No longer booking
  • Venue Young Vic Theatre, London
  • Performance dates Booking to 11 July 2026
  • Running time 2 hours 10 minutes (no interval)

Book Care tickets in London

Experience the UK premiere of Alexander Zeldin’s life-affirming play, Care, at the Young Vic Theatre, running from 11 May to 11 July 2026.

I never saw any of that before. All that the birds do… I see it now. Will they be gone too? 

When a fall forces a grandmother into a care home she never wanted, she begins to see life with fresh eyes – finding unexpected moments of beauty, connection, and what truly matters.

Stars of Care

An acclaimed cast includes BAFTA nominee Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, East is East) as grandmother Joan, with Rosie Cavaliero (Bookish, The Power of Parker) as mother Lynn, and Richard Durden (Bridgerton, Ghosts) as resident John.

About the Play

Internationally acclaimed auteur Alexander Zeldin (LOVE, The Confessions, The Other Place) makes his highly anticipated Young Vic debut with Care, a poignant exploration of the connection between loss and rebirth. Adapted from Zeldin’s Une Mort dans la Famille, which premiered at Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe in Paris in 2022, this moving new play delves into the fractured bonds of a family and the unexpected moments of joy amidst hardship.

Book Tickets for Care at the Young Vic

Don’t miss this moving and thought-provoking production that promises to leave audiences reflecting on the delicate balance between loss and renewal.

What’s the story?

“I never saw any of that before. All that the birds do… I see it now. Will they be gone too?”

In the wake of a fall, a grandmother is swiftly moved to a care home she never wanted to be in. As she adjusts to life among fellow residents, each struggling with their own losses, her daughter and two feuding grandchildren are left grappling with the reality of her decline. But in the midst of uncertainty and loneliness, there are flashes of connection, humour, and the simple beauty of life’s everyday moments.

Sign-up for booking alerts, offers & news about Care and other shows:
★★★★★
“A profound portrait of life and death”
The Telegraph
★★★★
“Bassett is simply magnificent”
What's On Stage
★★★★
“Quietly heartbreaking... Linda Bassett is impeccable”
The Times

Photos

Performance Information

Check booking calendar for full details

Stars and Creatives

Who is in the cast of Care?

  • Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, East is East) as grandmother Joan
  • Hayley Carmichael (Rhinoceros, Richard III) as resident Simone
  • Rosie Cavaliero (Bookish, The Power of Parker) as mother Lynn
  • Richard Durden (Bridgerton, Ghosts) as resident John
  • Aoife Gaston (Doctor Who, The Tempest) as nurse Fanta
  • Llewella Gideon (Mr Loverman, Faith, Hope and Charity) as nurse Hazel
  • William Lawlor (Arcadia, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) as teenager Laurie
  • Ethan Mahony as youngest son Robbie
  • Charlie Webb as youngest son Robbie

Who are the creative team of Care?

  • Writer and Director – Alexander Zeldin
  • Set Designer – Rosanna Vize
  • Costume Designer – Natasha Jenkins
  • Lighting Designer – James Farncombe
  • Sound Designer – Josh Anio Grigg
  • Movement Director – Marcin Rudy
  • Casting Director – Jacob Sparrow
  • Intimacy Director – Katherine Hardman
  • Fight Director – Sam Lyon-Behan
  • Voice Coach – Carol Fairlamb
  • Dramatherapist – Patricia Ojehonmon
  • Costume Supervisor – Caroline McCall
  • Prop Supervisor – Laura Flowers
  • Associate Director – Kaleya Baxe

Important Notes

Content notes: The production features depictions of old age and death, including death of family members, strong language, elder abuse/age discrimination, and violence, issues with food/eating.

Access performances: BSL Performance (BSL interpreter Lixi Chivas): Thu 11 Jun 7.30pm, Wed 1 Jul 2.30pm; Captioned Performances (captioned by Suzanne Walkers): Wed 10 Jun 7.30, Sar 4 Jul, 2.30 (also Relaxed); Relaxed Performances: Wed 27 May 2.30, Sat 4 Jul 2.30 (also Captioned); Audio Described Performances (audio described by Ruth James and William Elliot): Thu 4 Jun 7.30 (touch tour 6.30pm), Sat 13 Jun 2.30 (touch tour 1.30pm)

Venue Information

Young Vic Theatre , 66 The Cut, London, SE1 8LZ

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

Nearest Buses: 40, 60, N63, N89, 1, 68, 168, 172, 176, 188

Directions

Google Apple

Critics' reviews of Care

★★★★★ “A profound portrait of life and death” The Telegraph

★★★★ “Bassett is simply magnificent” What's On Stage

★★★★ “Quietly heartbreaking... Linda Bassett is impeccable” The Times

★★★★ “Deftly and delicately done” The Stage

★★★★ “This work is what Alan Bennett’s Allelujah! could have been” The Standard

★★★★ “Powerfully naturalistic” London Theatre

★★★★ “A great theatrical achievement” Broadway World

● "Linda Bassett gives a phenomenal performance" - TimeOut

● "Linda Bassett is magnificent" - i Paper

Frequently Asked Questions

Care is playing at the Young Vic Theatre in London
The running time of Care is 2 hours 10 minutes (no interval)
Yes, Care has matinee performances on the following days: Wednesday, Saturday
No, sorry, Care has now completed its run and is no longer on sale.

News about Care

More Great Shows

See all