The National Theatre has officially confirmed the full ensemble joining Golden Globe winner Sandra Oh for the highly anticipated world premiere of The Misanthrope. Making her National Theatre debut, the Killing Eve star leads a biting new adaptation of Molière’s classic satire, penned by acclaimed playwright Martin Crimp and directed by Indhu Rubasingham.
In this contemporary verse adaptation, Molière’s infamous misanthrope, Alceste, is reimagined as Alice (Sandra Oh), a brilliant novelist who harbors a deep disdain for modern mantras of forced kindness and respect. As Alice grows bolder in her critiques of fashionable ideas and lends her voice to controversial causes, she finds herself increasingly isolated. The production interrogates the fractures in private relationships and the volatility of public debate in the digital age, forcing Alice to confront the steep price an artist must pay for uncompromising honesty.
Joining Oh in this sharp interrogation of 21st-century society are Paul Chahidi as John and Abigail Cruttenden as Claire. The newly announced cast includes Imogen Elliott as Esmée, Rina Fatania as Indira, Freddie MacBruce as Allen, Tom Mison as Stefan, and Jemima Rooper as Elaine. The company is completed by young performers Arthur Blanc, Teddy Holton-Frances, Francesca Fullilove, and Poppy Townsend White.
Director Indhu Rubasingham has assembled a world-class creative team, featuring set and costume design by Robert Jones, lighting by Tim Lutkin, and an original score by the Mercury Prize-nominated composer Anna Meredith. Movement direction is provided by Lucy Hind, with sound design by Alexander Caplen.
The Misanthrope is set to run in the Lyttelton theatre from 16 June to 1 August 2026, with a press night scheduled for 23 June. To mark the production and the 70th birthday of the playwright, the National Theatre will host "Martin Crimp: The Writer and the Work" on 20 June. This special event features Crimp in conversation with academic Vicky Angelaki and critic Aleks Sierz, coinciding with the launch of a new book celebrating his career.
