All At Sea – Live Theatre Newcastle

Writer: Alison Carr

Director: Maria Crocker

All At Sea, a dark comedy by Alison Carr, set sail tonight at the Live Theatre Newcastle. Carr has written this play based on the real life saga of the infamous ‘Canoe Man’, John Darwin. There have been many portrayals of this bizarre tale including a BBC documentary in 2010, a TV series called The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe and Mike Yearman’s stage play Canoeing for Beginners. This reviewer therefore was intrigued to see what fresh approach Carr had taken of this outlandish yarn.

The writer Alison Carr is an award winning North East playwright. Her latest play, All At Sea, won the Rose Fisher Award for Writing before being developed into a production for both the Live Theatre in Newcastle and the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. Her career encompasses theatre, radio and screen.

The story behind the ‘Canoe Man’ is a strange tale of a man, John Darwin, who is drowning in debt and makes the decision to fake his own death and cash in on his life insurance. Carr focusses on what happens inside the marriage after the deed has been done. It is a reimagined scenario and is not a true crime or documentary.

This two hander creates lots of comedic events but it also explores guilt and anguish and the strain of leading a double life. There are many moments of dramatic tension created through the relationship between Colin and his wife, Deborah. This play however concentrates not only on the bizarre plan but on the problems that it creates within the marriage. A dark comedy combined with a relationship drama is thus created.

The action of the play takes place in the family home. It’s a well thought out composite set (designed by Hannah Sibal) encompassing a lounge area, stairs to kitchen and upper floor. The stairs and under stairs in particular are effectively planned. A comfortable area is well achieved with a homely, pastel colour palette.

The play begins with the exhilarated couple Colin (Phil Corbitt) and Deborah (Sarah Belcher) celebrating their good fortune. They have finally received their insurance pay out for their cunning plan. We are then taken back in time to witness how the plan was first hatched and it’s demise on the two characters.

There are many short scenes in this play. It is very episodic. Each short scene ends with a black outs, flashing lights and strange, pulsating sounds. This became very irritating as a viewer. The music or high pitched sounds were extremely loud and this reviewer felt that the flashing lights were unnecessary. It did however create frenzy and tension.

This two hander was well cast and character development was clearly seen. Belcher in particular showed distinctly her portal from the down trodden wife, who went along with her husbands ideas, to finally blossoming into a women in her own rights. This was a joy to watch. Her costume changes were simple but effective and had to be quick, which she achieved with aplomb.

Corbitt created a character whose personality contrasted well with Belcher’s. He was brash, arrogant and lived in a fantasy world. He hatched a plan that he truly thought he would get away with. Corbitt captured and held the audience’s attention throughout with his strong confidence and audacity.

The final plot twist was a master stroke. This reviewer won’t spoil it by revealing what lies ahead for this couple.

The Live Theatre in Newcastle have long been advocates of new writing, as have the Stephen Joseph Theatre in  Scarborough where this play sails to next. It docks in Scarborough on the 16th October. You still have time to view it at the Live Theatre, so don’t miss the boat.

Runs until Saturday 10th October 2026.