Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
James Macdonald directs a new production of multi Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Edward Albee’s landmark play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Starring Olivier and Bafta award-winning actress Imelda Staunton (Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance); Olivier award-winner Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones, Stones In His Pockets, The Producers); Olivier award-winner Luke Treadaway (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Fortitude, The Hollow Crown) and Imogen Poots, in her West End debut (A Long Way Down, Jane Eyre and Me And Orson Wells).
In the early hours of the morning on the campus of an American college, Martha, much to her husband George’s displeasure, has invited the new professor Nick and his wife Honey to their home for some after-party drinks. As the alcohol flows and dawn approaches, the young couple are drawn into George and Martha’s toxic games until the evening reaches its climax in a moment of devastating truth-telling.
«««««‘Imelda Staunton at her magnificent best. A first rate revival of an astonishing play. Perfection.’ - The Guardian, Michael Billington
«««««‘A fierce revival. Conleth Hill is superb. Exquisite.’ - The Evening Standard, Henry Hitchings
«««««‘James Macdonald’s superlative production. Flawless.’ - The Daily Telegraph, Dominic Cavendish
«««««‘One of the greatest feats of acting I have witnessed. A brilliant night out.’ - The Independent, Paul Taylor
«««««‘Intoxicatingly good. James Macdonald’s blistering production. Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill are superb.’- Financial Times
- Cast
IMELDA STAUNTON (MARTHA)
Imelda Staunton returns to the West End after her triumphant and Olivier Award-winning performance as Mama Rose in Gypsy. Amongst her many other theatre credits, notable performances include Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd, for which she won an Olivier Award, Circle Mirror Transformation for the Royal Court and the role of Claire in Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance at the Almeida Theatre. In total, Staunton has been nominated for eleven Olivier Awards, winning four. On film Staunton is perhaps best known for playing the title role in Vera Drake, for which she received the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and for the role of Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films.
CONLETH HILL (GEORGE)
Conleth Hill is perhaps best known for his role as Lord Varys in the HBO television production Game of Thrones. A multi award-winning theatre actor, amongst his extensive theatre credits, recent productions include Quartermaine’s Terms at the Wyndham’s Theatre and The Cherry Orchard at the National Theatre. Hill won the Olivier Award for Best Actor for The Producers, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and for Stones In His Pockets in the West End. He also received Tony Award nominations for his role in Stones In His Pockets on its transfer to Broadway and The Seafarer, which transferred from the National Theatre to Broadway. Hill’s film credits include Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Whatever Works, directed by Woody Allen
IMOGEN POOTS (HONEY)
Imogen Poots (Honey) makes her West End debut with Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Poots made her breakthrough performance as Tammy in the film 28 Weeks Later. She won the British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Look of Love in 2013 and was nominated for Best Actress at the 2015 Evening Standard British Film Awards for her role in Peter Bogdanovich’s She’s Funny That Way. Other film credits include Terrence Mallick’s The Knight of Cups, Green Room, Filth, Jimi: All Is By My Side, A Late Quartet and Jane Eyre. Poots will next be seen starring opposite Michael Shannon in Frank and Lola, which premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival to great acclaim. On television, she recently played the female lead in Cameron Crowe’s debut television series Roadies (Showtime).
LUKE TREADAWAY (NICK)
Luke Treadaway (Nick) won an Olivier Award for his performance as Christopher in the internationally acclaimed hit The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (National Theatre/ West End) and also originated the role of Albert in the earliest production of War Horse, again at the National. Further theatre credits include Over There (Royal Court), Piranha Heights (Soho Theatre) and Saint Joan (National Theatre). For film, Treadaway plays the lead in the upcoming Sony Pictures release A Street Cat Named Bob, adapted from the New York Times bestselling novel. Treadaway’s further film credits include Unbroken, Attack the Block, The Whistleblower,Clash of the Titans, Tonight You’re Mine, Heartless, The Rise and Brothers of the Head. For television, in January he returns to his role of scientist Vincent Rattrey in the second series of Sky Atlantic’s critically acclaimed Fortitude. His further credits include the lead character of Alex Higgins in BBC’s The Rack Pack, the Duke of Richmond in the second series of The Hollow Crown(BBC/NBC/Neal Street Productions), as well as Sky Arts mini-series The Nightmare World of H.G. Wells with Michael Gambon
- Duration
TBC
Additional Details & FAQ
- Cancellation Policy
No Refunds or exchanges available.
- Where Do I Go
Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, London, SW1Y 4DN
By Tube: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Charing Cross
By Bus: 14, 19, 24, 29, 38
Critic Reviews
Evening Standard
Mar 31, 2017
Imelda Staunton gives a performance of wounding intensity
The Telegraph
Mar 31, 2017
Imelda Staunton is on monstrously fine form
The Guardian
Mar 31, 2017
Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill are both superb as they trade insults and toy vindictively with their guests in a first-rate revival of an astonishing play
The Stage
Mar 31, 2017
Ferocious and fearless production of Edward Albee's great play is performed with stunning power
Reviews
Adam Grimshaw
May 12, 2017
We thoroughly enjoyed the production excellent cast and very well played by them all.
Hannah
May 11, 2017
Incredible performance from Imelda Staunton and the rest of the cast. A must see show.
Sarah
May 11, 2017
Fantastic
JJ
May 9, 2017
Stunning in all ways. - the cast, script, visuals - non of it has left me yet. How do they remember it all and deliver the passion, humour, fury and pain so faultlessly day after day. In the final moments the theatre was silent, seeming to hold its breadth listening to the dialogue and watching these amazing artists inhabit their characters. Mesmerising! You get from this I loved it, am in awe of the actors and thank them for their skill , shared with me for a few hours!
Joanne
May 4, 2017
The play itself is hard work but the cast are incredible!
Luke Norris
May 3, 2017
Brilliant.
Katia Sergeeva
May 3, 2017
So intense, so magical, one day on and i feel completely drained by the sheer power of the actors. Bravo!
David Parry
May 2, 2017
While the acting was clearly excellent the story is thoroughly boring. We left after the second act.
Elain e
May 2, 2017
A fabulous production; I was gripped. All of the cast were superb.
Martina
Apr 30, 2017
A real tour de force- the cast manage to captivate for the whole 3 hours. Imelda is so believable as the vicious, embarrassing wife - she must be emotionally drained at the end of the performance.
Philippa
Apr 30, 2017
This is a great play, and an excellent revival, that has to compete with some previously memorable performances on stage and on film. It succeeds with flying colours.
Mary
Apr 26, 2017
Interesting, if rather too long, play, superbly acted.
Mary
Apr 25, 2017
convoluted story, overlong, superb acting.
theatre lover
Apr 24, 2017
Whole play very engaging. Good view from balcony of stage - staff very helpful in offering to bring refreshments.
jill
Apr 23, 2017
Outstanding performances from the entire cast keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the show - the characters are so believable they take you on an emotional journey which embraces everything from humour to deep discomfort and repulsion....all in 3 hours. Truly outstanding!
Carmel
Apr 22, 2017
Imelda Staunton packs a right old punch as Martha which is brilliantly matched by Conleth Hill as George. The facade of Nick and Honey's marriage is excellently portrayed by Luke Treadaway and Imogen Poots.
Kerri
Apr 21, 2017
The performances are superb. You leave the theatre feeling as though you have done ten rounds. Incredible production.
Ruth
Apr 20, 2017
Incredible performances of a near-perfect script, brilliantly staged.
john benington
Apr 20, 2017
Visceral dialogue, intense acting, sustained emotion - the best theatre I've seen since Paul Schofield in King Lear at RSC in 1964 !
Ruth Allan
Apr 19, 2017
A wonderful production, with great performances from all the cast. Very powerful.
Little 'e'
Apr 19, 2017
My wife and I came to see Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf (matinee Saturday 15th April). It was magnificent, with no reservations. Every one of the actors was perfect throughout. We could hear every word from start to finish and this is a play which NEEDS to be heard as well as seen. We would recommend this production to anyone.
JCW
Apr 18, 2017
Brilliant play, brilliant production, brilliant performances from a brilliant cast! Go and see it now - brilliant!
Isabelle van de werve
Apr 18, 2017
Best performance ever
A. Nonymous
Apr 18, 2017
Amazing performances. Too close to reality for comfort.
Lucie
Apr 18, 2017
I liked the play, the actors were brilliant. I didn´t like my seat. The seats were very high and steep.
Patricia
Apr 16, 2017
A good play with excellent acting. Although long ( about 3h) attention never flagged due to the quality of production and actors. Imelda Staunton was outstanding but all the cast were excellent. A bit gruelling but well worth it.
Sharpie 29
Apr 13, 2017
Brilliant production and superb acting. Highly recommend as a must to see.!!!
Susan Conrad
Apr 13, 2017
The humblingly brilliant Imelda Staunton lead a cast of wonderfully talented actors and I would have cheered them all night. One question. Why did the two leads speak so inaudibly in the last act? They appeared to be whispering and in the stalls Row N 14,15 I simply couldn't hear. BUT, I used my imagination and was happy!!! GOD BLESS Imelda Staunton. She carried the who play despite very stalwart support xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Catherine
Apr 13, 2017
Stunning in every way.
Val Kenning
Apr 6, 2017
Loved every toe curling moment of it. All four performers were excellent and the three hours slid by
Roy
Apr 5, 2017
Brilliant.
Martin Pius
Apr 2, 2017
Stupendous, Imelda , Conleth and team were Wonderful ,Mesmerising Martin
Bristol B
Mar 30, 2017
From the first utterance to the last - amazing.
Philip Lewis
Mar 29, 2017
Fantastic play, great theatre.
Mrs Ann E Renton
Mar 28, 2017
How destructive the fit can be that people find in each other. Wonderful acting .
RR
Mar 28, 2017
Phenomenal play and great acting. Hilariously funny while chillingly frightening - a true masterpiece and worth any sum of money that the theatre charges!
Donna Giddings
Mar 26, 2017
Words fail me when it comes to describing this outstanding performance of this 'Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolfe' . By the end the cast looked thoroughly drained and I did wonder how they would go on to perform again just two hours later after the matinee performance we so enjoyed. The emotion and tension generated throughout the whole nigh on three hours was touchable. I wanted to actually shout 'please let them go home' when the young couple had been so mentally tortured for two hours and still had more to endure. Stunning performances by all four actors and Staunton was right at the side of Taylor's film performance of Martha. Would I recommend this? Most definitely.
Louise
Mar 25, 2017
This play goes from 0 to 100. It started off as a normal evening and frankly was a little dull for me, but this just made it so much more intense when the drama came out. The skill these actors and actresses have is incredible. During the last 15 minutes you would have heard a pin drop, every eye was fixed on the stage, it was just breathtaking and left me speechless when it was over. I watch a lot of shows in London, but never have I seen acting like this.
Moore
Mar 19, 2017
Fabulous
KellyK
Mar 19, 2017
What a powerful performance. I'm so glad I booked tickets. Loved it...
Sue
Mar 19, 2017
Great performance from whole cast - funny and moving. Not to be missed!
Sue Fox
Mar 17, 2017
Full of raw energy this production fully engages the audience from the start. Imelda Staunton has been perfectly cast as the disturbed, and at times, deranged Martha; in fact all the actors deserve acclaim for their portrayals of this dysfunctional group of people. Although quite long, this fantastic play flies past and draws you in from the moment the curtain rises and leaves you emotionally drained as the curtain falls.
Jayne W
Mar 16, 2017
Superb, enthralling, utterly believable. The actors were all amazing. A fantastic experience.
Mel
Mar 15, 2017
A powerful, engaging, ferocious performance
Natasha cottriall
Mar 15, 2017
Incredible. I was engrossed from start to finish
Kate Murray
Mar 14, 2017
Absolutely stunning performances from everyone - Imelda Staunton was outstanding as was Conleth Hall. The humour came through alongside the relentless sniping bitterness. I've been lucky this week to see two stand out performances from female leads in trapped roles- this and Hedda Gabler. I couldn't say which was better but what a brilliant week for theatre and strong female roles.
tracy steinberg
Mar 9, 2017
iMELDA STAUNTON WAS BRILLIANT BUT THE REST OF THE ACTING WAS VERY POOR AND THE PRODUCTION WAS FAR TOO DRAWN OUT
Dr Shaw
Mar 8, 2017
Great performances all round but this play is 3 hrs long! In the last Act when voices were dropped for important speeches, which was very often, the actors were 100% inaudible. Were they miked up and did the mics fail? I still don't know what happened to the child or if the child ever existed because I couldn't hear a thing.
Veronica Gaffney
Mar 5, 2017
So much energy. Imelda Staunton was spectacular in her performance. Really enjoyable!
Lucy
Mar 4, 2017
My friend and I visit the theatre regularly but haven't been as enthralled by anything in a long time. It may be long but the plot was fascinating and all four actors' performances were amazing.