‘I don’t know how to want less.’
Hazel and Robin are living out their retirement in a cottage on the east coast. They listen to Radio 4, speak regularly with their children and Hazel never misses a day of yoga practice. But their existence is far from cosy – electricity is rationed and there’s a Geiger counter to hand to check radiation levels – for they live just outside the exclusion zone of a nuclear disaster.
When old friend Rose visits out of the blue, they crack open the parsnip wine and reminisce. But uncomfortable memories resurface, and Rose’s shocking proposal threatens their entire future. All three are forced to confront how their life choices have affected each other, as well as future generations.
Lucy Kirkwood’s play is both epic and intimate, a gripping and funny thriller that highlights how the time to act is slipping through our fingers.
Winner 2018 Writer’s Guild for Best Play/Tony Award 2018 Best Play nomination/Top 3 in The Guardian’s 2019 Best theatre shows of the 21st century.
Trailer
Production Photos
Reviews
“Gripping revival of Lucy Kirkwood’s story of sacrifice and selfishness ”4 rating
“Hazel, Rose and Robin will stay with you long after you’ve left the theatre.”5 rating
“The cast give an outstanding acting masterclass”4 rating
“there isn’t a dull moment throughout and I found myself consumed in their world.”
Cast
Creatives
Rehearsal photos
Inside Rehearsals
Schools and Groups
Groups
Groups of 10 or more can save up to 20% on full price tickets.
Discount will be automatically applied on the ‘Checkout’ screen. Book up to 20 tickets online with the groups discount, discounts vary per performance and are subject to availability.
See the list of discounted performances on the Group Discounts Page.
Have a large group looking to attend? Please email tickets@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk and a member of the team will be able to assist.
Schools
Show tickets for school pupils are £13.50 each (one teacher goes free with every 10 tickets purchased). Find out more about School Visits here and book by calling Box Office on 0115 941 9419.
Access
We provide British Sign Language Interpretation, Captioning, Reduced Capacity, Relaxed Performance and Audio Description for this production.
Everyone is welcome to attend accessible performances, customers experience the full show including the accessible services.
Find out more about Access at Nottingham Playhouse here.
Sustainable Productions Summit
To accompany the new production of Lucy Kirkwood’s post-apocalyptic thriller, The Children, Nottingham Playhouse will host its first Sustainable Productions Summit on 4 April this year.
This day-long symposium complements the theatre’s existing environmental activity and is held in recognition of the need for the theatre industry to adapt to the changing climate and to integrate sustainability into all of its work.
Taking The Theatre Green Book as its basis, the summit will feature a panel of theatre makers and sustainability experts who will share their experience and expertise, discuss best practice and consider new approaches for the future on this urgent issue. This event is invite only. It is for creatives and theatre makers from the East Midlands area and beyond to address the industry’s carbon footprint, discuss changes to its behaviours and processes, ask questions and share best practices.
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