American Psycho Returns in Hypnotic, High Gloss Revival at the Almeida Theatre
A bold new revival of AMERICAN PSYCHO has arrived at London’s Almeida Theatre, marking a striking farewell for director Rupert Goold as he prepares to take up leadership of the Old Vic.
Over his 13 year tenure at the Almeida, Goold has overseen an extraordinary period of success, with more than a dozen productions transferring to the West End, multiple Broadway runs, and 21 Olivier Awards collected along the way. His final bow in Islington sees him revisit his debut production, an all singing, all dancing musical adaptation of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
The musical transforms the notorious tale of murderous Wall Street banker Patrick Bateman into a slick, visually charged satire of 1980s excess. Critics have noted how the production amplifies the novel’s dark humour without tipping into outright parody, allowing its commentary on toxic masculinity, performative wealth, and hollow ambition to resonate uncomfortably with modern audiences.
Leading the cast is Arty Froushan, whose portrayal of Bateman charts a chilling descent from polished preppy to unravelled sociopath. Reviewers have highlighted his interpretation as more restrained and eerily plausible than the infamous film version played by Christian Bale, lending the character a disturbingly familiar quality.
The score by Duncan Sheik leans heavily into pulsing electrosynth, delivering a succession of high energy numbers that evoke the soundscape of the era. This is paired with a sharp, incisive book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, keeping the satire tightly focused even as the spectacle escalates.
Visually, the production is unapologetically maximalist. A catwalk style stage allows dance heavy sequences to dominate the space, while video projections and bold, garish lighting evoke the sensation of a nightmarish 1980s music video. The overall effect has been described as hypnotic, drawing audiences into Bateman’s glossy yet hollow world.
Not all critics are convinced the revival was necessary. While the production has been praised for its polish and theatrical bravura, some have questioned whether its downbeat narrative truly aligns with the heightened nature of musical theatre, suggesting the result can feel emotionally distant despite the excess on display.
AMERICAN PSYCHO plays at the Almeida Theatre in London until 14 March.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
