There’s something enjoyably ironic about Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke’s choice of West End debut. She plays aspiring-but-untalented actor Nina, who beams like a schoolgirl collecting a swimming badge when she’s told she could be in films some day. In real life, of course, Clarke’s screen fame has helped pack out the stalls of super-director Jamie Lloyd’s stark, 21st century take on Chekhov’s early play The Seagull.
Clarke is undeniably charismatic, but her presence is far from the only reason to grab a ticket. A universally strong cast act with their faces more than their bodies, bringing a cinematic intensity to this intense exploration of fame, failure, and heartbreak.
