The National Theatre's new production of The House of Bernarda Alba officially opened at the London venue November 28 in the company's Lyttelton Theatre, and the reviews are in. See what they have to say about Alice Birch's new adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s 1945 play below. Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret) directs, with the run set to continue through January 6, 2024.
The story follows five daughters forced to live under the tight control of their mother following the death of their father. Tensions mount when one daughter defies all odds and gets a chance to break free.
The cast is led by Harriet Walter (Succession) in the title role with Isis Hainsworth (Romeo & Juliet) as Adela, Rosalind Eleazar (Slow Horses) as Angustias, and Thusitha Jayasundera (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) as Poncia.
Read the reviews below.
CultureWhisper (Holly O'Mahony)
Financial Times (Sarah Hemming)
The Independent (Alice Saville)
London Box Office (Stuart King)
London Theatre (Marianka Swain)
The New York Times (Matt Wolf)*
The Telegraph (Claire Allfree)
TimeOut London (Andrzej Lukowski)
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The cast also includes 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. Esma Akar, Livia Court, and Sicily Rose De Bernardini share the role of Young Girl, with Catharine Humphrys, Asha Kingsley, Celia Nelson, Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart, Georgia Silver, Imogen Mackie Walker, Charlotte Workman, James McHugh, and Michael Naylor rounding out the company. Casting is by Alastair Coomer and Naomi Downham.
The new production features set and costume design by Merle Hensel, lighting design by Lee Curran, and an original score by Isobel Waller-Bridge. Ingrid Mackinnon is intimacy coordinator, and Owain Gwynn is fight director.
Visit NationalTheatre.org.uk.
