The Misanthrope
Lyttelton - National Theatre
- Opens: Tuesday, 16 June 2026 -
Booking until: Saturday, 1 August 2026
The Misanthrope description
Hollywood meets France in London, where Sandra Oh stars in The Misanthrope.
Molière, born in 1622, was a renowned French playwright and actor, celebrated worldwide for hundreds of years. His classic comedy, The Misanthrope, stars the darling of Hollywood and TV, Sandra Oh, in the lead role at the National Theatre in a dazzling new production. First performed in 1666, this 'comedy of manners' satirises the French aristocracy of the time, handling themes of hypocrisy, honesty, integrity, and the personal flaws that make us all human.
The story goes like this. Alice is a brilliant novelist. She despises the modern world's obsession with kindness and respect, but at the same time, she's immersed in it. The more she talks about her opinions, the worse her own personal relationships become. Her colleagues can't bear her, the criticism grows more intense, and she finally realises the high price she must pay as both a woman and an artist for simply speaking her mind.
As well as Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) who plays the lead role, the actors in this adaptation by Martin Crimp (Cyrano de Bergerac) include Paul Chahidi (TV's The Night Manager, Phaedre, Wicked Little Letters), and Abigail Cruttenden (A Man for All Seasons, Handbagged). Directed by the National Theatre's artistic director Indhu Rubasingham (The Father and the Assassin), the Set and Costume Designer is Robert Jones, the Lighting Designer is Tim Lutkin, and the Voice Coach is Jeannette Nelson. The Casting Directors are Alastair Coomer CDG and Martin Poile CDG.
Some stories never grow old. Buy The Misanthrope tickets to experience a four hundred year-old dark comedy that bites in today's modern world, where women are still sometimes frowned upon for having and sharing strong opinions.
Starring:
Sandra Oh
