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  • Oedipus

    16 Oct 2008

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    A towering bronze door – epic, monumental, regal, yet tarnished – dominates the Paul Brown-designed Olivier theatre stage, watching over Sophocles’s tragic tale with unwavering, unemotional solidarity. Read more


Oedipus

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Showing at: National Theatre Olivier

Box Office: 020 7452 3000

Age: General

Genre: Play

Sub Genre: Play (Tragedy)

Ralph Fiennes and Clare Higgins star in Sophocles's tragic tale, Oedipus.

The people of Thebes look to Oedipus to lift a terrible curse from them and their city. He consults the oracle and learns that he must root out the late king's murderer. But his relentless interrogation of one man after another leads inexorably, and in the space of a single day, to his own savage conclusion.

Fiennes, who plays Oedipus, is best known for his film work, which includes the Oscar-winning The English Patient and Schindler's List, Hannibal Lecter thriller Red Dragon, Martin McDonagh's In Bruges and the Harry Potter series, in which he plays the evil Lord Voldemort. He recently returned to the London stage in God Of Carnage.

Higgins is a three-time Laurence Olivier Award-winning actress, collecting the coveted statuette for her performances in Sweet Bird Of Youth (1995), Vincent In Brixton (2002) and Hecuba (2005). Her portrayal of Jocasta in Oedipus follows recent National Theatre appearances in A Slight Ache and Major Barbara.

Fellow Oedipus cast members Alan Howard and Jasper Britton have both worked extensively with the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company, while Malcolm Storry recently played Gandalf in stage adaptation of The Lord Of The Rings.

The National Theatre production of Sophocles's Oedipus is translated by Frank McGuinness, the Irish playwright who has previously translated Ibsens's Rosmersolm and Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle for the company. McGuinness's own plays include The Factory Girls, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Speaking Like Magpies and There Came A Gypsy Riding.

For more about Oedipus at the National Theatre Olivier read the First Night Feature.

Performance Details

  • previews from: 08 Oct 2008
  • opening night: 15 Oct 2008
  • closing: 04 Jan 2009

show times: Mon-Sun 20:00 (15 Oct 19:00), Mats 15:00 - In rep, please check with theatre for performance dates

ticket prices: £10-£41

duration: 1h40

cast: Ralph Fiennes, Clare Higgins, Patrick Brennan, Jasper Britton, Alfred Burke, David Burke, Edward Clayton, Sam Cox, Russell Dixon, Darren Fox, Richard Freeman, Alan Howard, Sioned Jones, Gwilym Lee, Neil McCaul, Paul McCleary, Stanley Page, Steven Page, Christopher Saul, David Shaw-Parker, Malcolm Storry, Robert Willox

author: Sophocles, in a new version by Frank McGuinness

director: Jonathan Kent

sound: Paul Groothuis

movement director: Denni Sayers

lighting designer: Neil Austin

designer: Paul Brown

producer: National Theatre

map: View Map

Access Enabled Map (pdf format):
View The National Theatre Olivier Access Enabled Map

address: South Bank, London, United Kingdom, SE1 9PX

nearest tube: Waterloo (250m), Southwark

nearest bus: 76, 77, 211, 507, D1, D11, P11 (York Road)149, P11 (Stamford Street)1, 4, 26, 68, X68, 76, 168, 171, 171A, 176, 188, 501, 505, 521 (Waterloo Bridge)

nearest train: Waterloo (approx. 250m)

parking: 5 spaces reserved for orange badge holders at riverside end of Cottesloe Ave. 4 extra bays opposite Cottesloe theatre for evening performances. Car Park beneath theatre. Spaces reserved for disabled customers near lifts. Free parking voucher available from box office for orange badge holders (present ticket at information desk). Automatic doors and ramps from the Car Park to the lobby and lift.

air conditioned: Yes

Assisted Performance Booking Information

Access Booking: Tel 020 7452 3000 Information Desk 020 7452 3400

Accessible Facilities Venue Information

discounts: Discounts available for all disabled people.

limited mobility: Please ask to be seated in an aisle seat in the centre Stalls when you book.

access description: Main entrance reached from Upper Ground via Theatre Avenue to Theatre Square and a drop off point approx. 40m from main entrance. Lifts up to the Olivier Theatre to right of information desk (to both Stalls and Circle levels) or staircases further in on each side (49 steps to Stalls, further 44 to Circle). Olivier Box office on level 2. No steps to the back of the Stalls, 10 steps up to raised sections. Centre Stalls auditorium has gradual shallow steps with a handrail on aisles 2 and 4. Lift to row G of Circle and 18 steps down to the front. Power assisted doors and ramps to terraces from Level 2.

hearing impaired: Infra-red system with headsets or neck loops. Collect headsets/loops from box offices. Induction loops at service counters.

guide dogs policy: Guide dogs are not currently allowed in the auditorium, however staff are happy to dog sit. Dogs will be looked after in the cloakroom. Groups should contact the theatre manager’s office on 020 7452 3281.

wheelchairs: Lift to the Olivier Stalls. 3 spaces for wheelchair users in row R. A companion can sit next to the left-hand space in row R, or in the row. Transfer seating is available to aisle seats - wheelchairs stored at back of auditorium.

toilets: Women’s and men’s at Stalls and Circle levels.

disabled toilets: Adapted WC on the left side of the Stalls corridor.

bars: 6 licensed bars. Access information: No steps to the Olivier Stalls and Circle bars (spacious, moveable seats) from the lifts. Soft drinks may be brought to disabled customers in the auditorium. Chair lift down a flight of steps to the Circle café from level 3 - contact a member of staff for assistance. The menu is available in large print.

Ralph Fiennes and Clare Higgins star in the drama Oedipus, a play at the National's Olivier Theatre (photo: Catherine Ashmore)

Ralph Fiennes and Clare Higgins star in Oedipus

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