The Grapes of Wrath
Based on the novel by John Steinbeck
Adapted by Frank Galati
Booking and details
The great American novel reimagined
Forced to travel West in search of a promised land, the Joad family embark on an epic journey across America in the hope of finding work and a new life in California.
Their story is one of false hopes, wrong turns and broken dreams, but also a hymn to human kindness and a tribute to the endurance of the human spirit.
Carrie Cracknell (Julie, The Deep Blue Sea) directs Frank Galati’s award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s masterpiece. Tony Award-winner Cherry Jones (The Glass Menagerie, Succession) is joined by Harry Treadaway (The Chemistry of Death, Penny Dreadful) and Natey Jones (Get Up, Stand Up! Death of a Salesman) in this moving and deeply atmospheric story of a struggle against a hostile climate to find a place to call home.
Performed 17 July — 14 September 2024 in the Lyttelton Theatre.
Reviews
★★★★
‘Extraordinary’
Telegraph
★★★★
‘Powerful’
The Stage
★★★★
‘Carrie Cracknell’s epic production’
The i
★★★★
‘Brutally beautiful’
Financial Times
★★★★
‘A brilliantly striking production’
London Theatre
★★★★
‘Alex Eales’s set is simply stunning’
The Upcoming
Suitability
Please note: This production includes strong language and depictions of migration, homelessness, starvation, violence and death including still birth. It contains flashing lights, loud sounds/thunder and gun shots. Read more for detailed content warnings.
This production includes depictions of:
- Migrant camps
- Prejudice towards migrants and ex-offenders
- A graphic scene of still birth at the end of the play
Supporters
This production is supported by the Huo Family Foundation.
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
Cast
Zoë Aldrich
Elizabeth Sandry / Second Agricultural Officer / Understudy Granma Joad/Ma Joad
Zoë Aldrich
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, The Crucible (also Gielgud), Antigone and Her Naked Skin
Afolabi Alli
Muley Graves / Floyd Knowles / Ensemble / Understudy Jim Casy/Mr Wainwright
Afolabi Alli
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Rhys Bailey
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Phaedra
Rachel Barnes
Band Vocal / Accordion / Understudy First Agricultural Officer/Mrs Knowles/Woman Shot in Hand/ Bookkeeper
Rachel Barnes
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Brandon Bassir
Camp Proprietor / First Officer / Second Man / First Man with Club / Understudy Tom Joad/Willy’s Accomplice
Brandon Bassir
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Lin Blakley
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Tom Bulpett
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Morgan Burgess
Band Vocal / Guitar / Slide Guitar / Second Officer / Hooper Ranch Guard / Understudy First Officer/First Man with Club/Man in a Box Car
Morgan Burgess
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Ryan Ellsworth
Willy / Man Going Back / Mayor of Hooverville / Man in Barn / Understudy Grampa/Contractor/Pa Joad/Uncle John
Ryan Ellsworth
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and The Motive at the Cue (also Noël Coward)
Amelia Gabriel
Ensemble / Understudy Band/Agnes Wainwright/Ruthie Joad/Gas Station Attendant
Amelia Gabriel
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Christopher Godwin
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Amadeus and This House (also Chichester and Garrick)
Valentine Hanson
First Agricultural Officer / Weedpatch Camp Director / Camp Guard / Mr Wainwright / Understudy Muley Graves/Floyd Knowles/Proprietor
Valentine Hanson
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and The Effect
Greg Hicks
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Bacchi, Oresteia, Coriolanus, Absolute Hell and Duchess of Malfi
Harley Johnston
Gas Station Attendant / Second Man with Club / Willy’s Accomplice / Understudy Second Officer/Deputy Sheriff/Gas Station Owner/Guitar/Slide Guitar
Harley Johnston
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Cherry Jones
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Natey Jones
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Small Island
William Lawlor
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Mirren Mack
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Small Island
Maimuna Memon
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Standing at the Sky’s Edge (also Sheffield Theatres)
Matthew Romain
Band Vocal / Fiddle / Deputy Sheriff / Understudy Man Going Back/Man in Barn/Second Man
Matthew Romain
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Anish Roy
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and The Father and the Assassin (2022)
Michael Shaeffer
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Grenfell: in the words of survivors, London Road, Table and The Threepenny Opera
Robyn Sinclair
Mrs Knowles / Agnes Wainwright / Ensemble / Understudy Woman with Guitar/Mrs Wainwright
Robyn Sinclair
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Tucker St Ivany
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Emma Tracey
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Harry Treadaway
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
Cath Whitefield
Gas Station Owner / Bookkeeper / Mrs Wainwright / Ensemble / Understudy Elizabeth Sandry/Second Agricultural Officer
Cath Whitefield
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Medea and The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Production team
Director
Carrie Cracknell
Carrie Cracknell
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Julie, The Deep Blue Sea, Medea and Blurred Lines
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Evie Gurney
Evie Gurney
For the National Theatre: Dear England (2025, 2023 and in the West End), The Grapes of Wrath, Much Ado About Nothing and Antony and Cleopatra
Composer
Stuart Earl
Stuart Earl
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Julie and The Deep Blue Sea
Original Songs by
Maimuna Memon
Maimuna Memon
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Standing at the Sky’s Edge (also Sheffield Theatres)
Lighting Designer
Guy Hoare
Guy Hoare
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Julie, The Deep Blue Sea, Here We Go and Strange Interlude
Sound Designer
Donato Wharton
Donato Wharton
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Grenfell: in the words of survivors (also St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York), Under Milk Wood, Middle and Three Sisters
Movement Director
Ira Mandela Siobhan
Ira Mandela Siobhan
For the National Theatre: as movement director, The Grapes of Wrath; and as performer, My Brilliant Friend, Mosquitoes, Everyman and Fela!
Music Director
Osnat Schmool
Osnat Schmool
For the National Theatre: as vocal arranger and singing coach, Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, as music director, The Grapes of Wrath (upcoming), The Crucible (also Gielgud), The Welkin, and as a performer, As You Like It and Rutherford and Son
Fight Director
Kate Waters
Kate Waters
For the National Theatre: Alterations, The Grapes of Wrath, 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)
Intimacy Coordinator
Katharine Hardman for EK Intimacy
Katharine Hardman for EK Intimacy
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, The Confessions and Faith, Hope and Charity for A Zeldin Company (also on international tours)
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
For the National Theatre: over 50 productions including Alterations, The Importance of Being Earnest, 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)
Dramatherapist
Patricia Ojehonmon
Patricia Ojehonmon
For the National Theatre: The LeftBehinds, The Grapes of Wrath, The House of Bernarda Alba and Grenfell: in the words of survivors (also St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York)
Dialect Coach
Hazel Holder
Hazel Holder
For the National Theatre: Alterations, 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
Voice Coach
Shereen Ibrahim
Shereen Ibrahim
For the National Theatre: company voice work includes Dear England (2025 and 2023), The Importance of Being Earnest, Coriolanus, The Grapes of Wrath, Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, Dear Octopus, Dixon and Daughters, The Odyssey, Hamlet, The Crucible, Jack Absolute Flies Again and The Father and the Assassin (also dialect work); dialect work includes Standing at the Sky’s Edge, All of Us and Our Generation; and acting work includes The Black Album and The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other
Associate Sound Designer
Staff Director
Georgia Green
Georgia Green
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath and Infinite Life
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