In Shadowlands, BAFTA, Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville plays the part of C. S. Lewis, the literary giant behind The Chronicles of Narnia. We meet him in the comfort of his ordered Oxford world - then along comes Joy Davidman, the brilliant, fiery American poet who upends everything he thought he knew about love, faith and himself.

Penned by William Nicholson, Shadowlands has quite the pedigree. The show first arrived as a BAFTA-winning television drama and later grew into an award-laden stage hit.

Here's what the critics are saying.

Shadowlands Critic Reviews

"This may be an "old-fashioned" play, but I loved it! It has a warmth and poignancy that we often seem to have lost in the theatre today, and Nicholson's writing is not only beautiful English prose, but also superb, believable dialogue, and his play is well-constructed by a master of the craft." - London Theatre 1

"Shadowlands is an incredibly special play, and it's a pleasure to see it return to the West End with a new gaze on it, whilst still honouring its beauty and history. Despite the heartbreaking narrative, the show is incredibly heartwarming and optimistic, and masterfully celebrates the beauty of life." - Theatre & Tonic

"But overall, Shadowlands is a testament to the power of opening oneself up to love. By turns hilarious and deeply affecting, it is a hard heart who could hear Bonneville's final wail of grief and not want to join in." - The Reviews Hub

"This is a heartfelt story about an iconic writer. Even though I would enjoy some more exploration into the worlds he creates and some more space given to the heavy emotional scenes, this is a deeply engaging watch." - London Theatre Reviews.co.uk

"Shadowlands is a very moving and sad story, beautifully put together and one which left me with thoughts on life and mortality, that have been whirling around in my head since." - West End Wilma

"Kavanaugh's direction feels a little pedestrian overall, despite much use of the revolve, but this is a slow-burner of a production. Plodding in parts, but ultimately devastating." -

Broadway World

"There are some scenes that penetrate, especially the exhilarating moment that Lewis and Joy declare their love for each other, circling around the other. The rapport between Lewis and his older brother (Jeff Rawle) with whom he lives, is amusing as well. But as a story of love and grief, it should have you in bits. Love found, so late, an emotionally remote man thawed by it, and then lost again, his love an open wound. It does not feel as eviscerating as it should." - The Guardian