Review: The Line Of Beauty (Almeida Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As we rapidly approach the end of 2025, talk turns to the shows that have really stood out this year. One show that is sure to dominate many people’s conversations and appear on theatre highlights of the year is KENREX (It will certainly be high on my end of year list). Not content with one acclaimed show of the year, its writer and star Jack Holden is at it again, adapting The Line Of Beauty for a premiere run at the Almeida Theatre. Having enjoyed success this year, would this latest offering prove to be equally beautiful or would the line of success never be reached?

Based on the novel by Alan Hollinghurst, The Line Of Beauty is set in the 1980s as Nick Guest moves into the grand Notting Hill home of his university friend Toby, where he meets Toby’s newly elected MP father, his wife and troubled daughter Cat, as well as a host of other characters along the way - many of whom have an impact on his life. As Nick discovers a new world he hadn’t had access to before, he becomes swept up in a world of money, power and privilege. As he attempts to live his life in the search for beauty, what cost will his actions have?

Adapted by Jack Holden, his writing remains as exquisite as ever. Returning to London in the 1980s, the setting that thrust Holden into the spotlight with his seminal work-of-art, Cruise, The Line Of Beauty shares several themes with his previous work, notably sexuality and the threat of AIDS. Where Cruise opted for a pulsing narrative, this takes things in a different direction, offering a quieter, more introspective look at the situation, finding more nuance and depth at every turn - though, of course, a few 1980s pop classics do get to make an appearance.

It is in the character of Nick Guest that allows Holden’s talent as a writer to come into its own. Complex and ever-evolving, we watch the growth of the character play out over three settings in 1983, 1984 and 1986, each time meeting a slightly different Guest. The intricate nature of how this character changes is part of what makes The Line Of Beauty such a captivating watch, with Guest becoming more unrecognisable from the relatively innocent yet ambitious man we meet early on. There is the sense of him losing himself, however, as a pivotal moment near the climax showcases. It is a great character study into not just one man but the overall attitudes of Thatcher’s Britain in the 1980s.

I thought Margaret Thatcher singing ‘I’m Still Standing’ in Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical was the strangest version of her character I would see on a London stage this year, but The Line Of Beauty said “Hold my milk” to reveal a surprising and hilarious cameo in one of the show’s highlights. There is plenty of comedy to be found, particularly in Act One, with more serious themes bubbling away. Identity and homophobia are prominent themes that prove increasingly uncomfortable as characters' attitudes are revealed, and a poignancy emerges as AIDS wreaks havoc. The only real criticism I have that prevented this from attaining a fifth star is that there was a slight lack of emotion during these pivotal scenes. While this subject would usually reduce me to a blubbering mess, as evident with Holden’s past work on Cruise, something about the emotion didn’t quite connect this time around in the way I would have hoped.

Michael Grandage’s direction breathes new life into the story, with detailed choices always landing for the most part (aside from one odd choice in the show’s final moments I found a bit jarring). The skill is perfectly exemplified in some of the looks characters give each other - a brilliant side-eye from Doreeene Blackstock’s Mrs Charles, to the subtleties and even microaggressions displayed elsewhere - the various ways these characters interact, display or even hide their prejudices creates a rich tapestry that allows the themes prominent in the play to sizzle away and explode when necessary.

Jasper Talbot leads an exceptional cast with his captivating turn as Nick Guest. Impossible to take your eyes off of him, the way he characterised Guest's evolving nature over the years is incredible to witness, in a performance that hits all the right notes every time. From comic ability to a flawless embodiment of ambition, desire to rise above your station and even a slight hint of manipulation, Talbot delivers a star turn that is one of the finest attributes of an already fantastic play.

Alistair Nwachukwu is another highlight as Leo Charles, dominating the early scenes with his charismatic performance. Such is the strength in his acting, he becomes very much missed when he fails to be seen again. The scenes with him and Talbot are pure electricity to witness. Arty Froushan brings a different dynamic as Wani, proving to be a highlight, while Ellie Bamber delivers a suitably dangerous turn as Cat.

There really isn't a weak link to be found amongst this stunning cast. Other highlights are an underused but memorable Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Rosemary Charles, and Charles Edwards as the seemingly mild-mannered and relatively harmless Gerald Fedden, who gets to showcase the art of a slow-burning performance, absolutely nailing his uncomfortable final appearance.

At one point in the play, a character declares “The reviews are glowing” and it seems to be a case of life imitating art, as how could they be anything else? The Line Of Beauty is a masterful portrayal of Thatcher’s Britain, allowing for a snapshot of a time more than 40 years ago and comparing how things have progressed, as well as some comparisons to prejudices still prevalent in society. From Holden’s writing to Grandage’s direction to the sensational cast bringing the story to life, the level of skill on display here is astounding to see. Though more focus on emotional weight would allow it to reach the next level, this fantastic play is close to being a work of art, finding the line of beauty in itself, creating a play in equal parts fascinating, vital and overall beautiful.

The Line Of Beauty plays at Almeida Theatre until 29th November. Tickets from https://almeida.co.uk/whats-on/the-line-of-beauty/

Photos by Johan Persson