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The Grand Babylon Hotel

 
Paul T. Davies Review by Paul T. Davies 4 Published: 26 Mar 2026 Mercury Theatre - Colchester Show Dates: 26 Mar 2026-29 Mar 2026

Claybody Theatre bring their adaptation of Arnold Bennett’s novel The Grand Babylon Hotel to the Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and it is a fun-filled, riotous evening of slick physical comedy.

From dancing chambermaids to madcap chases, the pace never drops in this riotous evening of physical comedy.

A cast of five perform Deborah McAndrew’s deft adaptation with panache and excellent comic timing. Shady business in the swanky Babylon Hotel is exposed when multi-millionaire Theodore Racksole buys the hotel outright simply to ensure his daughter gets the birthday meal she wants. The plot almost seems incidental to the characterisation, though, as events pile up and the chase begins. From a wonderful opening sequence of dancing chambermaids, exposition is delivered with fun and energy, and the pace never drops.

As Theodore, Bill Champion is the eye in the storm of a madcap adventure – stylish and dignified, while also displaying impressive physicality and dance ability. Alice Pryor is equally effective as his daughter and soon-to-be plucky heroine, Nella, with on-point comic timing. Shelly Atkinson shines in every role she plays, especially the Germanic nanny Heidi, and Thomas Cotran oozes nervous sophistication, particularly as Prince Albert of Posen. But the evening really belongs to Michael Hugo, a comic chameleon who switches between his several roles with rapid ease, each creation a comic delight. His physicality is astonishing, and credit is due to movement director Beverley Norris-Edmunds and physical comedy director Nick Haverson for keeping the comedy crackling and the pace lively.

The company clearly relish the material, and director Conrad Nelson’s wonderfully inventive eye is a constant source of delight. The lighting and projection, by Daniella Beattie, take us on a clear and graphic journey through the bowels of the hotel, while composer James Atherton supplies lively period tunes.

It is a work I was unfamiliar with, but I would highly recommend Claybody Theatre. This production is in association with the New Vic Theatre. Catch it on tour if you can.

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The Blurb:

Nella Racksole wants steak and beer for her birthday treat, but these are not on the menu of the exclusive Grand Babylon Hotel – so her American Railroad Millionaire father obligingly buys the chef… the kitchen… the entire hotel.

However, The Grand Babylon is not all it seems, and Theodore Racksole soon discovers there’s more than a juicy steak on his plate – with kidnapping and murder for starters!

Have Theodore and Nella bitten off more than they can chew?