The highly anticipated stage adaptation of The Hunger Games has been labelled “chaotic” and “messy” by theatregoers after its first preview show on Monday (20 October). The production, titled The Hunger Games: On Stage, opened at the purpose-built 1,200-seater Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, with US actor John Malkovich playing President Snow on a screen.
Attendees of the preview night complained that the theatre appeared not to be fully finished, and that they waited outdoors for more than one hour to be let in due to delays related to cast illnesses. The show finally commenced at 8.30pm, instead of its scheduled 7.30pm, and finished at 11.45pm, much later than expected.
One attendee, who uses a wheelchair, said in a TikTok video that the poor view from her seat in the accessibility area meant she asked for a refund and left early. “I couldn’t see anything from my seat,” she said, adding that the box office could not accommodate her with a different seat. “I don’t get how, in 2025, you are still having accessibility problems like this,” she added.
Plenty of attendees praised the production itself – with the cast receiving a standing ovation – but criticised the venue’s organisation. One person claimed they felt “unsafe” in the theatre, writing: “Areas not finished being built, one entrance in and out. My seat felt like it was being held together by hopes and dreams alone.” Another shared footage of bare staircases, saying the theatre “is still not built.”
The Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre was built bespokely for the production, costing £26m in total. The arena is divided into districts referencing the fictional world of Panem, with seats that move during the performance. The Independent has contacted representatives for comment.
