, disturbing experiences throughout the production.
The ensemble cast are slick and electrifying in their swapping, in almost choreographic form, from role to role. This is a compelling dance. Both Christopher Bianchi and Cary Crankson (the arrogant, self-obsessed, Freddie) excel in their multiple roles.
The set and costume design by Holly Piggott with associate set and costume design by Ellen Farrell, is an inspired modernist work with a huge white, altar-like slab serving as the base for each scene. The lighting design by Zeynep Kepekli was perfect in its ability to change the mood of each scene, mainly, with colour changing strip lights.
With a production adapted and directed by Mark Leipacher it allowed him to pull together all these strands of performance and setting to create a striking theatre experience. I urge you to book your tickets now and not miss this play before, following the UK tour, it emerges into the West End. There’s BAFTA vibes here.
Theatre Royal Brighton Mon 27 Oct – Sat 1 Nov 2025.
Evenings 7.30pm | Matinees Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets ATGtickets.com/Brighton.
