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Phaedra

a new play by Simon Stone
after Euripides, Seneca and Racine

Phaedra poster with a sliced and repeated photo of Janet McTeer and Assaad Baoub

Booking and details

Now streaming
Watch on National Theatre at Home

This production played in the Lyttelton Theatre from 1 February – 8 April 2023.

In a house of glass, one must not throw stones.

After years of fierce focus on her political career, a politician turns her attention to her personal life.

The reappearance of a figure from her past shakes the foundations of her house and the beliefs that have underpinned her power.

As buried lust and loneliness surge to the surface, her actions threaten to destroy everything she has built.

Writer-Director Simon Stone (Yerma, Young Vic) reimagines Seneca’s famous tragedy in this striking new play.

The cast includes Janet McTeer (Ozark, The Menu) and Assaad Bouab (Call My Agent, Bad Sisters) in his London stage debut.

Olivier Awards 2023 Nomination

Best Actress – Janet McTeer

Performed 1 February — 8 April 2023 in the Lyttelton Theatre.

Reviews

★★★★

A must-see.

Evening Standard

★★★★

A stunningly sharp, hugely entertaining evening.

The Times

★★★★

A masterfully staged tale for the 21st century.

Telegraph

4 reviews

Suitability

Please note: This is a multilingual production with English subtitles. It also contains very strong language, offensive language, sexual references, sexual content, nudity, description of graphic violence and self harm, depiction of suicide and themes which some people may find upsetting. There will be periods of sustained darkness throughout the performance.

Galleries

Open Gallery Dialog: 14 images Assaad Bouab and Janet McTeer stand together in a domestic interior, she emracing his face, about to kiss him.
Assaad Bouab and Janet McTeer stand together in a domestic interior, she emracing his face, about to kiss him.
Assaad Bouab and Janet McTeer stand together in a domestic interior, she emracing his face, about to kiss him.
View 14 images
Assaad Bouab wears a denim jacket and Mackenzie Davis a light brown raincoat, both standing, looking and smiling at each other, amongst tall grasses. One figure stands on the left, facing into a room looking towards five characters all standing and facing towards him. Paul Chahidi lies on his stomach on a sofa, looking off to the right, holding a glass of red wine. John Macmillan, hair dyed pink, wearing a striped fleece, sits holding a glass of wine, looking off to the right. Assaad Bouab sits in a dining chair, holding a glass of wine, twisting around and smiling broadly at someone out of the picture, off to the left. Archie Barnes, standing and smiling looking off to the right, wearing an off-white hoodie with 'GoodThingsToCome' written across the chest. Akiya Henry, wearing glasses, a striped jumper and yellow jacket, stands amongst tall grasses Janet McTeer and Akiya Henry stand far apart in a field of tall grasses, looking at each other. Assaad Bouab in vst and underpants stands, leaning against a tall glass window with his hands, as Janet McTeer lies on a mattress on the floor to his right, looking towards him. Mackenzie Davis holds Assaad Bouab's face, as they stare into each other's eyes. John Macmillan looks intently at Janet McTeer and she loks at him with a grin, both standing at a bar in a restaurant, Assaad Bouab stands behind Sirine Saba, embracing her and she holds his arm, both looking pensive. Janet McTeer, wearing a beige jacket and grey trousers is rrunning up a slope in a white-out environment

Production gallery

Open Gallery Dialog: 14 images Janet McTeer in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre.
Janet McTeer in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre.
Janet McTeer in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre.
View 14 images
Assaad Bouab in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. John Macmillan and Mackenzie Davis in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Mackenzie Davis and Assaad Bouab in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Paul Chahidi in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Archie Barnes in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Mackenzie Davis in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Akiya Henry in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Sirine Saba in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Mackenzie Davis and Assaad Bouab in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Mel Page (Costume Designer and Associate Set Designer) in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. John Macmillan in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Chloe Lamford (Set Designer) in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre. Simon Stone (Writer-Director) in rehearsal for Phaedra at the National Theatre.

Rehearsal gallery

Videos

Phaedra poster with a sliced and repeated photo of Janet McTeer and Assaad Baoub
Play Video

Watch the teaser trailer

Cast

Rhys Bailey
Rhys Bailey photo portrait

Rhys Bailey

Ensemble / US Declan

Archie Barnes
Archie Barnes photo portrait

Archie Barnes

Declan

Assaad Bouab
Assaad Bouab photo portrait

Assaad Bouab

Sofiane

Paul Chahidi
Paul Chahidi headshot portrait

Paul Chahidi

Hugo

Production team

Director

Simon Stone

Set Designer

Chloe Lamford

Chloe Lamford

Costume Designer and Associate Set Designer

Mel Page

Mel Page

Lighting Designer

James Farncombe

James Farncombe

Composer and Sound Designer

Stefan Gregory

Stefan Gregory

Casting

Alastair Coomer CDG

Alastair Coomer CDG

Associate Director

Nimmo Ismail

Nimmo Ismail

Intimacy Coordinator

Ingrid Mackinnon

Ingrid Mackinnon

Dialect Coach

Danièle Lydon

Danièle Lydon

Photography (Assaad Bouab and Janet McTeer) by Sebastian Nevols