Holy Fool, a gripping new play inspired by the extraordinary true story of legendary Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich, will receive its world premiere at London's Park Theatre this autumn. Running from Thursday 27 August to Saturday 10 October 2026, the thrilling production explores the dangerous realities of art, censorship, and subversion under Joseph Stalin’s brutal totalitarian regime.
Benjamin O’Mahony, known for his roles in the BAFTA-nominated Kajaki and Ripper Street, stars as the celebrated composer Dmitri Shostakovich. He is joined by an exceptional supporting cast, including Jenna Augen as Nina, Phoebe Pryce as Katya, and Fergus O’Donnell as Izaak. Directed by Kate Fahy and written by the playwriting duo Rosalind Adler and Lea Sellers, the production will host its national press night on Thursday 3 September.
The narrative follows Shostakovich as he walks a perilous political tightrope at the absolute height of Stalin’s reign of terror. Under the constant threat of state torture and execution, the composer must outwardly appease a brutal dictator while quietly channeling his resistance into his work. Outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant, Shostakovich composes his masterpieces in a musical code, hiding his greatest acts of rebellion in plain sight. The play serves as a tense, moving, and darkly witty portrait of an iconic twentieth-century creator who chose to fight oppression with orchestral scores rather than physical weapons.
By exploring the impossible moral compromises forced upon citizens living under authoritarian rule, the play raises urgent, highly contemporary questions regarding state propaganda, creative freedom, and the enduring power of art to directly challenge tyranny.
Director Kate Fahy emphasized the production's modern resonance, noting that since the invasion of Ukraine, contemporary creators and intellectuals continue to face severe state sanctions for criticizing war. Fahy described the piece as a deeply humane examination of a man trying to express his authentic self while complying with a regime just to stay alive, ensuring his sublime music could survive for future generations. Tickets are now on sale.
