Stepping down the stairs into The Glitch, we found ourselves entering an intriguingly cosy, fairy-lit cavern. I’ve visited this theatre before, which made the transformation all the more striking; the space felt almost unrecognisable from its usual form. Every wall shimmered with soft twinkling lights, while candle-like bulbs dangled from the ceiling. Cabinets, chests, and small tables were laden with what first appeared to be junk-shop bric-a-brac – single boots, odd trinkets, forgotten toys, dusty relics of uncertain origin. It resembled Aladdin’s Cave or a ramshackle treasure trove, and while it could easily have veered into clutter, the space instead carried the enchanting suggestion of a secret archive waiting to be decoded. This, we were soon to learn, was a “library” of objects – artefacts capable of telling stories.
Audience members were seated on opposite sides of the room, facing each other with the action unfolding in the central aisle of this curious library. The traverse stage arrangement worked brilliantly, drawing us into their world. The set design, imaginative down to the smallest detail, deserves high praise.
We first meet young Isla, played with sparkling charm by Ronay Poole, a sweet, hopeful girl searching for the perfect Christmas Eve present for her mother. Poole’s wide-eyed performance captured Isla’s innocence and curiosity beautifully. As she wandered among the trinkets, just as captivated as the audience, her own sense of wonder repeatedly tempted her into ignoring the stern “No Touching” signs. Poole infused Isla with genuine delight and youthful impulsiveness, making every discovery feel fresh and innocent.
Malcolm Jeffries plays Maximilian Crimp, the slightly frazzled and wholly unprepared librarian who seems genuinely startled to have a visitor at all. When Max picks up an object, a magical backstory unfurls; a life behind the item that Isla (and we) get to witness. Each tale is acted out by Poole and Jeffries, who slip nimbly between characters, accents, and moods with impressive speed. Isla’s inability to resist touching the artefacts provides comic punctuation throughout, with Max repeatedly bellowing “NO TOUCHING!” to no avail.
The story deepens when Isla picks up a personal item belonging to Max, despite his panicked objections and suddenly finds herself drawn into his past. Here, Poole takes on the role of Max’s lost love, while Jeffries becomes a younger, hopeful version of himself. The result is unexpectedly touching. In this intimate moment, the purpose of the library becomes clear: these objects hold memories, some joyous, others wrapped in grief. As the tale progresses, we learn that both Isla and Max carry their own profound losses, adding emotional weight to the magic.
Both performers deserve applause for sustaining a fast-paced script filled with rapid character changes, vivid storytelling, and a challenging amount of dialogue. Their rapport and timing make the fascination feel effortless.
The Lost Library of Leake Street written and directed by Oli Savage is a genuinely enchanting piece of theatre – unique, imaginative, and brimming with festive warmth. In a season saturated with Christmas stories, this one is different. It is sweet without being saccharine, magical without relying on spectacle, and moving without ever losing its playful charm. A delightful and heart-warming experience.
Review by Bernadette Lintunen
“There are stories in everything. If only you know where to look.”
It’s Christmas Eve, and Isla is lost. Wandering through the vaults and tunnels of Waterloo, she is searching for something – a gift for her mother, after a tumultuous year past. But nothing seems to be quite right. Until, that is, she finds the shop. Or, to be more precise, the library. Or, to be more precise still, the Lost Library of Leake Street.
But this isn’t like any library you’ve seen before. Sure, it’s full of stories – as most libraries are. But here, the stories aren’t found in pages or on tape. The stories come from things. Lost things, discarded things. Things that were once treasured by a Londoner, now lying forgotten. Or almost forgotten.
Step in to the Lost Library of Leake Street with Isla, and join her on a whirlwind journey as she explores all the stories that London has to offer, and learns how, in this city, connection can be found in the most unlikely of places. A show for people of all ages, you’ll experience a truly unique Christmas show about family, loss, magic, and the stories that bind us all together.
THE LOST LIBRARY OF LEAKE STREET
The Glitch
26 November to 22 December 2025
