Skip to main content

Alterations

by Michael Abbensetts
additional material by Trish Cooke

Three people are playfully interacting among colorful clothes hanging on a rack. The person in the center is being playfully grabbed by the others, creating a humorous scene against a backdrop of various vibrant garments.

Booking and details

20 February — 5 April 2025
This show has now ended
The event location is

Lyttelton Theatre

National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX

‘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 drama, 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.

Performed 20 February — 5 April 2025 in the Lyttelton Theatre.

Suitability

This play was written in 1978 and therefore contains historic language and themes that some people may find upsetting.

This production contains haze and loud music.

Reviews

5 stars

A triumphant revival

Afridiziak 

4 stars

Lynette Linton’s warm, exuberant production

Financial Times

4 stars

A retro gem

Guardian 

4 stars

A riveting snapshot of 1970s Britain

Telegraph

4 stars

This rediscovered gem comes alive 

Evening Standard 

4 stars

Wonderfully evocative

WhatsOnStage

4 stars

A bustling, engaging exploration of the immigrant experience

The Rendition 

7 Reviews

Video

A person with a short haircut smiles while holding a microphone. They are wearing a striped sweater. The background features a repeating
Play Video

What Our Audiences Are Saying

Play Video:

What Our Audiences Are Saying
A person in a patterned shirt stands among colorful clothes in a closet, looking forward with an expressive gesture, as if reaching out or reacting to something unseen.
Play Video

Watch The Trailer

Play Video:

Watch The Trailer
A woman sits in a room with bookshelf and window behind her, next to her is a plant. She wears a green textured shirt.
Play Video

Page To Stage

Play Video:

Page To Stage

Gallery

Open Gallery Dialog: 14 images An actor sitting at a sewing machine in a tailor shop points to his left. He wears a yellow patterned shirt and a blue scarf.
An actor sitting at a sewing machine in a tailor shop points to his left. He wears a yellow patterned shirt and a blue scarf.
An actor sitting at a sewing machine in a tailor shop points to his left. He wears a yellow patterned shirt and a blue scarf.
View 14 images
Two actors are seated in a vintage tailor's workshop. One in a purple suit holds a blue pair of trousers. The other is at a sewing machine. An actress wearing a fur-lined coat stands holding two striped bags and a purse. Behind her are railings with 1970s clothes hung up. An actor stands confidently on a stage, illuminated by a spotlight. They wear a yellow patterned shirt, brown plaid pants, and a blue scarf. Behind them is a table with sewing equipment, and clothing hangs in the background. Two actors in 1970s clothing stand on stage in a tailor shop set. One of the actors is holding a pair of trousers and the other is holding bags of clothes. Three actors in 1970s attire are on stage, surrounded by railings of colourful clothes. They are all looking excitedly at something on a small red TV. Two actors sat on stage with bags of clothes and a sewing machine. The actor on the left wears a blue cardigan and brown trousers. The actor on the right wears a yellow patterned shirt and a blue scarf. An actor and an actress stand closely in front of a railing filled with colourful 1970s clothes. The actor wears a yellow shirt, and the actress wears an oversized pink shirt. An actor in a tan suit and glasses sits pensively on stage surrounded by colourful fabric rolls and props. Two actors stand in a cluttered tailor shop with various clothing items and fabric in the background. The actor on the left wears a blue cardigan and brown trousers. The actor on the right wears a yellow patterned shirt and a blue scarf. An actor holding a coffee pot, wearing a patterned shirt and brown pants. On his right are clothing racks with various colourful clothes hanging. An actor and an actress stand closely in front of a railing filled with colourful 1970s clothes. The actor wears a yellow shirt, and the actress wears an oversized pink shirt. An actor sits at a sewing machine, surrounded by sewing supplies. They are wearing a blue cardigan and brown trousers. Two actors on stage with various vintage clothing items hang on racks. The man wears a maroon velvet suit, and the woman is in an orange jumpsuit holding a handbag.

Production images

Open Gallery Dialog: 11 images Two actors in a rehearsal room laughing. One is sat at a table with a sewing machine and piles of clothes. The other actor is stood behind him and holding his shoulders.
Two actors in a rehearsal room laughing. One is sat at a table with a sewing machine and piles of clothes. The other actor is stood behind him and holding his shoulders.
Two actors in a rehearsal room laughing. One is sat at a table with a sewing machine and piles of clothes. The other actor is stood behind him and holding his shoulders.
View 11 images
An actor in a rehearsal room wearing a lime green jumper. He has a pained expression and is holding a pair of blue trousers to his head. Behind him are railings with colourful clothes hanging from them. An actor in a rehearsal room wearing a blue jumpsuit and yellow jewellery. On her left is a sewing machine and an open script. Behind her, colourful clothes hang from a railing. Three men are in rehearsal room staged like a sewing workshop. One man is sat at a table with a sewing machine, looking to the man on the left. The man on the left is holding some fabric and pointing to it. The other man is watching with his hands in his pockets. Railings with colourful clothing on them are visible in the background. A woman in a yellow and pink striped jumper, laughing and looking to her left. Behind her is a table with a sewing machine and various clothes hung on railings. Two actors in a rehearsal room, sat on chairs. On the wall behind them are printed out images of the set design, costume designs and references. An actor in a white t-shirt, leaning a broom against a table. He is looking at another actor who has his head on a different table next to a sewing machine. Behind them are railings with colourful clothes hanging from them. Two actors in a rehearsal room. One is wearing a light purple hoodie and glasses, using a tape measure to measure the length of the other actor's arm. A woman in a tan jumpsuit and tortoiseshell glasses looking to the side and laughing. She is wearing a lanyard and holding a pencil. An actor in a blue jumper and red neckerchief using a broom. He is stood next to a table with a sewing machine and a pile of clothes. Behind him is a railing with colourful clothes hanging from it. Two actors in a rehearsal room stood behind a table with a sewing machine. Behind them are railings with colourful clothes on. The actors are facing each other with serious expressions.

Rehearsal images

Cast

Karl Collins
Karl Collins photo portrait

Karl Collins

Horace

Gershwyn Eustache Jnr
Gershwyn Eustache Jr photo portrait

Gershwyn Eustache Jnr

Buster

Raphel Famotibe
Raphel Famotibe photo portrait

Raphel Famotibe

Courtney

Tyler Fayose
Tyler Fayose photo portrait

Tyler Fayose

Ensemble / Understudy Walker

Richard Emerson Gould
Richard Emerson Gould photo portrait

Richard Emerson Gould

Ensemble / Understudy Mr Nat

Joshua John
Joshua John photo portrait

Joshua John

Ensemble / Understudy Courtney

Arinzé Kene
Arinzé Kene photo portrait

Arinzé Kene

Walker Holt

Colin Mace
Colin Mace photo portrait

Colin Mace

Mr Nat

Samuel Nunes de Souza
Samuel Nunes de Souza photo portrait

Samuel Nunes de Souza

Ensemble / Understudy Horace and Buster

Yolanda Ovide
Yolanda Ovide photo portrait

Yolanda Ovide

Ensemble / Understudy Darlene

Cherrelle Skeete
Cherrelle Skeete photo portrait

Cherrelle Skeete

Darlene Holt

Artistic team

Writer

Michael Abbensetts

Michael Abbensetts

Additional material

Trish Cooke

Trish Cooke

Director

Lynette Linton

Lynette Linton

Set and Costume Designer

Frankie Bradshaw

Frankie Bradshaw

Lighting Designer

Oliver Fenwick

Oliver Fenwick

Movement and Intimacy Director

Shelley Maxwell

Shelley Maxwell

Composer

XANA

XANA

Sound Designer

George Dennis

George Dennis

Wigs, Hair and Make-up Designer

Cynthia De La Rosa

Cynthia De La Rosa

Fight Director

Kate Waters

Kate Waters

Casting Director

Naomi Downham

Naomi Downham

Voice and Dialect Coach

Hazel Holder

Hazel Holder

Dramatherapist

Wabriya King

Wabriya King

Associate Set and Costume Designer

Natalie Johnson

Natalie Johnson

Staff Director

Kaleya Baxe

Kaleya Baxe

What’s on at the National Theatre

What's on guide

Download the latest guide (PDF 1.8MB)

Download the Alternative format of the guide (PDF 515KB)

Assisted performances

Assisted performances are available for all our shows on the South Bank. Details are listed on each show page:

Dear England
A lone figure stands, his back to us, wearing a waistcoat, shirt and trousers, in the centre of the red cross of the England flag that appears as a landscape rolling off into the distance.

Dear England

James Graham’s Olivier-Award winning smash-hit returns to the National Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold.
Until 24 May 2025
Info & Tickets for Dear England
Olivier Theatre - South Bank
Here We Are
A minimalist illustration showing six people walking on a turquoise path. A man in white walks ahead alone, while a group of five people in colorful outfits follows behind. The background is a solid bright red.

Here We Are

Two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello directs Stephen Sondheim’s ‘cool, and impossibly chic’ (New York Times Critic’s Pick) final musical with a book by David Ives.
23 April — 28 June 2025
Info & Tickets for Here We Are
Lyttelton Theatre - South Bank
London Road
A hanging black basket filled with vibrant multicolored flowers including shades of yellow, red, blue, and green against a pale green background. The flowers are densely packed, and the basket is suspended by chains.

London Road

Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork reunite for their award-winning verbatim musical. Rufus Norris directs this ‘Extraordinary show’ (Financial Times).
6 — 21 June 2025
Info & Tickets for London Road
Olivier Theatre - South Bank
Nye
A man wearing red and black striped pajamas and plaid slippers is moving through flowing, translucent teal curtains. He extends his left arm forward, to part one of the curtains. The background consists of soft, undulating teal curtain layers, creating an abstract, dreamy environment.

Nye

Michael Sheen reprises his role as Nye Bevan in this ‘valiant and valuable affirmation of the NHS’ (Telegraph). Written by Tim Price and ‘vividly directed’ (The Times) by Rufus Norris.
3 July — 16 August 2025
Info & Tickets for Nye
Olivier Theatre - South Bank
The Estate
A man in a suit sits on a red patterned chair while three hands pull his ears and tie, creating a humorous and exaggerated expression on his face.

The Estate

Adeel Akhtar is Angad in this razor-sharp exploration of family, power and the lies we tell about ourselves. Daniel Raggett directs Shaan Sahota’s remarkable debut play.
9 July — 23 August 2025
Info & Tickets for The Estate
Dorfman Theatre - South Bank
Inter Alia
A person with shoulder-length hair poses in a dynamic stance against an orange background. They wear a black blazer with gold embroidery over a white shirt. One arm is raised, and the other has a fabric band with text.

Inter Alia

Suzie Miller and Justin Martin reunite following their smash-hit Prima Facie for this searing examination of motherhood and masculinity.
10 July — 13 September 2025
Info & Tickets for Inter Alia
Lyttelton Theatre - South Bank
The Land of the Living
A woman with short blonde hair, wearing a dark outfit, looks intently at the camera. She stands against a black background, embracing a child with blonde hair whose face is turned away from the camera.

The Land of the Living

Juliet Stevenson is Ruth in this remarkable and timely new play by David Lan exploring the shapeshifting nature of memory and morality. Directed by Stephen Daldry.
9 September — 1 November 2025
Info & Tickets for The Land of the Living
Dorfman Theatre - South Bank
End
A man's headshot above, with a contemplative expression, wearing a dark jacket and white shirt against a gray background. A woman's headshot below, smiling subtly, with short blonde hair, wearing a dark top against a teal background. Both have neutral expressions.

End

Clive Owen and Saskia Reeves feature in this touching and funny play which completes David Eldridge’s trilogy exploring love and relationships. Directed by Rachel O'Riordan.
13 November 2025 — 17 January 2026
Info & Tickets for End
Dorfman Theatre - South Bank
Ballet Shoes
A textured curtain with a mix of teal, pink, and orange colors. The words

Ballet Shoes

Noel Streatfeild’s best-selling book, spectacularly reinvented for the stage in this new adaptation by Kendall Feaver, returns later this year. Directed by Katy Rudd.
17 November 2025 — 21 February 2026
Info & Tickets for Ballet Shoes
Olivier Theatre - South Bank

Shop

Visit the Shop website for a wide range of playtexts, gifts and prints of past production posters.