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★★★★ “A truly awesome spectacle” – TimeOut

Olivier Award-winner Rebecca Frecknall directs Harriet Walter in The House of Bernarda Alba.

Federico García Lorca’s modern masterpiece, The House of Bernarda Alba is brought to life on stage in a radical new adaptation by Alice Birch and Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret, A Street Car Named Desire, Summer & Smoke) in her National Theatre directorial debut.

Olivier Award-winner Harriet Walter (Succession, Killing Eve) plays the formidable matriarch, guarding her reputation against the rising tide of her family’s desires, in this pitch-black drama exploring the consequences of oppressing women, alongside a tremendous cast including Isis Hainsworth (Rebecca Frecknall’s Romeo & Juliet) as Adela, the youngest of Bernarda’s daughters.

The House of Bernarda Alba plays from 16 November 2023 — 6 January 2024 at the National Theatre.

You bring such scandal to my house

In the domain of Bernarda Alba, a daughter who disobeys is no longer a daughter.

Forced to live under their mother’s tight grip as they mourn their father’s death, can five sisters survive when young Adela dares for passion and freedom?

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Performance Information

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Stars and Creatives

Harriet Walter
Harriet Walter

Who is in the cast of The House of Bernarda Alba?

The House of Bernarda Alba stars Harriet Walter as Bernarda Alba; Isis Hainsworth as Adela, Rosalind Eleazar as Angustias; Thusitha Jayasundera as Poncia; Lizzie Annis as Martirio; Pearl Chanda as Magdalena; Bryony Hannah as Maid; Marcia Lecky as Prudencia; Eileen Nicholas as Maria Josefa; and Eliot Salt as Ameila.

The cast also includes Catharine Humphrys, Asha Kingsley, Celia Nelson, Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart, Georgia Silver, Imogen Mackie Walker, Charlotte Workman, James McHugh and Michael Naylor; and the role of the Young Girl will be shared by Esma Akar, Livia Courtand Sicily Rose De Bernardini will share the role of Young Girl.

Who are the creative team of The House of Bernarda Alba?

Rebecca Frecknall makes her directorial debut at the National Theatre. Joining Frecknall on the production team are: Merle Hensel (Set and Costume Designer), Lee Curran (Lighting Designer), Peter Rice (Sound Designer), Alastair Coomer CDG  (Casting Director), Naomi Downham (Casting Director) and Lilac Yosiphon (staff director).

Important Notes

Please note:

This production features strong language, gunshots, and depictions of violence, death, and suicide that some may find distressing.

Access performances:

Captioned: Wednesday 20 December – 7.30pm, Saturday 6 January – 2.15pm; BSL Interpreted: Wednesday 6 December – 7.30pm; Audio Described: Saturday 2 December – 2.15pm, Friday 5 January – 7.30pm; Chilled Performance: Saturday 30 December – 2.15pm

Venue Information

National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre , Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PX

Nearest Tube or Train: Waterloo (Jubilee line, Northern line, Bakerloo line)

Nearest Buses: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, RV1

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Critics' reviews of The House of Bernarda Alba

★★★★ "A truly awesome spectacle" - TimeOut

★★★★ " Stars a magnificent Harriet Walter" - Financial Times

★★★★ "One of the finest acting ensembles of recent years... dense and compelling" - The Evening Standard

★★★★ "A splendid evening’s theatre" - iNews

★★★★ "Harriet Walter is formidable" - Telegraph

Also see: The House of Bernarda Alba Reviews Round-up

Frequently Asked Questions

The House of Bernarda Alba is playing at the National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre in London
The running time of The House of Bernarda Alba is 2 hours 20 minutes (including interval)
Yes, The House of Bernarda Alba has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday
No, sorry, The House of Bernarda Alba has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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