The unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry at Theatre Royal Haymarket
3rd March 2026
A select group from the theatre group went to The Theatre Royal Haymarket to see this new musical. It was based on the best selling novel by Rachel Joyce who also wrote the show’s script.
It stars Mark Addy as Harold and Jenna Russell as his wife Maureen who have a very monotonous life in Devon and barely speak to each other. A letter arrives from an old colleague Queenie who is now in a hospice in Berwick upon Tweed, who Harold hasn’t seen since they both worked for a brewery, which thanks him for his help when she was bullied. Harold takes his reply to the post box but keeps on walking. He is completely unprepared for the journey but despite setbacks keeps on walking until he reaches the hospice and Queenie.
The journey is accompanied by a gentle score of folk music and Harold is joined by a spiritual figure whose presence becomes clearer over time and the metro says” This one runs deeper and quieter like a life-enhancing hymn to the difficulty of being alive”
The group enjoyed this very much and felt the stage was used in a very inventive way to show the journey and those who knew the book and film felt it had kept true to the story. It was a good and engaging show for the afternoon.
Contributed by Mary Garside
