DAVID
A shepherd's rise to the throne, told to lift God's name, not the actors'.
Should You Watch It?
Yes — without hesitation. This is the rare production where the quality and the content point the same direction. Sight & Sound has built a live stage epic with a cast of over fifty, live animals, and state-of-the-art effects, and then aimed all of it at one goal: giving God the glory, not the performers.
You'll get David's whole arc — shepherd, giant-slayer, fugitive, warrior-king, psalmist — including his failures. But the production doesn't linger on his sin; it lingers on his repentance. Nothing here will make you cover a child's eyes.
Whether you're gathering the family or going for your own soul's sake, this one is worth your time.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDavid is a humble shepherd with a lyre and a heart set on God. Called out from the flock, he faces down a giant, flees a jealous king, and rises through hardship into Israel's throne — singing the Psalms the whole way there. What happens once the crown is on his head is a story of its own, and we'll let the production tell it.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is about as good as this kind of production gets, and the source review backs that up fully. The stage design is stunning, the live animals and new visual-effects technology give it real spectacle, and a cast of over fifty makes the story feel as large as it should. The actors are praised for pulling viewers into the narrative, and the music is called heartfelt and worshipful throughout. Even the closing note is craft in service of purpose: no actor takes a bow — the honor goes to God instead. It's a production built with real skill and pointed in one direction.
The Worldview
This is a strong, unapologetically biblical retelling, and it doesn't flinch from the hard parts of David's story to get there. His victories are here — Goliath, his years as a mighty warrior, his kingship — but so is his failure: the production addresses his sin with Bathsheba directly, if tastefully, and makes his repentance the emphasis rather than the scandal. That choice matters. It means the show isn't just celebrating a hero; it's telling the truth about a man after God's own heart who still had to come back to God.
Throughout, Scripture itself does the heavy lifting — Psalms are sung, prayed, and quoted, and David's relationship with God, not his résumé as king, is the show's real subject. The production trusts the Bible enough to let it speak for itself, and that trust is what makes this a rare four-star, all-ages recommendation from Movieguide.
David's whole life traces one longing: a heart that fails and still turns back to God. Scripture names that turning for what it is — "a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral, biblical worldview with many Christian elements, and stories from the Bible to tell the story of David, with Psalms quoted, sung and prayed
Foul Language
No foul language
Violence
As the stage play recounts David as a mighty warrior and king, there are some depictions of war and battles, as well as David fighting Goliath, but there is no graphic violence or blood
Sex
No sex scenes but there’s light implied adultery as the play addresses King David’s sin with Bathsheba, but it’s done in a tasteful, family-friendly way, with David’s realization of his sin and eventual repentance is emphasized
Nudity
No nudity Alcohol Use/Abuse: No alcohol
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Deceit but there’s repentance.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
David is called "a man after God's own heart" even though he sinned badly. What does that phrase actually mean, and can it be true of us too?
Acts 13:22 · 1 Samuel 13:14The production emphasizes David's repentance over his sin with Bathsheba. Why does the way we tell a story about failure matter?
Psalm 51:1–17David faced Goliath as a shepherd boy with no armor, trusting God instead of his own strength. Where in your life is God asking you to trust Him instead of relying on yourself?
1 Samuel 17:45–47The actors give the glory to God instead of taking a bow. What would it look like for your family to point credit toward God more often in your own successes?
Psalm 115:1The Final Word
Sight & Sound set out to tell David's whole story — the giant-slaying and the failure, the kingship and the repentance — and to hand the glory for all of it back to God. They succeeded. Our answer: worth the trip. Gather the family for this one.
