Review - The Thrill of Love - People's Theatre

The Thrill of Love

People's Theatre

13th April, 2026

Written by Amanda Whittington

Directed by Tony Childs

Cast

Ruth Ellis - Emma Robson

Inspector Gale - Steve Hewitt

Sylvia - Moira Valentine

Vickie - Hattie Easton

Doris - Emily Jeffrey

The Thrill of Love tells a story of ambition, passion and murder. The story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. The mystery here is not who committed murder, Ruth Ellis confessed and there were witnesses who saw her fire the gun at David Blakely. The mystery is more complex; what drove her to commit such a crime? Who, if anyone, helped her? But also why did her trial and execution happen with such speed and against such a surge of public protest? 

Amanda Whittington's play reveals the very human woman behind the murderer. She peels back the curtain to show us two sides of Ruth's world. The world of the gentleman's club, a world of entitlement and glamour with a mean and sordid underbelly. 

Against a sparse set, and a Billie Halliday sound track, the five members of the cast bring this tale to life, and death. We watch as the Ruth's life disintegrates, as the dream she has chased turns to nightmare. The brittle gaiety of Ruth and Vicky hides a desperate ambition - to be someone, to be rich, to be loved. Against Emma Robson's passionate performance we have Moira Valentine's understated portrayal of the practical but jaded Sylvia - keeping an eye out for the girls but always watching her own back, and Emily Jeffrey's Dora - full of compassion and good sense - fights to keep Ruth safe.

The women's performances are impassioned and emotional and heartbreaking glimpses into a life we can barely imagine, while Steve Hewitt give a quietly compelling performance as Inspector Gale, as he tries to unpick the crime to find the elusive truth and some redemption for Ruth. 

It's a tough story but it has moments of humour - a dark humour that I think is peculiarly British that serves to highlight the tragedy. 

There is no tidy ending to this story - Ruth Ellis committed a murder and was hanged for it and the ripples spread far beyond her death. 

The Thrill of Love plays until Saturday in the studio.

Denise Sparrowhawk