Tickets coming soon
  • Venue Donmar Warehouse, London
  • Performance dates 5 December 2026 - 6 February 2027

See The King’s Ransom – a world premiere dark comedy by Stuart Slade – showing at the Donmar Warehouse between 5 December 2026 and 6 February 2027.

Starring Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Blake Harrison (The Inbetweeners), this wickedly funny play about grief, redemption and an audacious heist explores the lengths people will go for love, loyalty and a million-dollar ransom.  

The King’s Ransom at the Donmar Theatre

The King’s Ransom is having its world premiere at the Donmar Theatre in London from 5 December 2026 until 6 February 2027. The play is (sort of) based on a true story; inspired by a real attempt to steal Elvis Presley’s body, reworked as a dark comedy about a team of misfits attempting the heist of the century.

It is playing at the 250-seat Donmar Warehouse, making this is a rare opportunity to see an intimate world premiere of a major new play.  

Charlie Cox leads the cast as Vince, alongside Blake Harrison as Rusty, Tom Fletcher (Of Mice & Men), Matthew Flynn (The Crucible ) and Jenny Rainsford (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The creative team includes writing by Stuart Slade and Matthew Dunster is directing.

The heist of the century  

The play follows the story of Vince Black – a small-time crook with big dreams. He assembles a motley crew of misfits – each with their own baggage, secrets and reasons for wanting to escape – to attempt to steal the corpse of Elvis Presley from Graceland for a million-dollar ransom.

But beneath the dark humour and the absurdity of the show’s premise lies something deeper: a meditation on grief, redemption, friendship and the desperate measures people take when they have nothing left to lose. The King’s Ransom is a play that asks: what do we hold onto when everything else has fallen away? And what price are we willing to pay for a second chance?  

Book The King’s Ransom tickets  

The King’s Ransom opens 5 December 2026 at the Donmar Warehouse and is playing until 6 February 2027. With a limited run at London’s most intimate venue and a world premiere of an acclaimed new play, early booking is highly recommended.  Get updates on when tickets go on sale by signing up to the West End Theatre newsletter.

The King’s Ransom is the world premiere of Stuart Slade’s award-winning play – a dark comedy about grief, redemption and the lengths people will go when they have nothing left to lose.

The play is inspired by the true story of an attempt to steal Elvis Presley’s corpse in 1977, but transforms that historical oddity into a fictional caper about a small-time crook named Vince Black who assembles a team of misfits to attempt an audacious heist for a million-dollar ransom. It also explores what happens when ordinary people are pushed to extraordinary measures, when desperation and loyalty collide, and when grief drives us to do impossible things.

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Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of The King's Ransom?

  • Vince Black: Charlie Cox
  • Charlie: Tom Fletcher
  • Mr Bluefield: Matthew Flynn
  • Rusty: Blake Harrison
  • Jessie Lee: Leo Patrick
  • Rhonda/Jenny: Jenny Rainsford
  • Elvis: Christopher Short
  • Mike: Cherrelle Skeete
  • Red: Ronnie Yorke
  • Martha: Ruby Barker, Eira Kay and Trixie Willis (rotating)

Who are the creative team of The King's Ransom?

  • Playwright: Stuart Slade
  • Director: Matthew Dunster
  • Set Designer: Anna Fleischle
  • Costume Designer: Jean Chan
  • Lighting Designer: Sally Ferguson
  • Sound Designer: Holly Khan
  • Illusion Designer: Chris Cox
  • Fight Director: Ruth Cooper-Brown
  • Intimacy Director: Rachel Bown-Williams
  • Casting Director: Lotte Hines

Important Notes

The play deals with grief, crime, dark humour and contains references to death and corpses.

Venue Information

Donmar Warehouse , 41 Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9LX

Nearest Tube or Train: Leicester Square, Covent Garden

Nearest Buses: 14, 19, 24, 29, 38, 176, N5, N19, N20, N29, N38, N41, N279

Directions

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Frequently Asked Questions

The King's Ransom is playing at the Donmar Warehouse in London
Yes, The King's Ransom has matinee performances on the following days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
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