Theatre Review: A Man for All Seasons, Theatre Royal Brighton

Photography by Simon Annand

Summary:

Rating: ★★★★
Running Dates: Tuesday 23rd July - Saturday 26th July 2025
Where to see it: Theatre Royal Brighton
Duration: 2.5 hrs (incl. interval)
Keywords: Drama, Period Piece, Law, History, Religion

Review

A Man for All Seasons delivers a message as important today as it was then, arguably more. It teaches us that there’s nothing more important than standing up for what we care about, for what we believe is right.

History repeats itself, the old saying goes. There is some truth in that. Sometimes, we need to look at our past to learn how to face the present. 

A Man for All Seasons conveys this most eloquently. It is a story of virtue, or moral upstanding, of belief. It is the story of a man who defiantly stood against a mediaeval court, against his King, for what he believed was right. There is a thing or two we can learn from him.

Sir Thomas More was a scholar and Lord Chancellor in the court of King Henry XIII. He was known for his good judgement and his honesty. That is why, when the King requested a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, which subsequently led to the separation of the Church of England from the Church of Rome, Sir More had to stay true to himself, no matter the cost. 

The play is made of two acts, both crucial to the story yet quite different from one another. The first act paints the historical and political landscape against which the story plays out. It lays important foundations especially for those not familiar with the events. It gives us an overview of the conflict between King Henry XIII and the Catholic Church, the influence played by Luther in Germany and the rest of the continent, and offers an interesting insight of 16th century politics inside and outside the royal court.

Photography by Simon Annand

BlThe second act takes on a rather more dramatic turn, leaving behind facts, events, or dates, and focusing on the moral and legal dilemma that our main character faces. Martin Shaw (Sir Thomas More) offers an outstanding performance. He is magnetic, powerful, he commands the stage. He speaks of values, of virtue, of being true to ourselves above anything (and anyone) else. We see him refuse over and over to betray his mind, his heart, even when his own family is pleading him to. Martin Shaw’s acting is poignant, it cuts deep, as it speaks to a universal truth which transcends time and place. 

A Man for All Seasons delivers a message as important today as it was then, arguably more. It teaches us that there’s nothing more important than standing up for what we care about, for what we believe is right. In today’s political climate, in which we are witnesses to corruption and genocide, we are being silenced by the media and the government, A Man for All Seasons inspires us to speak up, to fight for ourselves and for other people. It calls for us to look at systems of power with a critical eye, and denounce injustice and exploitation. When laws and morals do not align, we need to listen to our heart, we need to stay true to our values. At the end of the day, we will be judged by the highest power of all: ourselves.

Photography by Simon Annand

See If: You want to experience an emotional and fundamental part of history, a meditation on what it means to be virtuous.

Stand Out Moment: Thomas More's last reunion and goodbye to his family was the peak emotional point of the story. It genuinely brought tears to my eyes.

Last Impressions: A Man for All Seasons speaks to our hearts and conscience. An important lesson to always keep close.

You can find last minute tickets for the show on the ATG Website

We were kindly gifted these tickets in exchange for a review.

Written by Roberta Guarini