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The Confessions

a new play by Alexander Zeldin
An A Zeldin Company / Compagnie A Zeldin Production
Co-Commissioned by The National Theatre, RISING Melbourne and Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

A figure with one arm outstretched, their body and head wreathed in billowing red material, stands in front of a low-rise building with no doors or windows.

Booking and details

19 October — 4 November 2023
This show has now ended
The event location is

Lyttelton Theatre

National Theatre
South Bank
London SE1 9PX

An intimate portrait of a life

Australia 1943 to London 2021, and everything in between.

Alice is learning to be herself against the times. But how do the times shape who we are?

Playing out over a tumultuous eight decades, Alice’s complex relationships become a common thread in her personal journey, in this intimate portrait of a life.

Alexander Zeldin (LOVE, Faith, Hope and Charity) returns to the National Theatre with this international collaboration. Inspired by conversations with his mother and her peers, he brings to life a story of a woman’s attempts to be herself against the pressures of the time. The cast includes Eryn Jean Norvill and Pamela Rabe making their UK stage debuts, and music composed by Yannis Philippakis (Foals). 

Performed 19 October — 4 November 2023 in the Lyttelton Theatre.

A co-production with Wiener Festwochen, Comédie de Genève, Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, Centro Cultural de Belém, Théâtre de Liège, Festival d’Avignon, Festival d’Automne à Paris, Athens Epidaurus Festival, Piccolo Teatro di Milano – Teatro d’Europa, Adelaide Festival and Centre Dramatique National de Normandie-Rouen.

Supporters

With thanks to the Arete Foundation, who support the National Theatre to make work that is ambitious and socially relevant.

Reviews

★★★★★

‘Profoundly moving. A drama that captures heart and mind.’

Guardian

★★★★

‘A beautiful, spellbinding and wrenching tale.’

Evening Standard

★★★★

‘Absorbing. Norvill is extraordinary throughout.’

The Observer

★★★★

‘A gripping, moving drama’

The Stage

★★★★

‘A powerful and unsparing distillation of a single woman’s life.’

Time Out

★★★★

‘A wonderful, compassionate play.’

WhatsOnStage

6 reviews

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Gallery

A woman is in the foreground dancing, she had short blond hair cut into a bob, she wears a red dress with cap sleeves and cut off at the shins. Behind her is a kitchen and living room set up, a man ssits with his back to the camera wearing a blue suit. Behind him and up a level in the kitchen set up a man in his 40's is dancing wearing a brown suit he also wears an orange shirt. In the lest corner a older woman stands in a floral patterned dress with an orange scarf around her head.
A woman is in the foreground dancing, she had short blond hair cut into a bob, she wears a red dress with cap sleeves and cut off at the shins. Behind her is a kitchen and living room set up, a man ssits with his back to the camera wearing a blue suit. Behind him and up a level in the kitchen set up a man in his 40's is dancing wearing a brown suit he also wears an orange shirt. In the lest corner a older woman stands in a floral patterned dress with an orange scarf around her head.
A woman is in the foreground dancing, she had short blond hair cut into a bob, she wears a red dress with cap sleeves and cut off at the shins. Behind her is a kitchen and living room set up, a man ssits with his back to the camera wearing a blue suit. Behind him and up a level in the kitchen set up a man in his 40's is dancing wearing a brown suit he also wears an orange shirt. In the lest corner a older woman stands in a floral patterned dress with an orange scarf around her head.
View 7 images
A young woman sits at a kitchen Table. She wears a pink knitted jumper, a blue dress can be seen from the wait down, and white pumps, she has a blonde bob and is looking up at another woman. This woman is older, has her hair scraped back into a bun, she wears a blue checked dress and a white half apron and black small heels. She is butterin a piece of bread. Nehind them is a kitchen set up- classic 50's style. A group of people are sat around a table, they are all eating trifle. From left to right, a young woman with dark hair wearing a green dress looking at the man across the table. Next to her sits a young man with dark hair and slight facial hair, he wears a wide collared light blue shirt under a green suite. Next to him stands a woman in a dark floral dress with an orange head scarf tied round her head. Next to her is a man with long hair, scraped back, he wears an orange shirt and a grey suit. Next to him stands a young woman in a red floral pattern dress. Next to her is a young man who is sitting wearing a blue suit with a tie and light blue shirt. A tyoung woman stands, she has a blond bob. She is wearing a a white dress with a collar, it has pleats running down it and buttons with a beige belt round the waist. She is holding mens dress shoes. A older man stands against a red theatre curtain. He has long hair scraped back, he wears a grey suit with a patterned tie. A young woman stands next to table with a rotary phone on is. She is holding a green coat and clutching a black leather handbag. She has a blonde bob and is swearing a green shirt which has pink diamond pattern, she is also wearing a green skirt A room, a canvas is across the floor with a apinting on it. On a wall is another painting. A woman stands on the right looking at the painting. Her back is to the camera, she wears a brown coat with her black handbag over her shoulder. Hou can see her green trousers underneath. Ont he left hand side is a man wearing a light brown jacket with green trousers and brown dress trousers. He is holding a whisky glass. Next to him sat on a c ahir is an older man with grey short curly hair, he is wearing a white vest and rolled up jeans, in front of him is a table with beer bottles and paintbrushes.

Production images

Suitability

Age guidance: 15+
Please note: This play contains male and female nudity and off-stage depiction of sexual violence which people may find distressing. Loud music is played during the scene changes.

Cast

Joe Bannister
Joe Bannister photo portrait

Joe Bannister

Graham / Terry / Librarian

Amelda Brown
Amelda Brown photo portrait

Amelda Brown

Alice

Jerry Killick
Jeremy Killick photo portrait

Jerry Killick

Eldon / Joss

Lilit Lesser
Lilit Lesser photo portrait

Lilit Lesser

Pat / Leander

Brian Lipson
Brian Lipson photo portrait

Brian Lipson

Bob / Freddy / Jacob

Eryn Jean Norvill
Eryn Jean Norvill photo portrait

Eryn Jean Norvill

Alice

Pamela Rabe
Pamela Rabe photo portrait

Pamela Rabe

Peg / Viv / Eva

Gabrielle Scawthorn
Gabrielle Scawthorn photo portrait

Gabrielle Scawthorn

Susie

Yasser Zadeh
Yasser Zadeh photo portrait

Yasser Zadeh

Rossy / Leigh / Student / Robbie

Production team

Director

Alexander Zeldin

Alexander Zeldin

Set and Costume Designer

Marg Horwell

Marg Horwell

Choreographer and Movement Director

Imogen Knight

Imogen Knight

Lighting Designer

Paule Constable

Paule Constable

Composer

Yannis Philippakis

Yannis Philippakis

Sound Design

Josh Anio Grigg

Josh Anio Grigg

Casting

Jacob Sparrow

Jacob Sparrow

Australian Casting

Serena Hill

Serena Hill

Associate Director

Joanna Pidcock

Joanna Pidcock

Dramaturgy

Faye Merralls

Dramaturgy

Sasha Milavic Davies

Sasha Milavic Davies

Voice Director

Cathleen McCarron

Cathleen McCarron

Dialect Coach

Louise Jones

Dialect Coach

Jenny Kent

 

 

Photography by Tania Franco Klein.