The full cast has been revealed for The Misanthrope at the National Theatre, starring Sandra Oh, Paul Chahidi and Abigail Cruttenden.
Martin Crimp’s new adaptation of Molière’s acerbically satirical play dives into the life of the titular misanthrope Alice (Alceste in the original) who, sick of the artificiality of contemporary mantras, starts speaking out against them in increasingly bold terms, but soon learns that challenging the status quo comes at a personal and professional cost.
Directed by Indhu Rubasingham, The Misanthrope runs in the Lytteleton Theatre from 16 June to 1 August 2026.
Starring Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) making her National Theatre debut as Alice, Paul Chahidi (Twelfth Night, ENRON, Shakespeare in Love) as John, Abigail Cruttenden (The Crucible, The Theory of Everything) as Claire, Imogen Elliott (Jane Eyre) as Esmee and Rina Fatania (The Art of Illusion, NW Trilogy) as Indira.
View live availability for The Misanthrope here
Cast for The Misanthrope
Sandra Oh leads the company as Alice, the brilliant novelist at the heart of the play. Best known for her roles as Eve Polastri in Killing Eve and Dr Cristina Polastri in Grey’s Anatomy, Oh promises to bring charisma to what will be her National Theatre stage debut.
The full principal cast is as follows:
- Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) as Alice
- Paul Chahidi (The Merry Wives, NT) as John
- Abigail Cruttenden (Grantchester) as Claire
- Imogen Elliott as Esmée
- Rina Fatania as Indira
- Freddie MacBruce as Allen
- Tom Mison (Sleepy Hollow) as Stefan
- Jemima Rooper (Goldfish Bowl, NT) as Elaine
Young performers Arthur Blanc and Teddy Holton-Frances play Benjamin, with Francesca Fullilove and Poppy Townsend White as Madeleine.
The creative team
Martin Crimp (Cyrano de Bergerac) has written the adaptation in contemporary verse, the same form used in his well-reviewed Cyrano de Bergerac at the National Theatre.
Indhu Rubasingham (The Wife of Willesden, The Father and the Assassin) directs. The wider creative team includes set and costumes by Robert Jones, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, composition by Anna Meredith and sound design by Alexander Caplen.
What to expect
Transporting Molière’s play from the environs of the 17th century court to the modern day, Crimp’s version skewers the language of modern virtue (kindness, respect, authenticity) with the same precision Moliere applied to the hypocrisies of his own era. Get ready for one of the most talked-about productions of 2026.
Book tickets to The Misanthrope
Plan your visit to The Misanthrope
- Theatre: The National Theatre
- Booking dates: 16 June — 1 August 2026
- Performance schedule: Monday- Saturday, Matinees Wednesday and Saturday
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