Leopoldstadt Tickets
Playwright Tom Stoppard returns to the West End with sweeping historical drama Leopoldstadt. Inspired by his own family’s Jewish heritage, this multi-generational play about freedom, love, and faith runs at the Wyndham’s Theatre for a limited 12 weeks.
Stoppard's intimate, multi-generational masterpiece
Playwright Tom Stoppard returns to the West End with his most personal work yet, Leopoldstadt. Inspired by his Jewish heritage, this passionate, heart-breaking drama follows one family’s journey across the tumultuous first half of the 20th century. Vienna in 1900 was a thriving, vibrant place for the Jewish population, who escaped pogroms and oppression to converge on Leopoldstadt. But amidst freedom and prosperity, the rise of fascism across Europe was heralding a new era of violence. Leopoldstadt is directed by Patrick Marber (Travesties) and features a cast of 24, with actors playing numerous roles in one family over the course of 50 years. Tom Stoppard is one of the UK’s most prolific and celebrated playwrights. His debut play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (1966), remains a huge cultural touchstone in British theatre. Marking the return of a legendary writer at the height of his skills, Leopoldstadt tickets offer both an intimate portrait of one family and an epic story about oppression, injustice and faith. It plays in the West End for a limited season.
Leopoldstadt London Reviews
User Reviews
It was good to see a large cast again after mainly seeing monologues and two-handers last year. Good to see a packed audience too. An engrossing and emotionally engaging play with themes that still resonate. The cast were all spot on and those whose Read more
Before the show, old black and white photos are displayed on the screen - I was soon to start wishing that I had sat just a little closer, to get a better look. Because this is a rather epic tale, of a wealthy Jewish family living in Vienna - LeopoldBefore the show, old black and white photos are displayed on the screen - I was soon to start wishing that I had sat just a little closer, to get a better look. Because this is a rather epic tale, of a wealthy Jewish family living in Vienna - Leopoldstadt is the traditionally Jewish district of the city. And the story takes us through several decades.. You think you know what's coming as a result, and you're right. But the story starts in 1899, with the prosperous family enjoying Christmas (there's assimilation for you - they have Christian in-laws anyway) in a well-appointed room, complete with sumptuous furnishings, and a lovely Christmas tree in the corner. Things move quite slowly as we have explained to us what it's like to be Jewish and ambitious in this society, where discrimination has been removed from the lawbooks, but not from people's attitudes - casual antisemitism is to be found everywhere. This message isn't delivered in a hectoring way - the genius of it is to base everything around actual events in the life of a family that is quite realistic, and entertaining. And I must say, this part of the play looks beautiful - just like a period drama on the telly. 1900 rolls around, the Christmas tree is missing, and the story has moved on a bit - but since the interval comes at the end of this time period, we were left wondering how much further the play would be able to advance! Fear not - it goes into overdrive in the second half. We jump to 1924, 1938, 1955.. and in each scene, we get a decent idea of what's happening on the national stage, as well as a graphic description of what's happening to the family. There's a huge cast, by the way - not only do they play several different family members, but at different ages too. Again, I wished I'd been able to see the family tree better, when it had been projected onto the big screen! But it doesn't actually matter much who's who - you pick up on the family dynamics anyway. As the years advance, what the family must endure becomes gradually more awful. In sympathy, the stage becomes barer and barer.. and the action ramps up to a truly dreadful climax, visually striking and emotionally devastating, as past characters are brought back on stage in old-fashioned costumes, and we're told what happened to them. A very powerful play that highlights the suffering of one family.. and through that, tells the history of a country. The playwright has Czech roots himself, it seems - and his own family's experiences informed some of the events of this play. Very informative, for most of us - very highly recommended. Read more