Harold Pinter Theatre

Directed by Sean Mathias

“Taking this new Show to 80+ theatres around the country, has been a joyful birthday present to myself.  I’ve played mainly in theatres I knew well as a young theatregoer and actor. On my birthday, I was in Bolton Town Hall where my dad used to work. It began last February with 15 theatres in Greater London and will end in Orkney. 

Soon I will be back in London, for a limited season in the West End, raising much-needed funds for theatre charities. 

As for the show? Ask someone who’s seen it. Come and find out.”

Ian McKellen

“The theatre event of the year” - The Telegraph

‘Warmth, wit and wizardry. In a line of 20th century legends including Gielgud and Olivier. Come one, come all and marvel’ - The Telegraph

In the heat of summer, Sonya (Aimee Lou Wood) and her Uncle Vanya (Toby Jones) while away their days on a crumbling estate deep in the countryside, visited occasionally only by the local doctor Astrov (Richard Armitage).

However, when Sonya’s father Professor Serebryakov (Ciarán Hinds) suddenly returns with his restless, alluring, new wife Yelena (Rosalind Eleazar) declaring his intention to sell the house, the polite facades crumble and long repressed feelings start to emerge with devastating consequences.

Following sold-out runs at both Chichester Festival Theatre and the Menier Chocolate Factory, Laura Wade’s The Watsons transfers to the West End in 2020.

Directed by Samuel West, The Watsons played to critical acclaim at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018 and at the Menier in 2019. 

“Laura Wade triumphs spinning Jane Austen into major theatrical gold” Variety