By Grace Hatchell, in Newcastle
The Thrill of Love is coming to the People’s Theatre in Heaton from 13 to 18 April 2026, bringing Amanda Whittington’s gripping drama about Ruth Ellis to the Newcastle stage. Set in the smoky shadows of 1950s London, the production explores the woman behind one of Britain’s most infamous cases.
There are some shows that arrive with a polite knock at the stage door, and then there are some that slink in under the streetlamp in a fur coat and a secret. The Thrill of Love feels very much like the second sort.
Coming next to the People’s Theatre in Heaton, Amanda Whittington’s acclaimed play brings to life the gripping and tragic story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. It is a name many people will recognise, but this production looks set to dig beneath the headline and into the heart of the woman herself, which is where things often get far more haunting.
Set against the seedy glamour of 1950s London, The Thrill of Love promises a world of smoky nightclubs, dangerous liaisons and dreams hanging on by a silk thread. It has all the shimmer of old noir and all the sting of a story that was never going to end softly. Part thriller, part intimate character study, it blends known facts with imagined moments to offer a fresh perspective on a case that once gripped the nation.
And I will say this for it, there is something irresistible about a play that does not just ask “what happened?” but “who was she really?” That is always the richer question, even if it tends to leave a bruise.
Director Tony Childs says: “This is a great piece of drama. People might know the name Ruth Ellis, without perhaps knowing much about Ruth herself. The play focuses on her character, rather than her guilt. We see her nature, and the way she disintegrates.”
That gives you a good sense of the production’s angle. This is not about serving up a dusty true-crime retelling and sending everyone home feeling pleased with themselves. It sounds far more interested in the person inside the story, and in the emotional unravelling that leads to catastrophe. That, for me, is where theatre can really get its hooks in.
At its core, The Thrill of Love is described as a haunting and poignant exploration of passion, power, betrayal and the devastating consequences they can bring. In other words, not exactly one to pair with a cheerful little ice cream and a carefree whistle on the bus home. But certainly one that sounds dramatic, layered and full of atmosphere.
The cast for the People’s Theatre production is Emma Robson as Ruth Ellis, Steve Hewitt as Inspector Gale, Moira Valentine as Sylvia, Hattie Easton as Vicky and Emily Jeffrey as Doris. The production is directed by Tony Childs.
The Thrill of Love runs from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 April 2026 at 7.30pm at the People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF. Tickets are priced at £16.50 and £14 and are available from the People’s Theatre Box Office on 0191 265 5020, option 2, or online via the People’s Theatre website.
From my little patch of the post route, this one looks like it could be a proper moody gem for anyone who likes their drama with glamour, grit and a shadow in the corner. A tragic true story, a woman history reduced to a headline, and a stage ready to let her speak again? Aye, that has got a bit of a pull to it.
An Amateur production of THE THRILL OF LOVE by Amanda Whittington
Date: Monday 13 – Saturday 18 April 2026
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50/£14
Venue: People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
Box Office: 0191 265 5020
Website: www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
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