People, Places & Things
By Duncan Macmillan
a co-production with Gavin Kalin Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures/Eilene Davidson Productions, Seaview and Second Half Productions
Duncan Macmillan’s (Lungs, 1984) intoxicating hit play People, Places & Things, directed by Jeremy Herrin (Best of Enemies, Wolf Hall, This House) and designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie, will be premiering on National Theatre at Home live at 9pm BST 19 September.
Denise Gough reprises her Olivier Award-winning role as Emma, a struggling actress whose life is spinning recklessly out of control. Gough’s ‘blisteringly funny, brilliantly physical and achingly human’ (Financial Times) performance is once again thrilling audiences in People, Places & Things – hailed by critics as ‘one of the greatest of her generation’ (Independent).
Emma was having the time of her life. Now she’s in rehab. Her first step is to admit that she has a problem. But the problem isn’t with Emma, it’s with everything else. She needs to tell the truth. But she’s smart enough to know that there’s no such thing. When intoxication feels like the only way to survive the modern world, how can she ever sober up?
Don’t miss this ‘unforgettable night’ (The Times) in the West End.
The original National Theatre and Headlong production.
Performed 3 May — 10 August 2024 in the Trafalgar Theatre.
Reviews
‘Theatre at its most vivid. An unforgettable night.’
The Times
‘Blisteringly funny, brilliantly physical and achingly human.’
Financial Times
‘Lightning strikes twice in this triumphant revival.’
Evening Standard
‘Shocking, magnetic, unbelievably real. Gough’s performance is one of the greatest of her generation.’
Independent
‘A pure adrenaline shot of theatre. Jeremy Herrin’s staging is electrifying.’
The Stage
‘You can’t improve on perfection. Some of the finest work on any London stage.’
What’sOnStage
Gallery
West End production images
Rehearsal images
Suitability
Age recommendation: 14+
This production contains strong language and themes of addiction, depictions of substance abuse and the use of needles, and references to suicide. There are strobe lighting effects, sudden and prolonged loud noises, and the smoking of herbal cigarettes.
For further information, please contact the Trafalgar Theatre Box Office team.
Cast
Russell Anthony
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (at Trafalgar Theatre)
Holly Atkins
Charlotte / Ensemble
Holly Atkins
Sinéad Cusack
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things at Trafalgar Theatre, Our Lady of Sligo and Juno and the Paycock (also the Abbey, Dublin)
Miriam Elwell-Sutton
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (Trafalgar Theatre)
Emma Jane Fearnley
For the National Theatre: People, Places and Things (Trafalgar Theatre)
Denise Gough
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (also West End and at St Ann’s Warehouse, New York) and Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches and America Part Two: Perestroika (also Broadway)
Ryan Hutton
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (at Trafalgar Theatre)
Malachi Kirby
Mark
Malachi Kirby
Danny Kirrane
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (at Trafalgar Theatre) and The History Boys
Genevieve Labuschagne
For the National Theatre: People, Places and Things (Trafalgar Theatre)
Imogen Mackenzie
For the National Theatre: People, Places and Things
Kevin McMonagle
For the National Theatre: After Life and People, Places & Things (also West End and at St Ann’s Warehouse, Brooklyn)
Ayọ̀ Owóyẹmi-Peters
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things at Trafalgar Theatre
Lottie Power
For the National Theatre: People, Places and Things (Trafalgar Theatre)
Dillon Scott-Lewis
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (at Trafalgar Theatre)
Louise Templeton
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things at Trafalgar Theatre
Paksie Vernon
Jodi / Ensemble
Paksie Vernon
Production team
Writer
Duncan Macmillan
Duncan Macmillan
Duncan Macmillan is an award-winning writer and director.
Director
Jeremy Herrin
Jeremy Herrin
For the National Theatre: After Life; The Visit; The Plough and the Stars; Statement of Regret; People, Places & Things, This House.
Set Designer
Bunny Christie
Bunny Christie
For the National Theatre: London Tide, After Life, The Welkin, People, Places & Things (also West End and St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York), The Red Barn, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (also West End and Broadway; Olivier and Tony Awards), Emil and the Detectives, The White Guard, The Cherry Orchard and Comedy of Errors
Costume Designer
Christina Cunningham
Christina Cunningham
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, both for Complicité, and As You Like It
Lighting Designer
James Farncombe
James Farncombe
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Phaedra, People, Places and Things (also West End, on UK tour and at St Ann’s Warehouse, New York), When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, The Plough and the Stars, Man and Superman, Three Winters, Edward II, People, The Magistrate, London Road, Juno and the Paycock, Men Should Weep and Double Feature
Music
Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert
For the National Theatre: People, Places & Things (also in the West End and on Broadway) and The Hush
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
Video Designer
Andrzej Goulding
Andrzej Goulding
Movement
Polly Bennett
Polly Bennett
Polly Bennett trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the National Youth Theatre.
Casting
Jessica Ronane CDG CSA
Jessica Ronane CDG CSA
Jessica’s career in casting began with Billy Elliot the Musical and a nationwide search to find potential Billy Elliots.
Original Casting
Wendy Spon
Wendy Spon
Company Voice Work
Hazel Holder
Hazel Holder
For the National Theatre: Alterations (upcoming), The Importance of Being Earnest, 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
Artwork photography by Matt Humphrey. Artwork design by Bob King Creative