The Pianist at Park Theatre

Heartbreaking and extraordinary, The Pianist tells the true story of one Jewish man’s survival in Nazi-occupied Warsaw.

At the outbreak of the war, the well-known Polish pianist and composer, Władysław Szpilman, chose to stay with his family in Warsaw. Thus begins a brutal chapter of his life in which he experiences the very worst of humanity. Death comes for him over and over, and yet each time, he manages to escape at the last second.

The production is based on the memoir by the real Władysław Szpilman, originally published in 1946, and adapted by Thom Southerland.

Szpilman and his family, all musicians, enjoy a comfortable life in Warsaw until the Germans arrive. His neighbourhood is quickly walled off, becoming a tightly controlled Jewish ghetto with limited food supplies and decreasing work opportunities. At first, thousands more people are carted into the ghetto, but then the Nazis start deporting large numbers of Jews out of the city, never to return.

A musical may not seem like the right medium for such a story. But this is no glitzy affair with big singalong numbers. It is all centred around Szpilman’s own compositions and piano (with a little Chopin). Around him, his parents and siblings play a whole family of classical string instruments, from the violin up to the double bass. New lyrics are overlaid, used not as the main event but simply as another instrument that adds to the ambience of each piece. The music is rich and moving, hitting the heart with a tremendous oomph.

It is both hauntingly beautiful and beautifully haunting. The devastation is felt throughout the show, cruel and piercing. The music is a powerful main character. The source material does a lot of heavy lifting, but Southerland’s pacing and direction are perfect.

Daniel Krikler leads the ensemble as Władysław Szpilman. He puts in a stunning performance that could shake even the most hardened to the core. His fellow performers are all flawless musicians who bring Szpilman’s music and his story to life.

Even now, or perhaps especially now, The Pianist feels necessary: it’s such a sad story but an important one, and an incredible way to experience Szpilman’s music.

Jim Compton-Hall
Photos: Rich Southgate

The Pianist is at Park Theatre from 21^st until 28^th October 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.