A Very Expensive Poison Tickets

The world premiere of Lucy Prebble's A Very Expensive Poison comes to the Old Vic. Charting a shadowy course through a world on the cusp of a new Cold War, this intriguing new play runs from 19 August 2019. The play is based on the 2016 book by Luke Harding, which examines the assassination of Russian former KGB whistle-blower Alexander Litvinenko. The Evening Standard called the book “one of the best political thrillers (...) in years”. In the heart of London, an assassination rocks the world. At the centre of a conflict of global politics and international espionage, one man meets his end. This stranger-than-fiction exposé takes us from Moscow to Mayfair, delving into the scandalous true story of Litvinenko and those who sought his demise. Tom Brooke is set to play Litvinenko, having recently starred in Berberian Sound Studio at the Donmar Warehouse. He will be joined by MyAnna Buring (Ripper Street, Twilight) as Litvinenko's wife Marina. Lucy Prebble is the writer behind the acclaimed plays The Sugar Syndrome, ENRON and The Effect. The latter won her the 2012 Critics' Circle Award for Best Play. John Crowley (Brooklyn, The Goldfinch) directs. This jaw-dropping and profound stage adaptation promises a deep new perspective on a landmark moment in history. Catch the latest piece from the talented playwright Lucy Prebble at the Old Vic from 19 August 2019. The official opening night falls on 5 September.