PR invite: I attended Bury the Hatchet at Southwark Playhouse Borough as a press guest. As always, all opinions are my own.
True crime, theatre and a story I already knew well? Bury the Hatchet was always going to be right up my street.
The musical takes the infamous Lizzie Borden case and does something much more playful than I expected. It mixes murder ballads, storytelling, music and comedy. At the same time, it gives the audience plenty of information about the case itself.
A true-crime story that doesn’t feel like a history lesson
One of the things I enjoyed most was how much information was woven into the show without it ever feeling heavy. I already knew the basics of the Lizzie Borden story. Even so, the production gives you enough background to enjoy it if you walk in knowing very little.
The music and the information worked really well together. Rather than stopping the story to explain things, the facts became part of the performance. As a result, it was a surprisingly fun way to learn more about such a well-known case.
I had already seen The Lizzie Borden Game before watching Bury the Hatchet, so I came in with that version of events in my head. I’m also keen to watch more screen interpretations of Lizzie’s story, including the Christina Ricci version. It’s fascinating to see how differently the same case can be retold.
Strong performances and plenty of laughs
The acting was really good across the three-person ensemble of Sasha Wilson, Lawrence Boothman and David Leopold. What surprised me most, though, was how funny the show was. I was genuinely in fits of laughter at points. That isn’t necessarily what you expect from one of America’s most notorious murder cases.
That balance is what made the evening work for me. It never lost sight of the real people behind the story. However, it also wasn’t afraid to be theatrical, funny and entertaining.
The Fall River connection also interested me. The performer playing Lizzie lives in Fall River, Massachusetts, where the murders took place. That added another layer for me because I’ve become increasingly fascinated by the case.
The Little is the perfect space for it
I saw the show in The Little at Southwark Playhouse Borough, and the intimate room really suited the production. You’re close to the performers, so the storytelling feels immediate. It almost feels as though you’re being pulled into the case rather than watching from a distance.
For a show built around three performers, music and storytelling, it doesn’t need a huge stage to make an impact. In fact, the smaller space helped give it personality.
My verdict
★★★★☆ 4/5
Bury the Hatchet gave me exactly the sort of evening I love: true crime, good acting, clever storytelling, music and far more laughter than I expected. The case information was well put together, and the performances kept the energy moving. I came away wanting to dive even further into the Lizzie Borden story.
If you enjoy true crime but want something different from a documentary or straight drama, this is a really fun way to experience the story.
Planning to see it? Read my Bury the Hatchet guide for venue, cast and booking information.
You can also find venue information and upcoming productions on the official Southwark Playhouse website.
