Single White Female is one of those films loads of people remember from the 90s, the kind of thriller you’d stick on with friends and end up shouting at the screen by the end.
Seeing it brought to the stage is a fun surprise, and this new touring production gives the story a modern twist while keeping all the drama that made it such a talking point in the first place.
This version moves the action to the UK, where we meet Allie, juggling work pressures, money worries and raising her teenage daughter Bella after her marriage falls apart. To help make ends meet, she advertises for a lodger and in walks Hedy, who at first seems like the perfect solution. But it doesn’t take long before things start to feel off. Lines blur, boundaries get crossed and suddenly Allie’s home doesn’t feel quite like hers anymore.
Everything takes place inside Allie’s flat, and the staging keeps things moving smoothly as tensions build. What works really well is how the production uses lighting and music between scenes, flashing lights, pulsing sound and quick transitions keep the atmosphere edgy, almost like watching a thriller film unfold live. You can feel the mood shift each time the lights go down, and it keeps the audience hooked as things get darker.
Kym Marsh really throws herself into the role of Hedy, keeping you guessing about what she’ll do next, while Lisa Faulkner’s Allie feels very relatable, just someone trying to keep life steady while everything around her starts wobbling. Jonny McGarrity and Andro bring some lighter moments too, which the audience clearly enjoys before the next twist kicks in.
There are little nods for fans of the original movie, but this version leans more into family tensions and modern pressures, which actually makes it feel closer to real life. Judging by the gasps and nervous laughs around the theatre, the story still gets people reacting and that’s half the fun of a show like this. It’s not a subtle night at the theatre, but it’s not trying to be.
It’s dramatic, tense, with a few laughs in between, and exactly the sort of show you go to with friends and end up chatting about on the way home.
Single White Female is at Manchester Opera House until 14 February, and if you fancy a night out with plenty of twists, tension and big moments, it’s definitely worth grabbing a ticket.
Get your tickets from the ATG website at https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/single-white-female/opera-house-manchester/
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