Dear Liar Review at Jermyn Street Theatre Starring Rachel Pickup and Alan Turkington

“Write plays about whatever you wish but not, please, about us!” Mrs Patrick Campbell pleads to George Bernard Shaw in one of the many letters that form the basis of Dear Liar. One wonders how she might feel knowing that while Shaw honoured that plea, Jerome Kilty did not.

Directed by Stella Powell-Jones, Dear Liar brings the correspondence between Shaw and Campbell, more affectionately known to theatre aficionados as ‘Mrs Pat’, to life at Jermyn Street Theatre. Rachel Pickup and Alan Turkington star as Campbell and Shaw. Many of their letters are read verbatim, with brief moments of exposition bridging gaps and moving the story forward. Between World Wars, loves lost and found, career highs and lows, the pair write back and forth, maintaining a connection rooted in deep affection.

For the most part, using letters as the basis of the script works well. Many have clearly been edited to condense exchanges that originally took place over days and weeks into minutes on stage. At times, though, transitions feel choppy. Sometimes a typewriter sound signals a shift, other times the announcement of a date. There is no clear pattern. Even so, the narrative remains easy enough to follow.

There are also moments where the reliance on letters limits the action. In the second act, Shaw calls Campbell ‘old’ and ‘feeble’. You might expect a stronger reaction, especially from such a fierce character, yet the moment passes quickly. It raises a broader question about adaptation. Kilty’s work is skilful, but it does not always leave room for the actors to expand beyond the text in a way that feels fully natural. The format restricts immediacy.

Pickup feels perfectly cast as Campbell, capturing her fire and charisma. Elegant and at times coquettish, she is compelling to watch. Campbell emerges as the more sympathetic figure, making her easier to root for. Turkington faces the challenge of rendering the obstinate and occasionally petulant Shaw likeable. He succeeds, finding humour that wins the audience over.

The play proves more humorous than expected, largely due to the performers’ chemistry. Their playful and at times brutal exchanges are engaging. Both actors bring warmth and charm, committing to the full complexity of their characters. At moments, their dynamic recalls Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, driven by sharp wit and mutual presence.

Powell-Jones’ production maintains a steady pace, helping the near two-hour runtime, including intermission, pass quickly. Tom Paris’ costumes blend period and contemporary elements, giving the production a subtle modern edge. The minimal staging is used effectively, transporting us across locations despite the intimacy of the venue.

Dear Liar explores a relationship that endures against a shifting world. In an age of instant messaging, it also gestures toward the fading art of letter writing and the care once invested in communication. Whether it inspires audiences to pick up a pen is another matter.

Dear Liar runs at Jermyn Street Theatre until 7 March 2026.