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BrumHour saw The Fortsyte Saga at the invite of The RSC.
By Dave Massey
Please note: the central theme of this production focuses on the impact of a marital sexual assault.
The Forsyte Saga: Parts One and Two at The RSC Swan Theatre: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐Bold and ambitious
Directed by Josh Roche, Adapting Playwrights Shaun McKenna and Lin Coghlan, Original Writer John Galsworthy
Split into two plays, which can be watched on their own or together, The Forsyte Saga explores a tangled family line from the 1890s into the 1920s. Narrated with flair by Flora Spencer-Longhurst as Fleur Forsyte throughout both parts, this story covers love, hatred, rejection, death and new life against a backdrop of war and change that marked the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.
Part one focuses on Soames Forsyte, his wife Irene (Fiona Hampton) and her affections for Philip Bosinney (Andy Rush), who is engaged to June Forsyte. Part two then covers Fleur Forsyte’s messy crush on her second cousin Jon Forsyte (Also played by Andy Rush).
Joseph Millson is fantastic as the disconnected Soames Forsyte, unlikeable, unaware of the impact his actions, and particularly his controlling behaviour, have. Joseph Millson is unrecognisable compared to the other roles I’ve seen him in. Fiona Hampton is heartbreaking as Irene and certainly timeless in the second play. Andy Rush is great as both Philip (broken) and Jon (dazed and confused).
Despite the serious nature of the story, there is some light gentle humour to be found both in the scripts and the performances, with Florence Roberts providing much of the humour. She is particularly memorable, switching characters through each part with ease.
The set in the first half is just a red carpet, red curtains, some chairs, and some hanging lights, with strong lighting effects and a soundscape to evoke the locations. In the second half, the music is more of a character, whilst the curtains have vanished. The three-sided set allows the audience to see and feel the actors from every angle and feel close to the story.
Bold and ambitious, this story has the weight to push it through what is two distinct works of two hours and thirty minutes, including intervals. I was a little confused about why this was picked as a December/Christmas production, but the audience certainly loved this story and the production. The Forsyte Saga Part One and Part Two, is at The RSC Swan Theatre until 10th January 2026. Book tickets here: rsc.org.uk/the-forsyte-saga.
