Till The Stars Come Down review: This state-of-the-nation play will leave you breathless with laughter and tears

Till The Stars Come Down first premiered at the National Theatre in 2024, where it enjoyed rave reviews. Now the production has transferred to Theatre Royal Haymarket in London's West End, where it's running until the end of September this year.

Steel has been praised for her achingly real and relatable characters, and nowhere is it more obvious than in Till The Stars Come Down. Perhaps with the exception of the overly waxing lyrical John, each character feels like the sort of person you might find yourself sat next to at a family reunion— or a family wedding.

These lovable down-to-earth characters yell over each other, squabble and immediately make up, and are full of weird aphorisms. Watching the family dynamics unfold will make the audience members feel at home, and I dare you not to see your mothers, aunts, or sisters reflected in the dazzling female cast members.

Speaking of the cast members, there are strong performances across the board in this production. The chemistry between Sinéad Matthews (Sylvia) and Julian Kostov (Marek) is palpable, as is the suppressed sadness and grief in Alan Williams (Tony).

However, the clear standout of the show is Dorothy Atkinson as Aunt Carol. A whirlwind of a woman, she takes the stage by storm, spouting odd sayings and being determined to get her way (and sulking when she doesn't). She embodies the very spirit of the play— bawdy, outspoken and hilarious. A particular highlight is watching Atkinson perfect the art of drunk dancing as she writhes across the stage with some very inventive dance moves.

All of these top-tier performances are aided by very clever and effective stage design, elevated in its simplicity.

Crafting a family epic is no mean feat. Classic family sagas, like 100 Years of Solitude or Pachinko, take place over decades, sometimes even centuries, in order to unravel the complicated interpersonal dynamics. Till The Stars Come Down manages to do this over the course of a single day.

Watching this production, it's hard to think of why more plays aren't set at family weddings. This is the perfect setting for long-simmering conflicts and heavy family secrets to come to the surface— aided, of course, by plenty of alcohol.

Till The Stars Come Down touches on a wide range of issues – xenophobia, the miners' strike, climate anxiety – without feeling overwhelming. In today's world of playwrights and screenwriters that feel the need to overexplain, Beth Steel stands out in her refusal to talk down to the audience. Till The Stars Come Down is packed full of nuance, subtle gestures and loaded sentences that communicate the unsaid – just like real life.

• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at LOVEtheatre
• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at London Theatre Direct

Want to learn more? We had an exclusive interview with the cast of Till The Stars Come Down.

When and where can I see Till The Stars Come Down?

Till The Stars Come Down is showing at Theatre Royal Haymarket for a strictly-limited 13-week run. The play will run from 1st July until 27th September 2025.

• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at LOVEtheatre
• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at London Theatre Direct

How to get Till The Stars Come Down tickets

Head to LOVEtheatre or London Theatre Direct, where there are still plenty of tickets available.

Ticket prices start around £29.50 and will vary depending on where you sit and which performance you go to.

• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at LOVEtheatre
• Buy Till The Stars Come Down tickets at London Theatre Direct

If you're after more recommendations, check out our five-star reviews of Evita and Hercules.