The Hunger Games on Stage: Fire, Arrows, Action!

My friend Rachel and I rocked up to The Hunger Games: On Stage press night** only to be dazzled by men and women walking the red carpet in their evening finery.

Apparently it was also the Gala Night although we didn’t get the memo (i.e. I didn’t read the press invite properly). Despite feeling underdressed, we strutted forward and quickly got into the spirit of the event. To be clear, while most people were dressed for the gala, many were in actual costume. The Hunger Games inspires that level of fan commitment.

Watching The Hunger Games Come to Life

Suzanne Collins’ bestselling YA series is a global sensation, partly thanks to the blockbuster movies starring Jennifer Lawrence. I’ve watched 2 of the movies (part 1 and, confusingly, part 3) but I’ve never read the books so I wouldn’t call myself a Hunger Games stan. 

Still, it was hard not to feel the buzz as we entered the auditorium at Troubadour Canary Wharf, a purpose-built theatre designed to bring this tale to life. The oval space was split into districts (as in the stories) and we sat in District 1.

An usher cautioned us that our seats would move around at various points. This was a cool effect that made us feel immersed in the games, with the Capitol closing in around us.

What’s The Hunger Games Actually About?

In case you’re clueless about the plot, here’s a basic primer: in a post-apocalyptic future, Katniss Everdeen trades places with her younger sister when she’s picked as a ‘tribute’ for the Hunger Games, a televised fight-to-the-death contest held every year.

Leaving her mother, sister and her friend/beau Gale behind, Katniss is taken to the Capitol. Here, wealthy citizens gather to watch tribute pairs from the 12 districts battle for their lives. Katniss is paired with fellow District 12 contender Peeta (an impressive Euan Garrett). But while their fondness for each other grows, it’s almost guaranteed to end in a bloodbath. 

Mia Carragher (former Premier League star Jamie Carragher’s daughter) brings great energy to her role as Katniss. She’s strong, tough, photogenic and has a vulnerable quality that keeps us rooting for her. The heart-tugging romance between Mia and Peeta had my friend Rachel shedding a tear. Although the most affecting moments come from Katniss’ alliance with another young tribute, Rue (Aiya Agustin). 

A Breathtaking Spectacle

For an epic drama with so many moving parts, director Matthew Dunster has pulled off something truly spectacular. The story, adapted by acclaimed playwright Conor McPherson, rips along at a thrilling pace and the stage effects are genuinely astonishing. 

We watch everything from aerial fight scenes, to a supercharged hornet attack, to the breathtaking “chariot on fire” pyrotechnic stunt. They’ve poured tons of money, time and effort into this production and it shows. There are some eye-popping costumes and standout performances to match — special nods to Tamsin Carroll (Effie) and Stavros Demetraki (Caesar Flickerman). I also relished the scenes with Hollywood icon John Malkovich on a big screen, hamming it up as President Snow.

All the World’s a Hunger Game

Speaking of presidents, it’s impossible to watch this show without thinking about what’s happening in the world outside. The grotesque sight of ultra rich elites watching starving kids tear each other apart for sport — well, let’s just say it feels eerily resonant in these increasingly dystopian times. 

There are hunger games happening all around us and almost all of us are both captive and complicit in one way or another. Despite the horrors playing out on stage (and in real life), this show reminds us of the power of resistance and the need for hope.

The Hunger Games has dark themes but it also has a fire in its belly. It lights a spark for those of us who will always champion love, safety, courage, imagination, compassion, and collective liberation. May the odds be ever in our favour.

The Hunger Games: On Stage is showing at Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, Canary Wharf E14 5GX (Canary Wharf tube/DLR & Elizabeth Line). Best for ages 12+, parental discretion, under 3s not admitted, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. 7.30pm (Tue-Sat) & 2.30pm (Fri-Sun); from £30/standard tickets £60/premium £125 (booking until Oct 2026)