Theatre review: Bluebeard’s Wives uncovering secrets, tackling fears
April 21, 2026
(c) Spid Theatre
Ashley Mpanzu is immersed in a powerful performance exploring misogyny, control and commodification
As an actor, I’m always drawn to work that feels fearless and fully alive on stage. SPID Theatre’s Bluebeard’s Wives is exactly that.
The play takes the Bluebeard myth and turns it into something modern, intense and genuinely unsettling. We follow a wife left alone in her husband’s castle, surrounded by secrets, fear and the weight of what she is not supposed to uncover. But this is not just a retelling of an old story. It becomes a wider exploration of misogyny, control, commodification and the digital echo chambers that still shape how women are viewed and treated. With the mix of sound, film and movement, the whole thing feels immersive, like you are watching a nightmare unfold in real time.
The kind of theatre that challenges you, stays with you, and reminds you how powerful performance can be
What stood out to me most was Sadhbha Odufuwa-Bolger’s performance. She was absolutely captivating. There was something so controlled and detailed about her work, but it never felt mechanical. Every moment felt lived-in. She carried vulnerability, confusion, fear and strength all at once, which made the character feel deeply real.
What I loved was how she could shift the energy so naturally, one second delicate and exposed, the next completely commanding the space. Even in the most physical and abstract moments, she stayed emotionally truthful, and that is what made the performance so powerful. She did not just play the role, she pulled the audience directly into the character’s inner world.
Overall, I thought Bluebeard’s Wives was bold, creative and haunting. It is the kind of theatre that challenges you, stays with you, and reminds you how powerful performance can be when it is done with real purpose. I give Bluebeard’s Wives five out of five.
