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Get tickets to The Land of the Living starring Juliet Stevenson at the National Theatre

Juliet Stevenson (The Doctor, Mary Stuart) returns to the National Theatre alongside Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones) in The Land of the Living, a powerful and thought-provoking new play by David Lan, former Artistic Director of the Young Vic.

Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Jungle, The Inheritance), this unforgettable production delves into the complexities of memory, morality, and the lasting echoes of our choices.

The Land of the Living is playing in the Dorfman theatre from 10 September 2025 to 1 November 2025. Don’t miss Juliet Stevenson’s return to the National Theatre in this remarkable new play.

‘All my life – all your life – I’ve struggled with this: was what I did “wrong”?’

Germany, 1945. Thomas, one of thousands of children stolen by the Nazis from Eastern Europe during WWII, is under the care of Ruth, a UN relief worker. Should she try to find his parents or leave him with those he’s grown up with? The choice she makes will shape his life.

London, 1990. Years later, Thomas visits Ruth. As they untangle the past, the decisions Ruth made as a very young woman are called powerfully into question.

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Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of The Land of the Living?

The cast features Juliet Stevenson as Ruth; Atilla Akinci, Kate Duchêne, Hubert Hanowicz, Caroline Loncq, Avital Lvova, Michael Marcus, Anastasia Martin, Tom Wlaschiha, with further casting to be announced.

Starring Juliet Stevenson as Ruth and Tom Wlaschiha as Thomas

With Michael C. Fox, Atilla Akinci, Kate Duchêne, Hubert Hanowicz, Caroline Loncq, Avital Lvova, Michael Marcus, Anastasia Martin, Marek Oravec, Cosima Shaw and Sasha Syzoneko, and young performers including Darcy Tosun, Artie Wilkinson-Hunt and Anton Vehring

Who are the creative team of The Land of the Living?

  • Written by David Lan
  • Directed by Stephen Daldry
  • Set designer Miriam Buether
  • Costume designer Nicky Gillibrand
  • Lighting designer James Farncombe
  • Sound designer Gareth Fry
  • Composer Paul Englishby
  • Movement director Paul McGill
  • Fight and intimacy director Maisie Carter
  • Casting director Naomi Downham
  • Dialect and language coach Victoria Woodward
  • Voice coach Cathleen McCarron
  • Associate director Jane Moriarty
  • Staff director Júlia Levai

Important Notes

Content warning: The events in this production take place in Germany immediately after the end of World War II. It contains references to racism and antisemitism, violence against children and displacement including that of young children. There is also reference to disordered eating.

Access performances: Captioned Performances: Saturday 4 October – 2:30pm, Thursday 16 October – 6:30pm, Wednesday 29 October – 7:30pm; Audio Described (with touch tours taking place 90 minutes before the show): Saturday 11 October – 2:30pm, Thursday 30 October – 7:30pm; Relaxed performance: Monday 20 October – 7:30pm

Venue Information

National Theatre - Dorfman 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 Land of the Living

★★★★ "Juliet Stevenson is riveting" - The Telegraph

★★★★ "Juliet Stevenson’s powerhouse performance" - The Financial Times

Also see: The Land of the Living Reviews Round-up

Frequently Asked Questions

The Land of the Living is playing at the National Theatre - Dorfman Theatre in London
Yes, The Land of the Living has matinee performances on the following days:
No, sorry, The Land of the Living has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

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