The Height of the Storm
The Height of the Storm
By Florian Zeller
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Jonathan Kent
The Height of the Storm is a beautifully compelling family drama by Florian Zeller, “the most exciting playwright of our time” (The Guardian). Starring two of the greatest actors of their generation on stage together for the first time, this major new play from the writer of Olivier Award-Winning The Father is a searing exploration of love, family and the fragility of life.
André and Madeleine have been in love for over fifty years. This weekend, as their daughters visit, something feels unusual. A bunch of flowers arrives, but who sent them? A woman from the past turns up, but who is she? And why does André feel like he isn’t there at all?
Jonathan Pryce is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning actor of stage and screen. His varied work includes lauded performances in film including Brazil, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carrington and Evita and on stage in a landmark international tour of The Merchant of Venice, Comedians for which he received a Tony Award and Miss Saigon in the West End and on Broadway. He most recently appeared as the High Sparrow in the hugely successful Game of Thrones.
Dame Eileen Atkins is a three-time Olivier award-winning actress. She is known for her BAFTA and Emmy award-winning performance in Cranford, as well as roles in film including Gosford Park, The Hours and Robin Hood. Her many stage appearances include Honour, Retreat from Moscow and Ellen Terry. She can be seen most recently as Queen Mary in Netflix’s The Crown.
“Complex and subtle…a beautiful new play.” - Le Figaro
“Highly sensitive and compassionate…Zeller reminds us that life is beautiful.” - Le Parisien
- Booking Information
Please note: Real cigarettes are smoked during the show.
- Cast
Jonathan Pryce
Eileen Atkins
Amanda Drew
Anna Madelely
James Hillier
And Lucy Cohu
By Florian Zeller
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Jonathan Kent
Designed by Anthony Ward
Lighting by Hugh Vanstone
Sound by Paul Groothius
- Duration
1 hour and 20 minutes
- Good To Know
Please note: Real cigarettes are smoked during the show.
Additional Details & FAQ
- Access Information
For accessibility information please call 0344 482 5137.
- Cancellation Policy
No refunds after purchase.
- How Does It Work
No refunds after purchase.
- Suitable For Children
Children are welcome at all Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, but this may be subject to individual production age restrictions due to content. If any age restrictions for productions apply we shall advise you prior to the performance.
All persons aged under 16 must be accompanied and sat next to the accompanying adult. They may not sit on their own within the auditorium. If children do have separate seats, entry could be refused.
All patrons, regardless of age, must present a valid ticket to gain entry to the theatre. Please ensure that any children or infants for whom you are responsible also have a valid ticket. Your child should be able to sit unaided within the purchased seat. We do not allow children to be seated on an adult’s lap or babes in arms.
- Where Do I Go
Wyndham's Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0DA
Train: Charing Cross (approx. 200m)
Tube: Leicester Square (next to theatre), Charing Cross (approx. 600m), Holborn (approx. 600m)
Reviews
BevKan
Dec 2, 2018
I am feeling humbled to have witnessed this amazingly beautiful play, the realization of loss. Seeing two iconic actors together, was something to treasure. At first couldn't work out who was gone, then you realise! An emotional and beautiful play, which touches the heart, the head, the soul. Amazing.
Jane
Nov 30, 2018
The whole cast were superb, particularly Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins. A thought provoking and sensitive story, cleverly written.
Pat
Nov 27, 2018
An excellent production with impeccable acting.
Alan Quigley.
Nov 25, 2018
A bitter sweet portrayal of a life of love and of loss. Off mind games and mis interpretations. Powerful acting from all but notably the two leads. ‘What is my position, my position, my position’? My position would be that I could see this again. Bravissimo.
Outthere1971 aka Elaine
Nov 25, 2018
A heart rendering play with an exceptional cast who take you on a journey through dealing with death and the grief of the aging parent. Family secrets are uncovered and the two sisters come to terms with finding out about their unknown brother and fathers infidelity. However, you need to concentrate as it moves fast and can be confusing at times. If you want to read past reviews on my blog visit outthere1971 @writeoutthere1971 on wordpress
Dmitri Safronov
Nov 24, 2018
Incredible plot, which violates all the known laws of physics in the most adorable fashion. Superbly acted out by the cast. Fantastic, moving and memorable experience.
Tim Moss
Nov 23, 2018
Wonderful acting but a rather turgid and predictable play.
Play Enjoyer
Nov 23, 2018
Great performance that kept you thinking and wondering throughout the play. Great acting, engaging storyline, lovely set. Really enjoyed it.
Laura
Nov 22, 2018
Very much enjoyed show Engrossing & intriguing in presence of actors who are so professional they do not seem to be acting Loved the play on time past & present
Kim
Nov 21, 2018
Loved the play. As someone with dementia in my family it was an eye opener as to how that person must see things and feels. Sad too. Was perfect for an after performance discussion which I had with the lady sat next to me!
Lorraine
Nov 21, 2018
The acting in this production was excellent. The way the play dealt with key human issues was creative. Really worth seeing.
Sanjay
Nov 19, 2018
Multi-layered drama which viewers would enjoy unravelling.
A. Rushbrook
Nov 16, 2018
We had a very enjoyable evening we throughly enjoyed the performance we thought the acting was fantastic and the play was very thought provoking.
Claire
Nov 15, 2018
Superb performances. So thrilled to see two of my favourite actors on stage together - tour de force. Highly recommend.
KB
Nov 15, 2018
Plot was thought provoking, emotional and the acting was brilliant throughout. Highly recommend it.
Francis
Nov 15, 2018
Brilliant acting by he whole cast, this is a play which was worth travelling to see - my younger sister came from west Wales (Machynlleth) and I travelled from Hythe in Kent. We were not disappointed, but our only thought is that we might have had a better view of the stage, had we been able to book seats in the Stalls, or a little lower down in the theatre than the Balcony!
Kareai
Nov 13, 2018
The Height of the Storm deals with growing old and facing separation after a lifetime together, in a complex and interesting way. It is not entirely clear which of the two spouses has died, how or even if, as the author plays with time, perspective, and imagination. Despite the elements of humour coming in particular from the female character's words the overriding feeling is that of mortality, vulnerability and human suffering. Are we ever really free to keep our promises? We are privileged to have these themes interpreted by two such consummate actors, supported excellently by the minor roles.
JP
Nov 11, 2018
Acting of the highest order.
Marie
Nov 11, 2018
Acting firm Pryce and Atkins was amazing but wish I’d known that the storyline was so confusing really couldn’t get to grips but does make you think.
Nina Vieira
Nov 11, 2018
Although a very interesting theme it was quite confusing and the sound quality was awful. Sadly Eileen Atkins didn’t project her voice which meant that we missed a lot of what she said. Several people around us (in the gods) were saying the same thing.
Mungo
Nov 11, 2018
I enjoyed the production and the acting was superb. If, however, you want to pull all the stands together and reach a resolved solution this play will present you with a real challenge and at the end a sense of frustration.
Docking
Nov 11, 2018
I really enjoyed the two leads, especially Eileen Atkins. I'm a little hard of hearing but I didn't miss one word of her lines. She is such a natural actress and a joy to watch. Jonathan Pryce was also very good but I had a little difficulty catching some of his dialogue. This is a play that certainly makes you think.
Theresa
Nov 11, 2018
Height of the storm, very well acted, clear diction.
Dan
Nov 9, 2018
Ok am not even close to a regular theatre goer, but heh, my opinion counts!?! Really loved the performance and believed in characters and especially liked the way the messed with your head to simulate dementia. And great to see JP up close.
Matthew Walton
Nov 9, 2018
If only more theatre of this calibre could be rolled out across the world. The characterisation adopted by Atkins and Pryce was brilliant with a strong supporting cast. The play was as much thought provoking and confronting as it was emotional and real.
Heather Anne
Nov 8, 2018
The play showed great insight into the complexity of emotions, love, trust and the difficulties we have integrating them into everyday life. These actors had felt that and wanted to transmit these confused sentiments to us. Masterful translation with just one wobble. Wonderful interpretation, positively sensitive, thank you.
Lia
Nov 6, 2018
Simply superb!!!
Salter's
Nov 5, 2018
Truely excellent performance by all of the cast. The play was powerful, moving and emotionally engaging. Don't miss it !
Gigi Boujouane
Nov 4, 2018
Enjoyable play ,thought provoking. It was well acted , the kitchen was typical shabby chic French as I remember. The lightening was very imaginative and was used to create atmosphere. Also the play had no interval which I appreciated. It made me laugh and cry. Well acted play in my opinion.
Richard W
Nov 4, 2018
This was a play about dementia and much more. The challenge for the audience was to unravel the narrative which conflated two separate visits by anxious children to discuss their father's dementia and what steps to take. The first visit preceded their mother's death and the second dealt with the period immediately after her funeral. Her constant presence on stage poignantly portrayed the sense of loss felt by a partner after a marriage of 50+ years while trying to keep a grip on reality. Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins portrayed the couple brilliantly and if I use the adjective pinteresque to describe the play, it is meant as a compliment.
Sue from Wembley
Nov 3, 2018
Very different Not a straightforward drama. Lots to think about. We talked about it afterwards for some time. Glad we saw it Excellent performance.
Dr chinedu Ike-Morris
Nov 3, 2018
Breathtaking performance from an outstanding cast.
Clive Mieville
Nov 3, 2018
Outstanding actors in a thought provoking setting. Says on your mind for a long time afterwards.
Sarah Doe
Nov 2, 2018
Great play lovely old theatre but seats not very comfortable
Tinker
Nov 2, 2018
Superb acting by Eileen Atkins and Jonathan Pryce! Rest of the cast were pretty good too. You have to think about what is portrayed in front of you but well worth watching.
Janet Price
Nov 1, 2018
A brilliant play. The best I've seen on years. Acting from all the cast incredible. Such a moving play, poignant and moving. Can't recommend the play highly enough.
K lock
Nov 1, 2018
You really need to read up on reviews and synopsis before going, to help your understanding and enjoyment of this amazing play. Hugely talented performances, amazingly written and corigraphed a very powerful and thought provoking play. Would highly recommend it and certainly hope that all involved are rewarded in future awards.
J. Angles
Nov 1, 2018
Very good needed for the actors to speak up a little or the tech guys to do a better job
Elisabeth Magdalena
Nov 1, 2018
A thinking man’s play with wonderful actors!! Florian Zeller makes you reflect long after leaving the theatre.
SuziQ
Oct 30, 2018
Loved the play and all these particular actors portrayals of their characters. The play was thought provoking, intense and clever. So if you appreciate real life subject matter - go see!
L Williams
Oct 28, 2018
Well observed and sensitive narrative. Clever structure flitting in and out of imaginary situations - married and together, , widowed husband, widowed wife. Not the most cheery of subjects bur interesting nevertheless. And extremely well- acted.
Maggie Mac
Oct 28, 2018
Excellent portrayal of later life in a state of dementia within a family situation, where the audience is put into a similar state of not-knowing what is going on around one. We are left still not sure what has or is happening.
Pete
Oct 26, 2018
This is a highly unusual, baffling, endearing, funny, thought-provoking and touching play, brilliantly brought to life by a wonderful cast surrounded by a clever set design.
Sue Woolley
Oct 25, 2018
The play is elusive and dreamlike as well as sharply defined and realistic, with plenty of kitchen sink as well as the grand themes of time and loss. The humour is down to earth and yet the pathos is almost unbearable. Performances were peerless, you could feel the love for Atkins and Pryce at the end. My only quible:shouldn't the set have been translated into English too. It was a bit too grand and Parisian.
Mia
Oct 23, 2018
This play is fascinating. I loved the puzzle of the plot - that's how it's described, and it's completely accurate. I thought about it for days after. You're enraptured the whole time and it almost seems to end too quickly, but the ending really was perfect. Every performance was perfect; it was such a treat to see Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins on stage, which is why I bought the ticket in the first place; and the rest of the cast was flawless too. I fell in love immediately.
Miki
Oct 23, 2018
Florian Zeller is always an interesting playwright + we have an excellent cast (some a little quiet but, to be fair, we were in the balcony!). Jonathan Pryce - SUPERLATIVE!!! A play worth seeing!
Numb Bum
Oct 19, 2018
An excellent show. My review here https://numbbumblog.wordpress.com/2018/10/19/height-of-the-storm-no-tea-cups-here/
Alan Morgan
Oct 19, 2018
Beautifully acted by the cast, especially Atkins and Price and the supporting cast( though audibility an issue for some in the first 25 mins).Atkins especially conveys sweetness, humanity and stoicism of a long relationship. However the play is a realistic evocation of loss, tristeness of time , diminishing powers and the powerlessness of younger loved ones. A terrific play would say more : eg King Lear; or wildness of diminished powers- eg Tempest; or even a touch of Tennessee Williams!
Ed
Oct 19, 2018
The Height of the Storm has received many plaudits, but they hardly do it justice. It was the best theatre event I have experienced in my life. It is sometimes difficult with theatre to fully immerse oneself but here the performances transcended the stage. Of course all aspects of the production and all the players were faultless but the actors were somehow transparent, they served a brilliant and complex story which continues to resonate in the memory.
The Keatster
Oct 18, 2018
It was a privilege to watch two wonderful actors in Jonathan Pryce and Dame Eileen Atkins. Like evryone else my wife and I looked at each other in bewilderment at first trying to work out who was actually dead (and indeed we still disagreed at the end). But the mixture of drama comedy and pathos kept us absorbed to the end (and the very final scene was very touching)The whole cast was excellent, especially Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins. I thoroughly recommend it. (Although we could have done without the fire alarm which meant we had to evacuate the building at one point!)