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
Booking and details
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
Video
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
Graham / Terry / Librarian
Joe Bannister
For the National Theatre: Trouble in Mind, As You Like It and The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Amelda Brown
Alice
Amelda Brown
For the National Theatre: Apart from George, Macbeth and The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Jerry Killick
Eldon / Joss
Jerry Killick
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company and The Confessions (also on tour for A Zeldin Company)
Lilit Lesser
Pat / Leander
Lilit Lesser
For the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Brian Lipson
Bob / Freddy / Jacob
Brian Lipson
For the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Eryn Jean Norvill
Alice
Eryn Jean Norvill
At the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Pamela Rabe
Peg / Viv / Eva
Pamela Rabe
At the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Gabrielle Scawthorn
Susie
Gabrielle Scawthorn
At the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Yasser Zadeh
Rossy / Leigh / Student / Robbie
Yasser Zadeh
At the National Theatre: The Confessions (for A Zeldin Company)
Production team
Director
Alexander Zeldin
Alexander Zeldin
For the National Theatre: as writer and director, The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, The Confessions (an A Zeldin Company/Compagnie A Zeldin Production; also on international tour), Faith, Hope and Charity and LOVE (also on international tours)
Set and Costume Designer
Marg Horwell
Marg Horwell
Marg Horwell is a multi-award-winning theatre and opera designer.
Choreographer and Movement Director
Imogen Knight
Imogen Knight
Imogen Knight is a multi disciplinary artist working in movement direction, performance art, somatic body work and intimacy direction.
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Paule Constable
Recently for the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The Confessions, Dixon and Daughters, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Composer
Yannis Philippakis
Yannis Philippakis
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company and The Confessions for A Zeldin Company
Sound Design
Josh Anio Grigg
Josh Anio Grigg
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, The Confessions, Faith, Hope and Charity, LOVE (also Birmingham Rep and Park Avenue Armoury, New York) and Beyond Caring (also Looking Glass Theatre, Chicago)
Casting
Jacob Sparrow
Jacob Sparrow
For the National Theatre: The Hot Wing King, The Confessions, Pericles, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2021 tour), Hadestown (also West End), Faith, Hope and Charity (also tour), Follies, Amadeus and LOVE (also tours and film)
Australian Casting
Associate Director
Joanna Pidcock
Joanna Pidcock
Joanna Pidcock is director, dramaturg, and librettist. She also works as an essayist and was shortlisted for the 2021 Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize.
Dramaturgy
Faye Merralls
Faye Merralls
Dramaturgy
Sasha Milavic Davies
Sasha Milavic Davies
For the National Theatre: The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Infinite Life (also Linda Gross Theater for Atlantic Theater Company), The Confessions and The Antipodes
Voice Director
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: Ballet Shoes, The Other Place in association with A Zeldin Company, Coriolanus, Mnemonic (2024, a co-production with Complicité), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Dialect Coach
Louise Jones
Louise Jones
Dialect Coach
Jenny Kent
Jenny Kent
Photography by Tania Franco Klein.