Photography by Helen Maybanks

You’d be forgiven for not knowing Martin Guerre – it’s certainly not the best-known of theatre shows, although it comes with some real musical pedigree. Written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg – the same duo behind major hits Les Misérables and Miss Saigon – it debuted in London in 1996 to some success, including picking up the 1997 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. However, it hasn’t yet found a similar level of enduring success; the current production, at The Old Vic Theatre, is the first London revival since the original run closed back in 1998.

We were a little young to be reviewing theatre shows when the original was playing, so this revival was our first opportunity to catch this niche musical – and we’re pleased to report it’s rather good. We’re aware this has been substantially revised: it’s now a one-act, 90 minute show, one that is presented in a small scale and intimate manner. Performed in-the-round, there is minimal staging and not a huge amount in terms of production. If you did catch it first around, this is likely to be a substantially different proposition.