The Story ★★★ National Theatre | Aug 27 - Oct 24, 2026


When a young white American couple become lost in a black neighbourhood while searching for a restaurant, they are attacked by a stranger. However, what initially appears to be a fairly straightforward crime drama takes on another dimension when the assault is investigated by an ambitious young black female reporter who is increasingly at odds with her colleagues. From questions about black identity and assimilation into white society to the role and responsibilities of a free press, The Story tackles a wide range of issues, all woven into a crime plot with so many twists and turns that it can become difficult to follow. Add to this some complex characters whose backstories could each have provided sufficient material for a play in its own right, and two hours on stage simply does not provide enough time for author Tracey Scott Wilson to develop all the plot strands, themes and characters she wants to explore. Nor does Director Clint Dyer's staging make it any easier for the audience to follow matters. The constant shifts between different perspectives and the paralleling of conversations initially seem innovative, but ultimately begin to feel gimmicky. The narrative technique mirrors and compounds the complexity of the plot and thematic threads, while the staging choices become distracting and end up obscuring rather than clarifying the relationships and machinations at the heart of the drama. There is plenty in The Story to provoke thought, but ultimately it tries to say and do too much, and does so in a manner which fails to elucidate its main concerns. In attempting to accommodate so many themes, perspectives and ideas, clarity and dramatic focus are lost. The result is a story that might have been more effectively recounted in a form like the novel.

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo © Feruza Afewerki

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: London SE1 9PX, UK

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