Single White Female 🔪🖤

The Alhambra Theatre.

This week, I was invited to attend the Press Night performance of Single White Female at Alhambra Theatre. A huge thank you to Philippa and the team for the invitation and for such a wonderful evening at the theatre.

Watching a psychological thriller unfold on stage creates a very different kind of tension compared to film, and Single White Female makes good use of that intimacy. The production focuses heavily on atmosphere, building an uneasy sense of discomfort within the confined apartment setting, although it does not always manage to sustain the level of suspense it seems to aim for.

I attended the performance without any real knowledge of the original story, so I experienced the plot without comparisons or expectations. That actually worked quite well, as it allowed the twists and changing dynamics between the characters to develop naturally rather than feeling predictable.

Before the show began, the audience was informed that Lisa Faulkner would not be appearing due to unforeseen circumstances. There was an understandable reaction in the theatre, particularly from those who had been looking forward to seeing her in the role of Allie. However, understudy Anna Ruben stepped in impressively and handled the role with confidence. She brought a believable vulnerability to the character and managed to hold the emotional side of the production together extremely well.

The story centres around Allie, who, following the collapse of her relationship, decides to rent out her spare room. Her new flatmate Hedy initially appears shy and socially awkward, but it quickly becomes clear that her attachment to Allie is becoming increasingly unhealthy.

The gradual deterioration of their relationship is where the production is at its strongest, creating moments that feel deeply uncomfortable without relying too heavily on dramatic shock tactics.

Kym Marsh gives a controlled performance as Hedy, leaning into the character’s unsettling nature without making her feel overly theatrical. Some of the quieter moments between the two leads were actually the most effective, particularly when the atmosphere became more strained and unpredictable.

The staging works well within the theatre environment, with the apartment design helping to create a feeling of isolation and emotional pressure. The lighting design in particular adds to the uneasy atmosphere, especially during the more emotionally intense scenes.

However, there were several noticeable sound issues throughout the performance which unfortunately impacted the overall experience. At times, dialogue became difficult to hear clearly, particularly during quieter conversations and moments where emotional tension relied heavily on subtle delivery. There were also occasions where music and sound effects seemed louder than the actors themselves, which made certain scenes feel slightly disconnected and took away from some of the emotional impact.

While the production has strong performances and an interesting atmosphere, there were moments where the pacing felt slightly uneven, particularly during the middle sections. At times, it felt as though the show relied more on the audience’s familiarity with the story than on fully developing the tension within the stage adaptation itself.

What stayed with me most after the performance was the way the production explored loneliness, vulnerability and emotional dependency beneath the psychological thriller elements. The strongest moments came not from shock or dramatic twists, but from the increasingly fragile and uncomfortable relationship between the two women, which ultimately gave the story its emotional depth.

Single White Female is at The Alhambra Theatre from the 12th May 2026 to the 16th May 2026. Tickets are still available, and you can buy your tickets here.