Mnemonic
conceived by Simon McBurney
a co-production with Complicité
![Mnemonic-2024-National-Theatre-2000x1000 Artwork with two superimposed images, one of a very blurred human face over which is a translucent image of a leaf. On top of these is a meandering line in blue, red and blue again, that could be a river, or capilliaries.](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/01/Mnemonic-2024-National-Theatre-2000x2000-1.jpg?resize=900%2C900&gravity)
Booking and details
Please note: When seated please turn off or silence your mobile phone and place it in the bag provided. Photography and filming are strictly prohibited. Phone use is permitted in case of emergency.
mnemonic / ni’monik / adj. 1. assisting or intended to assist memory; 2. of memory
A body is found in the ice, and a woman is looking for her father while a man searches for his lost lover.
This story is as much about origins as it is about memory, and remembering what is lost. Mnemonic asks: what is our place in the natural world? How have human relationships with the environment shaped patterns of migration? Who are we, and where do we come from?
25 years after its first staging, Complicité’s ‘Astonishing, transfixing, transcendent’ (New York Times) production returns to the National Theatre. Simon McBurney (Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead) directs.
‘I shall remember Mnemonic all my life’
Lyn Gardner
‘Like coming close to the
meaning of existence’
Time Out
‘Utterly absorbing’
The Stage
‘Still a masterpiece’
The Times
‘This landmark show is more
relevant than ever’
Financial Times
‘Lingers in the mind long after
its conclusion’
Daily Telegraph
‘A richly layered and humane show’
Evening Standard
‘The iceman stunneth’
WhatsOnStage
Originally co-produced by the Salzburg Festival
This production is supported by the Mirisch and Lebenheim Charitable Foundation.
Suitability
For ages 14+
Please note: This production contains strong language, haze, long and frequent periods of darkness, flashing lights, intensely bright lights, loud music / sounds, prolonged periods of nudity / nakedness. This production also features depictions of violence and death, and images of human remains.
This production also features theme climate disaster and migration.
Watch from the rehearsal room
Cast includes
![Khalid Abdalla photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/04/KHALID-ABDALLA-headshot-500x684-1.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Khalid Abdalla
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
![Hisham Abdel Razek photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/05/HISHAM-ABDEL-RAZEK-headshot-Photo-YellowBellyPhoto.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Hisham Abdel Razek
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
![Thomas Arnold photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/04/THOMAS-ARNOLD-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Thomas Arnold
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, Oslo, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, Cyrano de Bergerac, Mourning Becomes Electra, Three Sisters and The Stoppard Trilogy
![Richard Katz photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/01/RICHARD-KATZ-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Richard Katz
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, War Horse, Measure for Measure and The Wind in the Willows
![Laurenz Laufenberg photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/04/LAURENZ-LAUFENBERG-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Laurenz Laufenberg
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
![Tim McMullan photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/04/TIM-MCMULLAN-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Tim McMullan
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, Antony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night, Man and Superman, The Cherry Orchard, Present Laughter, Coram Boy, The Alchemist, Burnt by the Sun, Theatre of Blood, His Dark Materials, The Three Sisters, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Racing Demon, The Wind in the Willows and Murmuring Judges
![](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/01/Kostas-PHILIPPOGLOU-headshot-423x578-1.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Kostas Philippoglou
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), Mnemonic (2001) and Measure for Measure, all for Complicité
![Sarah Slimani photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2023/05/SARAH-SLIMANI-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Sarah Slimani
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité and Grenfell: in the words of survivors
![Sophie Steer photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/04/SOPHIE-STEER-headshot.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Sophie Steer
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
![](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2023/01/Eileen-Walsh-headshot-2024-503x688-1.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Eileen Walsh
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, The Crucible, Absolute Hell, Broad Shadow and Liolà
![Arthur Wilson photo portrait](https://images.nationaltheatre.org.uk/uploads/2024/05/Arthur-Wilson-headshot-photo-Jennie-Scott-284x388-1.jpg?fit=50%2C50)
Arthur Wilson
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité and Man and Superman
Production team
Director
Simon McBurney
Simon McBurney
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024) and Mnemonic (2001) for Complicité
Set Designer
Michael Levine
Michael Levine
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité and A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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
Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, Hex, Small Island, Everyman, Small Family Business, A Taste of Honey, The Amen Corner, This House, Blood and Gifts, Nation, The Revenger’s Tragedy, A Minute Too Late, Stuff Happens, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Measure for Measure, Cyrano de Bergerac and The Birds
Sound Designer
Christopher Shutt
Christopher Shutt
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, London Tide, The Crucible (West End), Much Ado About Nothing, The Corn is Green, Paradise, Hansard, Antony and Cleopatra, Top Girls, Julie, John, Twelfth Night, Man and Superman, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and War Horse (also West End and Broadway and on tour)
Video Designer
Roland Horvath for rocafilm
Roland Horvath for rocafilm
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
Recent National Theatre includes: Mnemonic (2024), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, Othello, The Crucible (also West End), Blues for an Alabama Sky and The Corn is Green
Vocal Arranger and Singing Coach
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
Dramatherapist
Samantha Adams
Samantha Adams
For the National Theatre: War Horse (2024 tour), The Hot Wing King, Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, Othello and Trouble in Mind
Intimacy Coordinator
Elle McAlpine for EK Intimacy
Elle McAlpine for EK Intimacy
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
Dialect Coach
Rebecca Clark Carey
Rebecca Clark Carey
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
Associate Director
Christina Deinsberger
Christina Deinsberger
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité
Associate Set Designer
Peter Butler
Peter Butler
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité and Shut Up, I’m Dreaming
Associate Video Designer
Hayley Egan
Hayley Egan
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, London Tide and The Boy with Two Hearts (also Wales Millennium Centre)
Originally devised by the company
Ticket prices
Monday – Saturday evenings and matinees:
£20, £34, £49, £69, £89
Previews 22 – 28 June:
£20, £26, £35, £49, £64
For concessions and discounts, see Ways to save
Please note the 6.30pm start time on the following performances: Tue 23 Jul, Thu 25 Jul, Thu 1 Aug and Tue 6 Aug.
Visit our Ticketing FAQs for information on how to book, ticket exchanges and more.
Prices may change according to demand
What's on guide
Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)
Download a large print pdf version of the latest guide (4MB), with most images removed.
Assisted performances
Captioned
BSL Interpreted
Audio described
Chilled performance
No Dementia-friendly performances available.
No Relaxed performance available.
The interpreter for the BSL performance will be Peter Abraham (via Theatresign).
Audio-described performances are preceded by a Touch Tour, which starts 90 minutes before the performance. If you would like to join a Touch Tour, please call the Access line at 020 7452 3961. The tours must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Audio description by Tony McBride and Willie Elliott.
We have an allocation of tickets held for members of our Access scheme and if any of the assisted performances above are shown as “Sold Out”, tickets may still be available: Please log in to your account to view all available tickets, or call Box Office on 020 7452 3961
Smart caption glasses
Will not be available for performances of Mnemonic.
Mnemonic (2024) Composite images from Avinash Kumar and Plainpicture / Millennium / Alicja Brodowicz.