A Streetcar Named Desire

Exeter Little Theatre Company Presents
A Streetcar Named Desire
By Tennessee Williams
Directed by Tim Isaac

A Streetcar Named Desire 10-14 March 2026
23.3.26
It is always a pleasure to see an Exeter Little Theatre Company show – this is a richly populated and dedicated company which gives every production 110%. The work that went into Streetcar was no exception.
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a tragic 1947 play following Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle who moves in with her sister, Stella, and violent brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski, in New Orleans. Blanche’s fragile illusions shatter under Stanley’s aggressive interrogation of her troubled past, resulting in a sexual assault, mental breakdown, and ultimate institutionalisation.
The set was very creatively rendered, giving a real sense of the proximity of the houses and apartments and though an elevated backlit voile upstage, the streets behind central characters Sidney and Stella’s home. The set team gave you a real feel of an overcrowded ghetto and you could hear the bustle and feel the over headed cloying atmosphere. The central area was two rooms of the apartment in detail. A living area and the bedroom (leading to the bathroom) which were separated by a curtain, very of-the-time and
reminiscent of the lack of privacy that they would have experienced.
The show was dimly lit, a requirement I suspect of the script as Blanche actively seeks the dark to conceal any sign of her age. The costumes were very truthful to the period particularly the items from Blanche’s suitcase. She appears to be very credibly patrician only showing cracks as Stanley so cruelly begins to undermine her. I very much enjoyed her entrance, sitting awkwardly on her trunk as Eunice the neighbour takes pity on her and fetches Stella.
I also very much enjoyed the ensemble work, which created an initially vibrant atmosphere as each of the couples are off bowling, laughing and joking with each other. Rachel Barker as Eunice played a lovely role, bringing a brightness and energy to the character which was very believable and endearing as a matriarchal figure.
Stanley is a great role for any actor, Daniel did a superb job, moving though his first appearance as half of a young couple in love, to an increasingly sinister and aggressive narcissist who ultimately attacks Blanche and manipulates his wife.
Played by Jasmine, Stella is an optimistic and enduring soul, determined to make her tiny stake in the world a happy place, making the best of the chaos around her and seeing only good in everyone. This was a lovely performance – keeping the audience perpetually on her side and increasingly worried for her. 

Blanche was a truly complicated and pitiful creature – you wanted to believe her map of the world and wished her a happy new start with Mitch – watching it fall from her grasp was genuinely painful. Kirsty did a wonderful job with this part – you believed her at every step of the way. Matt Ridley was also a believable character, and I can only berate him for not diverting from the script and marrying Blanche anyway!

This was a well-executed production, entirely characteristic of Exeter Little Theatre, beautifully imagined and directed. Each character, supporting or principle painted a picture utterly consistent with the time and feel of the darkest side of 1940s New Orleans and drew you in to share their pain. Congratulations ELTC, great show!

Katie Jones
NODA Representative
District 8a
07831 313322

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