Alterations
by Michael Abbensetts
additional material by Trish Cooke
‘Is that what you want? To be an underdog all your life?’
Walker Holt has big dreams for his tailor’s shop, and an even bigger order to complete. Over the course of 24 hours he must work tirelessly to satisfy his new client’s impossible tailoring needs.
But as the night goes on, it’s not just the trouser hems that start to fray as tensions rise and Walker’s friendships and relationships are pushed to their limits. His success comes at a cost, but what price is he willing to pay?
Lynette Linton (Blues for an Alabama Sky, Shifters) directs Michael Abbensetts’ (Sweet Talk, Empire Road) era-defining comedy, with additional material by Trish Cooke, in its largest ever staging.
Celebrating this award-winning writer, the reinvigorated version of his seminal work illuminates the Guyanese experience of 1970s London and the aspirations and sacrifices of the Windrush generation.
Suitability
This play was written in 1978 and therefore contains historic language and themes that some people may find upsetting.
Cast includes
Arinzé Kene
Walker
Arinzé Kene
Cherrelle Skeete
Darlene
Cherrelle Skeete
Artistic team
Writer
Michael Abbensetts
Michael Abbensetts
Additional material
Trish Cooke
Trish Cooke
Director
Lynette Linton
Lynette Linton
For the National: Alterations, Blues for an Alabama Sky
Set and Costume Designer
Frankie Bradshaw
Frankie Bradshaw
For the National Theatre: Alterations, Dear Octopus, Blues for an Alabama Sky and Shakespeare for young audiences: Hamlet (also on a UK schools tour)
Lighting Designer
Oliver Fenwick
Oliver Fenwick
For the National Theatre: Alterations, Dear Octopus, The Father and the Assassin, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Kerry Jackson, Tartuffe – the Imposter, The Great Wave, Ugly Lies the Bone, The Motherf*cker with the Hat, The Holy Rosenbergs and Happy Now
Movement Director
Shelley Maxwell
Shelley Maxwell
Composer
Duramaney Kamara
Duramaney Kamara
Sound Designer
George Dennis
George Dennis
For the National: Alterations, The Effect, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Nine Night (also in the West End) and An Octoroon (also for the Orange Tree)
Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer
Cynthia De La Rosa
Cynthia De La Rosa
For the National: Alterations, Standing at the Sky’s Edge (also at Sheffield Crucible), Blues for an Alabama Sky and Beginning (also in the West End)
Fight Director
Kate Waters
Kate Waters
For the National Theatre: Alterations, The Grapes of Wrath, The Effect, Much Ado About Nothing, Small Island, Salomé, The Plough and the Stars, Othello, As You Like It, Rules for Living, Our Country’s Good, Dara, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (also West End) and War Horse (also West End)
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
For the National Theatre: over 50 productions including Alterations, The Other Place, The Grapes of Wrath, Mnemonic (2024), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), The House of Bernarda Alba, Othello, The Crucible (also West End), Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Mosquitoes, This House, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, One Man, Two Guvnors and War Horse
Casting Director
Naomi Downham
Naomi Downham
For the National Theatre, as casting director: Alterations, A Tupperware of Ashes, The Grapes of Wrath, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also Northern Stage), The House of Bernarda Alba, The Crucible (also West End), The Ocean at the End of the Lane (UK tour), Hamlet (school tour) and Jekyll & Hyde (school tour)
Voice and Dialect Coach
Hazel Holder
Hazel Holder
For the National Theatre: Alterations (upcoming), A Tupperware of Ashes, The Grapes of Wrath, The Hot Wing King, Death of England trilogy, The Effect, Grenfell: in the words of survivors, Trouble in Mind, Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Crucible, Rockets and Blue Lights, Death of England, Small Island, Nine Night, Barber Shop Chronicles, Angels in America, Les Blancs and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Associate Set and Costume Designer
Natalie Johnson
Natalie Johnson
Tickets
Monday – Saturday evenings and matinees:
£20, £34, £49, £69, £89
Previews 20 – 25 February 2025:
£20, £26, £35, £49, £64
For concessions and discounts, see Ways to save
Please note the 6.30pm start time on the following performances: Thur 27 Mar and Tue 1 Apr.
Visit our Ticketing FAQs for information on how to book, ticket exchanges and more.
Prices may change according to demand
Assisted performances
Captioned
BSL Interpreted
Audio described
No Chilled performance available.
No Dementia-friendly performances available.
Relaxed performance
The interpreter for the BSL performance will be announced closer to the performance date.
Audio-described performances are preceded by a Touch Tour, 90 minutes before the performance start time. Call the Access line on 020 7452 3961 to book Touch Tours.
The Audio describers will be announced closer to the performance date.
We have an allocation of tickets held for members of our Access scheme and if any of the assisted performances above are shown as “Sold Out”, tickets may still be available: Please log in to your account to view all available tickets, or call Box Office on 020 7452 3961
Smart caption glasses
Are planned to be available for performances of Alterations from 7.30pm, Wednesday 5 March.
Shop
Visit the Bookshop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.