Coriolanus
by William Shakespeare
Booking and details
Olivier Theatre
National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX
Warrior. Hero. Traitor.
Unrivalled in the art of war, undefeated on the field of battle, Coriolanus is Rome’s greatest soldier.
When a legendary victory brings the opportunity of high office, he is persuaded to stand for election. But while populist politicians tell the people what they want to hear, Coriolanus refuses to play the game. As Rome’s most celebrated warrior becomes its most dangerous enemy, the future of the city and its hero hang in the balance.
David Oyelowo (Selma, Lawmen: Bass Reeves) makes his highly anticipated return to the London stage in the title role. Lyndsey Turner (Under Milk Wood, The Crucible) directs a thrilling new production of Shakespeare’s timeless political tragedy.
Performed 11 September — 9 November 2024 in the Olivier Theatre.
Reviews
★★★★★
‘Oyelowo is magnificent’
Morning Star
★★★★★
‘Tremendous’
Time Out
★★★★
‘Epic, blockbuster Shakespeare’
Independent
★★★★
‘A scorching stage return from David Oyelowo’
Evening Standard
★★★★
‘Lyndsey Turner’s riveting production’
The i
★★★★
‘Thrilling’
Telegraph
★★★★
‘David Oyelowo shines’
Financial Times
★★★★
‘Positively blazes’
Mail on Sunday
Suitability
Please note: This production contains loud sounds and flashing lights. It features depictions of warfare, violence and death.
Supporters
This production is supported by the Huo Family Foundation.
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
Video
Cast
Luke Aquilina
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Chereen Buckley
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Small Island and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Anushka Chakravarti
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, The Crucible and Our Generation
Anton Cross
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus and Emperor and Galilean
Patrick Elue
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus and Othello
Peter Forbes
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Jack Absolute Flies Again, Follies, Our Country’s Good, The Observer, Afterlife, Never So Good and Two Weeks with the Queen
Ashley Gerlach
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Hamlet (young audiences), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Romeo & Juliet, Macbeth
Sam Hazeldine
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, The Effect (also The Shed, New York), Edward II, NT 50 Years on Stage, Antigone and Death and the King’s Horseman
Kemi-Bo Jacobs
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus and The Ocean at the End of the Lane (also on tour and in the West End)
Marcia Lecky
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, The House of Bernarda Alba, Much Ado About Nothing, Paradise, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Top Girls
Conor McLeod
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Jordan Metcalfe
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Jack Absolute Flies Again and The Pillowman
Pamela Nomvete
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
David Oyelowo
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Richard Pryal
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus and The Plough and the Stars
Jordan Rhys
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Oliver Senton
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus
Jo Stone-Fewings
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Home, I’m Darling (on tour), Shadow of a Boy, War and Peace, Fuente Ovejuna and Ghetto
Stephanie Street
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Our Generation (also Chichester), Behind the Beautiful Forevers, King James Bible: The Gospel According to John and Nightwatchman
John Vernon
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus and The Red Lion
The role of Young Marcius is played by:
Kyron Allen
Coriolanus is Kyron Allen’s professional theatre debut. Other work includes commercials.
Deniro-Carter Bhola
Coriolanus is Deniro-Carter Bhola’s professional theatre debut. Short film includes Late in Life. Other work includes commercials and interactive videos.
Cale Cole
Coriolanus is Cale Cole’s professional theatre debut. Work in opera includes Blue for ENO. TV includes The Fuck It Bucket and Grime Kids.
Kaelum Nelson
Coriolanus is Kaelum Nelson’s professional theatre debut. Voice work includes 1984 for Audible.
Artistic team
Director
Lyndsey Turner
Lyndsey Turner
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Crucible, Under Milk Wood, Top Girls, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, There is a War and Edgar and Annabel
Set Designer
Es Devlin
Es Devlin
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Dear England (also Prince Edward), The Motive and the Cue (also Noël Coward), The Lehman Trilogy (also West End, Broadway and on tour; 2022 Tony Award), The Crucible, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire and Ugly Lies the Bone
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Tim Lutkin
Tim Lutkin
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, The Crucible, Jack Absolute Flies Again, Under Milk Wood, Antony & Cleopatra, Salomé and Les Blancs
Sound Designer
Tom Gibbons
Tom Gibbons
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Dear England (also West End), The Antipodes, Home, I’m Darling (also West End), People, Places and Things (also West End), Hedda Gabler, Sunset at The Villa Thalia and The Red Barn
Composer
Video Designer
Ash J Woodward
Ash J Woodward
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Dear England and Hex
Fight Director
Sam Lyon-Behan
Sam Lyon-Behan
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus and Till the Stars Come Down (as associate fight director)
Casting Director
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
Bryony Jarvis-Taylor
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, London Tide, Dear Octopus, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, The Odyssey, Dear England (also in the West End), Dixon and Daughters, Romeo and Julie, Much Ado About Nothing, Trouble in Mind, Hex, After Life, Dick Whittington, The Visit, My Brilliant Friend and Peter Gynt
Company Voice Work
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, a co-production with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Company Voice Work
Shereen Ibrahim
Shereen Ibrahim
For the National Theatre: company voice work includes Coriolanus, The Grapes of Wrath, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, Dear Octopus, Dear England, Dixon and Daughters, The Odyssey, Hamlet, The Crucible, Jack Absolute Flies Again and The Father and the Assassin (also dialect work); dialect work for Standing at the Sky’s Edge, All of Us and Our Generation; and acting work in The Black Album and The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other
Dialect Coach
Richard Ryder
Richard Ryder
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Dear England, Jane Eyre, Waste, One Man, Two Guvnors, A Taste of Honey, NT 50 Years On Stage, HOME, Romeo and Juliet, This House, Port, Cocktail Sticks and Hymn
Associate Set Designer
Associate Costume Designer
Associate Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer
Adele Brandman
Adele Brandman
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, London Tide, The Motive and the Cue (also in West End), Everyman, The Light Princess, As You Like It (2016), The Deep Blue Sea, Follies (2017 and 2018 as co-supervisor), Salomé, Nine Night, Hadestown (2018), The Lehman Trilogy (2018), My Brilliant Friend, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear, The Crucible (2022), The Corn is Green, Candide, Market Boy, Comedy of Errors, Frankenstein and The Magistrate
Associate Sound Designer
Johnny Edwards
Johnny Edwards
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Blues for an Alabama Sky and Home, I’m Darling
Intimacy Coordinator
Ingrid Mackinnon
Ingrid Mackinnon
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also Northern Stage), The House of Bernarda Alba, The Effect (also The Shed, New York) and Phaedra
Staff Director
Júlia Levai
Júlia Levai
For the National Theatre: Coriolanus and Dear Octopus (as staff director)
Download our latest guide
Bookshop
Buy prints of past Coriolanus productions at the National Theatre, and the paytext:
Visit the Bookshop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.
Photography (David Oyelowo) by Obidi Nzeribe.