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The Alchemist

by Ben Jonson

Part of the Travelex £10 Season, with two thirds of the seats at £10 for every performance.

When subtle, Face and Doll Common join forces to pose as alchemists, dupes of every kind queue up to fulfil their crazy lusts and dreams. And as the client list escalates so the frenetic con artists demonstrate ever more outlandish acts of improvisation to avoid discovery and rake in the cash.

This night I'll change
All that is metal in my house to gold,
And, early in the morning, will I send
To all the plumbers and pewterers
And buy their tin and lead up.

Bursting with energy and invention, Ben Jonson's masterpiece offers an irresistible critique of human greed and gullibility – and the chance to see Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale in first time partnership on the Olivier stage, with Lesley Manville as Doll. Ian Richardson joins the company in the great role of Sir Epicure Mammon.

This is the day wherein, to all my friends, I will pronounce the happy word, 'Be rich!'

A new book, The Alchemist Exposed, by Robert Butler and published by the NT with Oberon Books, is now available from the National's Bookshop at £10. See New Releases

Audio-Described performance
Friday 13 October at 7.30pm and Saturday 14 October at 2pm

Captioned performance
Monday 16 October at 7.30pm

photo (Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale) by Jillian Edelstein

Olivier Theatre

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Related Links

• The Royal Hunt of the Sun
• Market Boy
• The Life of Galileo
• The Alchemist Exposed
• Nicholas Hytner on The Alchemist
• Ian Richardson

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