The Pianist
Park Theatre
until 28th November 2026
Against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Warsaw, The Pianist tells the extraordinary true story of Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman, whose love of music becomes a thread of hope through unimaginable suffering. Told through his own words and compositions, the production takes us from the vibrancy of pre-war Warsaw in 1939 to the devastation of the Holocaust and its aftermath. It is a story of survival, memory and hope in the face of unspeakable darkness.
A commanding central performance
Dan Krikler commands the stage as Szpilman. He never leaves it. Part of the action like an omniscient narrator, he guides us through the story with a quietly devastating performance, capturing the fear, vulnerability and determination of a man fighting to survive as his world falls apart. He holds the audience’s attention throughout, making this extraordinary story feel intensely personal.
Malcolm Forbes Peckham as the Pianist, Rosalind Ford as Mother, TJ Holmes as Father and Nitai Levi as Henryk are all excellent, bringing warmth and humanity to the production. The ensemble captures the vibrancy of family life before the war, making its subsequent destruction all the more heartbreaking.
An ensemble in harmony
One of the production’s greatest strengths is its actor-musician format, with the cast playing a variety of string instruments throughout. Their musical contributions are woven seamlessly into the narrative, creating moments of extraordinary beauty amid the brutality.
The piano remains a constant presence, with the action unfolding around it as it is wheeled around the stage. Sliding doors at the back of the stage create an effective divide between scenes, while Krikler even stands on the piano in the second act. At the very end, he takes his place at the keys himself – a particularly poignant moment that brings the story full circle, connecting Szpilman’s survival with the music that has sustained him throughout.
Final thoughts
The Pianist is not an easy watch, but nor should it be. Krikler’s commanding performance, supported by a talented ensemble of actors and musicians, makes for intimate, heartbreaking storytelling.
What makes this production so affecting is its ability to find beauty without diminishing the horror of the events it portrays. In a world stripped of almost everything, music becomes a reminder of the humanity that cannot so easily be destroyed. It is a haunting piece of theatre that stays with you long after you leave the auditorium – and one that makes the silence after the final note feel just as powerful as the music itself.
Reviewer: Helena Featherstone
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐