Notes From Row H

West End Theatre Review – Theatre Royal Haymarket

Playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 29^th January until 18^th April, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a hilariously funny musical that tugs at the heartstrings, and makes you think about how life should be lived. It is a journey of self-discovery, an exploration of grief – and ultimately, joy. With catchy, heartfelt, and foot stomping songs by Passenger, this musical has something for everyone.

Based on the book by Rachel Joyce, and directed by Katy Rudd (Ballet Shoes), The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry follows Harold Fry (Mark Addy) when he embarks on a pilgrimage from his home in Devon, to Berwick-upon-Tweed in order to see an old friend of his called Queenie, who is in a hospice. Thanks to his popularity on Instagram, through-out his journey he is joined by other pilgrims and also a stray dog (which is a charming puppet). 

Whilst Harold Fry goes on a physical journey, there is also an emotional journey which is exceptionally woven into the narrative. Throughout his pilgrimage, he grapples with his guilt over the death of his son but also the decline of his marriage to Maureen (Jenna Russell). This mental journey is personified by the omnipresence of his son (Noah Mullins) – which is at first benign, then progressively gets more agitated and angrier.

First as the Balladeer, then Harold’s and Maureen’s son, Noah Mullins is mesmerising. Their vocals are captivating and strong and provide a solid foundation on which the musical rests. Mark Addy as Harold Fry perfectly captures the depth and humour of his character and situation but balances it well with the more serious aspects too. Jenna Russell as Maureen is magnificent – she plays the detached and somewhat isolated character superbly – and her vocals are equally as incredible too.   

The lighting design by Paule Constable (Oliver!) is striking and is complimented by Joseph Bisat-Marshall’s (Summerfolk) playfully lo-fi set and costume design. The musical’s charm is compounded by the fact that the ensemble are often stand-ins for washing lines and various animals that Harold comes across. The simple yet effective set design is very clever too, because it allows the audience to be immersed and to use their own imagination.

I first became aware of this show when it was at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2025, so when I saw it was coming to the West End, it was on the top of my list. Before seeing this show, I had not read the book or seen the film, so I went in completely blind. I knew it was about a man walking a long distance, but I had no idea about why or where – so I was completely blown away. Passenger’s songs are incredible, but also the plot and its subtleties completely enthralled me. I will definitely be seeing it again before it ends on 18^th April! 

Written by Helena Featherstone