Writer: Martin McDonagh

Director: Liam Stewart

Originally staged at the Royal Court, Martin McDonagh’s 2015 play is a good choice for a community theatre company because it’s studded with meaty roles and, without doubling, a cast of twelve.

The death penalty ended in the UK in 1965 and the play is set in the aftermath of the announcement, mostly in the Oldham pub owned by Harry (Ed Reeve), formerly the country’s second best hangman. Down the road, running his own pub is Albert Pierrepoint, famed as the last in the family business: hanging for the state. The drama – and it’s pretty taut – revolves around discussion about capital punishment, a journalist, a police inspector, a sinister stranger and the disappearance of Harry’s teenage daughter, Shirley. There are twists and turns, a dark denouement and it’s all spliced together with – literal – gallows humour.

Reeve is terrific as Harry who is anything but likeable. He brutalises his “victims” whose ends are for him, evidently not sacrosanct, despite what he hypocritically declares. Reeve makes him capricious, short-tempered and very impatient with his daughter. It’s a fine performance.

In a cast which is generally strong, Helen McGill as Reeve’s wife, Alice, finds all the cheerful landlady firmness the character needs and is then movingly convincing as she shows us the desperately anxious mother. Eloise McCreedy is perfect too as the “mopey”, gullible teenage daughter. Liam Brown finds plenty of urbanity in Mooney – but who is he and what does he want? The tension is spot on.

This production stands out for the chemistry between the cast and the quality of the attentive listening – the men who frequent the bar are immaculately observed and nicely played. And that, like the main action, results from skilled and imaginative direction by Liam Stewart.

Also noteworthy is Philip Ley’s ingenious set that starts with a prison cell and a glimpse of Harry, brutally in action in 1963. It then becomes the pub – with bar, pumps, bottles, stools and three doors superimposed on which are other scenes, such as one in a café.

This production of Hangmen is a gripping two and a half hours of theatre and well worth catching.

Runs until 22 February 2025