Mamma Mia! and The History Boys star Dominic Cooper returns to the West End in Stephen Jeffrey’s The Libertine.
In a role previously played on stage by John Malkovich and on film by Johnny Depp, Dominic Cooper is the second Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot. A poet and playwright renowned for his charisma, John Wilmot is also a devoted hedonist. However, a chance meeting with an actress at the Playhouse leads him to question everything he thought he knew.
Based on a true story, Jeffrey’s vivacious and fast-moving play casts an unflinching eye on 1670s London, a place and time known for its love of debauchery. Bursting with sparkling wit and wild, period drama, this major revival of The Libertine is directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Terry Johnson.
A skilful play celebrated for being both ribald and profound, The Libertine is a real theatrical treat. Playing at the Theatre Royal Haymarket for a limited time, book your The Libertine tickets today.
The Libertine reviews
The Libertine was not up to West End standards.Dominic Cooper was good in the title role but he I felt was miscast.I would have preferred to see an actor with more gravitas in the role like Rufus Sewell or David Tenant.Some of the cast spoke their lines far too quickly with no proper intonation and phrasing and and times was difficult to understand. On the plus side Jasper Britton was superb as King Charles 11 and Will Barton as Alcock also stood out.It has only been revived once since the original stage production with John Malcovitch in the title role and now I have seen this latest production I can see why.
Dominic Cooper leads a very fine cast in the perfect theatre, the Theatre Royal Haymarket, for a Restoration era drama entirely let down by a dull, mediocre play that grinds on endlessly into the night. Thin and ponderous , I should have left at the interival.
The lewd and licentious Libertine lauds it about the stage! A great production not for the prudish. Dominic Cooper was superb. Wonderful cast.
Good acting and costumes could not make up for crudeness. Lacked refinement and cleverness of Restoration Comedy.
Well developed, well performed and funny play... in a beautiful theatre. Lovely, lovely evening. Thank you everyone!
It would definitely pay to read about the Earl of Rochester before going to see the play so that when it kicks off you have some context. A group of women dancing with dildos in the 17th Century, revelatory.
One of my least favroute plays to watch unfortunately, hard to follow and we wanted to leave during the interval but decided to stick it out. Unfortunately we should have left.
Bawdy, outrageous, fast paced, funny I enjoyed this rollicking play.
You will be teased, tantalised and tempted by the gorgeous Emily Byrt and her oranges. All of which happens before the play even begins. She sets an atmosphere in the audience of intense desire for the leading actors to enter into and they don't fail to deliver. The play is of the highest standard and shows Dominc Coopers' talents to there full . But please more oranges for Miss Byrt to extend her flaunting and increase the audience's empathy with the charactors.
Very entertaining, engaging and at times comedic. This is balanced with serious dramatic scenes. A wonderful portrayal by the leads. Highly recommended .
A very witty comedy that made us all laugh out loud. Excellent acting by all! 1st half is quite long but stay in there and the second half won't disappoint you!
It’s my second time seeing the play, and both times I left with different experiences. It’s a funny, eccentric and unique play with very talented actors. Dominic Cooper is brilliant, wonderful and very situated for the role of Lord Rochester.
After watching the film version of the libertine ; my expectations were quite high. I felt this theatrical piece didn't do the Earl justice. The added comedy value did not show the darkerkness and turmoil felt by the main character. The first thing I did when I hit backhone was watch the film version. How could I forget how brilliant this movie is. For anyone who has watched the film don't go .. you will be dissapointed.
The play was fun but it had had reviews suggesting it was a rollicking, lewd and laugh out loud show. In fact it was quite wordy and thoughtful, and I don't think half of the audience had come expecting this. I also thought some of the actors including Dominic Cooper, were not experienced theatre actors and at times it was hard to hear. The wenches with the dildo song seemed to almost belong to another more pantomime like show.
This was a birthday treat to London and the Theatre. Tickets £125, excellent seats row C. However this was the worst thing I have ever seen, boring and I didn't laugh once. The actors gave it their best shot ..... but only the Blackadder team could have saved this 20 years ago. I've had more fun at the dentist.
Excellent play with very good cast.D ominic Cooper was very compelling.
Dominic Cooper was very good, I liked the way he involved the audience from the very beginning, the whole cast were good too and this gave a flavour of the times in which he lived. Perhaps the ladies were a little forward in their thinking - rather modern attitudes - but great entertainment.
This was the second time I saw this play in London. The first time was several years ago, and I believe John Malcovich played the lead. The setting were excellent, as was the acting, although I would have liked to see a more exhuberant libertine. Dark can also glow.
Dominic Cooper was likable from the very beginning till the end, its impossible not to like him on and off stage. The Company is excellent, but the only issue is Terry Johnson is a playwrite not a Director, doing well though. The play is good. You can enjoy your evening for sure. I would prefer not to hear the song at the beginning of the second act.
We went to a matinee performance (with sister) and were very impressed with the performance and found the actors really impressive, particularly when it felt as if we were being involved in the events. A thoroughly good time.
This show was great, the theatre is really lovely and really suited the production perfectly. The cast was superb and Dominic Cooper captivating as the Libertine - I thoroughly recommend this show
Absolutely fantastic! Be warned, here's what could happen when you have too much time on your hand and little ambition
I really loved the show - full of history and more than a little smut.
I booked this knowing it had some very mixed reviews so I wasn't going too hyped, but ended up really enjoying it had a lot of adult humour that wasn't expecting and some really funny and strong performances from the whole cast id say give this ago if you like adult humour and ain't offered easily :) because if your not you'll really enjoy it :) and some of cast come out before the performance start which added to the atmosphere
Theatre half empty. Cast competent but acting by numbers (and two characters hamming it up a la black adder). No smouldering, no passion. Could have been great but super disappointing.
Funny, rude and engaging! I thoroughly enjoyed this production: the wit, performance and pace delighted the whole audience.
Went to a matinee performance and really enjoyed it having read the rather mixed reviews it was much better than we expected. The acting was good and the comedy moments well done. Would definitely recommend
Not for those who might be offended by sexual scenes or fruity language, back we go to the days of Charles II, where a man's pleasures were to be found in the wine bottle or the whore-house or, preferably, both. The central character, the Earl of Rochester, takes his enjoyment of these things, and a distaste for the King, way too far, and the play follows his sorry descent to the gutter. The sets were superb, and the actors clear in their speech. Everyone at the theatre was friendly and helpful, too.
Excellent cast. Dominic steals the show as expected but the writing is also stellar. A magnificent insight into the period, delivered with satire and wit.
We were in row B so had a great close up view of the actors and can confirm the very high quality of the acting!! Set in the time of Charles II it is a costume drama in the style of a restoration comedy. It is lewd in some of its discourse but the script is of a high quality, the costume and stage set were excellent and it is entertainment of a kind that you cannot see on the television
I've been to see this play 4 times already and will go again the whole cast are amazing led by a great performance by Dominic Cooper and the play itself funny and witty all in all a great night out.
Great performance with interesting plot. Want to see it again!
Great performance with interesting plot. Want to see it again!
Excellent production, funny, well staged and extremely rude. Really enjoyed it.
Need I say more?
Was I entertained? Yes. Was the humour good and the sexual innuendos entertaining? Yes. Was I amazed? No. Would I watch it again? Maybe. You can easily guess the play's direction and the emotional matrix of the main character as a genius/bad boy/troubled by life's direction/cynical. Dominic Cooper delivers well and with an ease, and the supporting cast does a good job too although he stands out. Its hard not to like him (despite him saying you will not) as you can see his struggle mainly with himself. I do prefer however to see more of Dominic Cooper in the series Preacher as it allows itself to be darker, which perhaps this play should have done.
No centre point in the writing of the piece I do not know what I have been learning through the evening.
Good fun, language is colourful and the opening scene of the second half is not for the easily offended, but an enjoyable evening. Cooper is good but the character Alcock gets the funny lines!!
Dominic Cooper oozes sex appeal and the Duke of Rochester's personality changes several times under his interpretation of a more likeable villain than history often dictates. The main supporting actors held their own again his dominant role. The plot was credible, with many laugh-aloud moments for the entire audience. The most notable of which is the dildo scene at the start of the second half. Histericak! The massive golden picture frame as the backdrop was genius, with the changes in subject-matter so subtle, the scary changed before your very eyes. A wonderful evening's entertainment.
I found the Libertine racy, punchy and very contemporary. It highlighted the discrepancies between rich and poor and the ability to flagrantly abuse others because of your wealth and power. Reminded me of a restoration Riot Club. Loved the sets and the cast were excellent.
Whist the acting was good for the most part, the play itself was at times verging on farce. It was difficult to work out whether it was a comedy or not, with a very limited plot and ridiculous amounts of sexual innuendo - or in places not even innuendo, but very obvious salacious scenes. Would not recommend - we left early.
Acting was disappointing, the play was made into too much of a comedy and the death seen was unbelievable. Not a patch on the film or the real man's story.
Well written excellent play. Ambitious staging and bawdy but.....the cast is underwhelming. The best scene was the female members (!) of the cast belting out an outrageous song to start the second act.
Amazing, side splitting and deeply moving all at once.
to the westend mr. cooper! it was a joy to watch the play (even from the cheap seats - happy that I can pay my oyster card this month but wanted to see this!!) brilliant actors - jokes are hilarious - drama inevitable .. but go and find out - u won't be disappointed! definitely 'likeable' (;
FAQs
Address
Haymarket. SW1Y 4HT.
Cancellation Policy
No exchanges or refunds available after purchase.
Good To Know
Contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature.
Patrons in the Gallery should be aware that seating is on cushioned wooden benches.
How Does It Work
You will receive a confirmation email. Please print this email and bring it with you and present to the Box Office. We recommend you arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before the show.
Suitable For Children
Recommended for the ages of 16 years and over - 16+ Contains strong language and scenes of a sexual nature.
When Can I Go
Booking Period Dates - Thursday 22nd September – Saturday 3rd December 2016
- Monday – Saturday 7.30pm
- Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm
Where Do I Go
Venue Address : Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
How to Get there
RAIL : The nearest National Rail station to the Theatre Royal Haymarket is London Charing Cross. Please see the directions below:
Charing Cross (7 minutes): exit the station and turn left down the Strand. Cross over the roundabout to Trafalgar Square and cut across the square to Pall Mall. Turn right up Haymarket; the Theatre Royal will be a short distance up the road and on the right hand side, opposite Her Majesty’s Theatre.
TUBE :
The nearest tube station to The Theatre Royal Haymarket is Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines), with both Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and Leicester Square(Piccadilly Circus and Northern lines) also nearby.
Piccadilly Circus (3 minutes): Exit Piccadilly Circus station on the right hand side (by the statue and Criterion Theatre.) Take the first left down Haymarket. The theatre will be on your left hand side opposite Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Charing Cross (7 minutes): Please see the directions above in the ‘Rail’ section.
Leicester Square (6 minutes): Take the Charing Cross Road exit and head south toward Charing Cross. As the road forks by the Garrick Theatre, keep right and head straight down toward the National Portrait Gallery. Just before you reach the gallery, turn right down Orange Street and keep walking until you meet Haymarket and the end of the road. Turn left onto Haymarket. The Theatre Royal will be on your right hand side.