Apex Predator (Playscript)

by John Donnelly
Apex Predator (Playscript) cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Horror
Technical:
  • ID: 360
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
Faber · 2025-09-10
brilliant 4.00

Apex Predator is praised as a brilliant new play that effectively blends supernatural thriller elements with a critique of modern life.

Faber highlights 'Apex Predator' as a striking new work by John Donnelly, which combines thrilling supernatural aspects with sharp social commentary. The play’s strength lies in its ability to entertain while provoking thought about contemporary anxieties and the search for control in a complex world. This endorsement by Faber emphasizes the play’s originality and relevance, positioning it as a notable contribution to modern theatre that challenges audiences to reflect on the intersection of personal and societal issues.

Quick quotes

    John Donnelly's brilliant new play is at once a supernatural thriller and a sophisticated critique of the way we live now.

    Apex Predator (Playscript).

    Putting On A Faber Play.

Hampstead Theatre · 2025-09-10
engaging 4.00

The play is a genre-busting supernatural thriller and a sharp critique of contemporary life, focusing on a mother’s unraveling and her quest for empowerment.

John Donnelly's 'Apex Predator' is described as a sophisticated and genre-bending piece that combines elements of supernatural thriller with social commentary. The story revolves around Mia, overwhelmed by motherhood and domestic pressures, who is drawn into a world that offers a new form of power and control. The production at Hampstead Theatre highlights the anxiety of modern existence, particularly around issues like climate change and personal agency. Directed by Blanche McIntyre, the play promises a dynamic and thought-provoking experience that challenges the audience to consider the complexities of life and the allure of escapism.

Quick quotes

    John Donnelly’s genre-busting new play is at once a sophisticated critique of the way we live now and a supernatural thriller.

    Mia is going out of her mind in a flat with a baby that won’t feed.

    Suddenly the hunted becomes the hunter…

Time Out London · 2025-04-23
intriguing 3.75

The play is an audacious and enjoyably outlandish take on postpartum depression with a supernatural twist, though its ambiguity about the metaphysical elements limits character depth.

Apex Predator offers a bold and unusual approach to the topic of postpartum depression by blending it with a supernatural thriller involving vampirism. The play deliberately leaves ambiguous whether Mia’s experiences are real or imagined, which adds an intriguing layer but also restricts deeper development of Ana’s character. Despite this, Sophie Melville’s powerful performance as Mia vividly conveys raw emotion and mental turmoil, making the play compelling and impactful. The story feels like it could have been braver and deeper, borrowing elements from Greek tragedy that are not fully realized, yet it remains a striking and memorable work.

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    Donnelly and McIntyre are wilfully ambiguous on whether Mia has been turned into a vampire, which is probably the cool and correct thing to do.

    Sophie Melville lives Mia’s rage and fear so vividly that the question as to whether it’s ‘real’ seems broadly irrelevant when she’s on stage.

    Donnelly has written an audacious play, but it feels like it could have been deeper and braver.

The Arts Desk · 2025-04-15
disappointing 2.25

The play starts with promise but ultimately suffers from poor writing and incoherence, turning its horror and vampirism themes into silliness despite strong lead performances.

Apex Predator attempts to explore the stresses of motherhood through a vampire narrative, but the execution falters due to weak writing and a lack of coherence, which undermines its initial appeal. While Sophie Melville and Laura Whitmore deliver strong performances, especially Melville’s portrayal of a struggling mother, the play doesn’t fully realize its potential and loses impact as it progresses. The plot's ambiguities and underdeveloped elements, such as the supernatural aspects and character motivations, reduce the play to a less convincing and sometimes silly experience, disappointing those familiar with John Donnelly’s previous acclaimed works.

Quick quotes

    New play about motherhood and vampirism is disappointingly incoherent.

    Sophie Melville and Laura Whitmore star in the main roles but soon loses its gloss.

    It’s pretty obvious who the vampire is, but can she help Mia solve her problems?

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