Brisbane review - Shirley Valentine: Theatre at its best

By David Wilson

Shirley Valentine

Starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte

Written by Willy Russell

Directed by Lee LewisSet and Costume Design by Simone Romaniuk

Lighting Design by Paul Jackson

Sound Design by Marcello Lo Ricco

Composer Brady Watkins

Dialect Coach Jennifer White

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions & Woodward Productions

October 29 – November 9 2025 at Twelfth Night Theatre, 4 Cintra Rd, Bowen Hills, BrisbaneTickets available at https://www.ticketek.com.au or https://shirleyvalentine.com.au

Image by Brett Boardman

From the opening curtain of Shirley Valentine, the audience is expertly drawn in by a human voice that is funny, frank and achingly relatable. The play, originally premiered in 1986 at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, continues to resonate for precisely that reason. It went on to win the 1988 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and then transferred to Broadway in 1989, where it received further acclaim. A successful film adaptation followed in 1989, directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Pauline Collins and Tom Conti.In this Brisbane season, the story of Shirley — a jaded 42 year old woman who drinks perhaps a little too much Reisling, talks to her kitchen wall, and ponders “the weight of an unused life”  — is given fresh perspective by the simply sensational Natalie Bassingthwaighte. The opening moments find her alone on stage: the kitchen, the wall, cooking chips and egg in the mundane world she inhabits. The design choices are deliberate and on point. Simone Romaniuk’s set and costumes are uncomplicated, unflashy, and intentionally so. The lighting by Paul Jackson subtly shifts as Shirley’s journey moves from bland routine to sunlit possibility. Sound design by Marcello Lo Ricco and the score by Brady Watkins underscore without overwhelming. The effect is that we are never distracted from the wonderful script and the incredible performance of Bassingthwaighte who is surely at the peak of her powers.Every line of Bassingthwaighte’s interpretation carries both humour and yearning - the laughter and emotional punch are inseparable. The audience is captivated by the emotional journey - rebellious youth, old school rivals, the children’s dramas, the foreboding presence of Joe, dreams of drinking wine where the grapes are grown, and bravely taking the leap into the unknown all brilliantly done. The performance is both demanding and fast paced, but it is the wonderful timing, and in particular the moments of pause and silence throughout, that really allows the audience to connect with the universality of Shirley’s story - not only do we all recognise Shirley, to some extent we all are Shirley.  From the moment the house lights dimmed on opening night the audience engagement was total. I have rarely seen an audience so eager to respond: applause before the curtain rose, uncontained laughter at the exact right moments (not forced, not delayed), even some cheering, before a well-deserved total standing ovation which recognised a wonderful performance and also acknowledged the inspirational, shared experience.

In a world where spectacle often overshadows substance, this production reminds us that what matters most is the human story, clearly told, given fully and deeply felt. If you have the chance to see this season of Shirley Valentine at Twelfth Night Theatre, please do. Theatre at its best.