The Son

It's a good year for French playwright Florian Zeller; he’s working on a film adaptation of his play The Father which will star Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins. And now The Son, the final part in the same trilogy, transfers to the West End. See this acclaimed and exquisitely written piece at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 24 August.

Written in 2018 and translated from the original French by Christopher Hampton, The Son had its UK premiere at London’s Kiln Theatre (formerly the Tricycle) in February 2019. It was an “immaculate production", according to The Guardian's Michael Billington. The play completes the triptych that begins with The Mother and The Father.

Teenager Nicolas is unravelling. He skips school, engages in self-harm and resists his psychiatrist’s attempts to mend him. It’s clear he’s deeply depressed. Anne and Pierre are at a loss for what to do as their son’s mood becomes ever more desperate, only occasionally punctured by moments of soaring, incongruous joy.

The Duke of York’s run sees the cast of the Kiln Theatre run reprise their roles. Laurie Kynaston stars as Nicolas. Amanda Abbington plays Anne, John Light is Pierre and Amaka Okafor takes the part of Sofia.

Florian Zeller is the writer behind The Height of the Storm, which enjoyed an acclaimed run at the West End's Wyndham's Theatre in 2018. He is the recipient of a Prix Interallié and several Molière Awards.

Michael Longhurst (Bad Jews, The History Boys) directs. Translation is by Christopher Hampton. The production is designed by Lizzie Clachan. Lee Curran is the lighting designer, Isobel Waller-Bridge is the composer and sound designer, and Amy Ball is casting director.

Here’s another chance to see Longhurst’s stunning production of The Son. An emotional gut punch that will linger long in the mind, the play runs at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 24 August, with an opening night on 2 September.

Recommended for

If you caught Zeller's remarkable The Height of the Storm at Wyndham's Theatre, be sure to catch The Son, which features the playwright's signature emotional weightiness and subtle writing. Please be aware that the play's themes of mental illness and loss means it isn't suitable for those under the age of 14.

Age Recommendations: Recommended 14+