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People, Places & Things

By Duncan Macmillan
a co-production with Gavin Kalin Productions, Mark Gordon Pictures/Eilene Davidson Productions, Seaview and Second Half Productions

A woman dances, wearing a white sleeveless top and dark trousers.

Booking and details

Now streaming
Watch on National Theatre at Home

 

 

Duncan Macmillan’s (Lungs, 1984) intoxicating hit play People, Places & Things, directed by Jeremy Herrin (Best of Enemies, Wolf Hall, This House) and designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie, will be premiering on National Theatre at Home live at 9pm BST 19 September.

Denise Gough reprises her Olivier Award-winning role as Emma, a struggling actress whose life is spinning recklessly out of control. Gough’s ‘blisteringly funny, brilliantly physical and achingly human’ (Financial Times) performance is once again thrilling audiences in People, Places & Things – hailed by critics as ‘one of the greatest of her generation’ (Independent).

Emma was having the time of her life. Now she’s in rehab. Her first step is to admit that she has a problem. But the problem isn’t with Emma, it’s with everything else. She needs to tell the truth. But she’s smart enough to know that there’s no such thing. When intoxication feels like the only way to survive the modern world, how can she ever sober up?

Don’t miss this ‘unforgettable night’ (The Times) in the West End.

The original National Theatre and Headlong production.

Performed 3 May — 10 August 2024 in the Trafalgar Theatre.

Reviews

★★★★★

‘Theatre at its most vivid. An unforgettable night.’

The Times

★★★★★

‘Blisteringly funny, brilliantly physical and achingly human.’

Financial Times

★★★★★

‘Lightning strikes twice in this triumphant revival.’

Evening Standard

★★★★★

‘Shocking, magnetic, unbelievably real. Gough’s performance is one of the greatest of her generation.’

Independent

★★★★★

‘A pure adrenaline shot of theatre. Jeremy Herrin’s staging is electrifying.’

The Stage

★★★★★

‘You can’t improve on perfection. Some of the finest work on any London stage.’

What’sOnStage

6 Reviews

Video

A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors in expressive poses on a minimalist set, highlighted by striking blue lighting and dramatic, oversized shadows cast on the walls.
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Gallery

A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors in identical outfits and blond hair, blurred figures in expressive poses on a minimalist set, against a black background.
A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors in identical outfits and blond hair, blurred figures in expressive poses on a minimalist set, against a black background.
A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors in identical outfits and blond hair, blurred figures in expressive poses on a minimalist set, against a black background.
View 10 images
A dynamic theater scene featuring two actors, one a blurred figure in motion, in expressive poses on a minimalist set, with an audience visible in the background. A dynamic theater scene featuring two actors, one a blurred figure in motion, in expressive poses on a minimalist set, with an audience visible in the background. A dynamic theater scene featuring six actors, blurred figures in motion, in expressive poses on a minimalist set, under intense green stage lighting, an audience visible in the background. Three people in a waiting room setting, focusing on a pensive woman in the foreground sitting on an orange chair, with two men in the background. A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors, in a variety of poses on a minimalist set, with an audience visible in the background. A dynamic theater scene featuring five actors in expressive poses on a minimalist set, highlighted by striking blue lighting and dramatic, oversized shadows cast on the walls. A smiling man with braided hair sitting leisurely on a chair, gesturing with one hand, in a room with white tiled walls and orange chairs. A woman with gray hair and a red scarf stands thoughtfully against a modern, reflective wall with shadows of blinds cast across it. she is dressed in a patterned jacket and holds her hands together. Two women are standing and talking to each other in the center of a circle formed by diverse people sitting on chairs in a modern, well-lit room, resembling a group discussion or therapy session.

West End production images

A woman with windswept hair looks intently at her phone, making a frustrated expression. A man in a white shirt runs past her. Other people stand in the background, indoors.
A woman with windswept hair looks intently at her phone, making a frustrated expression. A man in a white shirt runs past her. Other people stand in the background, indoors.
A woman with windswept hair looks intently at her phone, making a frustrated expression. A man in a white shirt runs past her. Other people stand in the background, indoors.
View 11 images
A man and woman embracing and looking into each other's eyes, surrounded by construction elements in an unfinished room. The man's hands gently hold the woman's face. A man with a solemn expression peeking through a partially built doorframe surrounded by light grey walls, in a set under construction. A woman with long grey hair, dressed in a black suit, stands with crossed arms leaning against a brown door, set in a frame with black vertical stripes, surrounded by light grey walls. A woman with a pensive expression sits on a chair, holding her hand by her face. A man in the background sits, focused on reading a script in his lap. Two women joyfully embrace, smiling closely at each other, in a warmly lit indoor setting, with a blurry background of people and chairs. Two women dance together in a room. In the background another person is sat working on a laptop. A woman with a focused expression is holding a notebook and sits in the foreground, while a man with a shaved head and tattooed arm looks on from the background in a room with wooden panels. A man wearing a grey long-sleeved shirt stands indoors, holding the back of a cafe chair, in a partly constructed room. He looks off to the side with a contemplative expression. A group of four adults are grouped closely together. A woman, hunching her shoulders and holding her forearms protectively in front of her body, looks shocked, as three men engage animatedly with her. Two men, one younger and another older, both with beards, smiling and talking enthusiastically in an indoor setting.

Rehearsal images

Suitability

Age recommendation: 14+
This production contains strong language and themes of addiction, depictions of substance abuse and the use of needles, and references to suicide. There are strobe lighting effects, sudden and prolonged loud noises, and the smoking of herbal cigarettes.
For further information, please contact the Trafalgar Theatre Box Office team.

Cast

Russell Anthony
Russell Anthony photo portrait

Russell Anthony

Ensemble

Holly Atkins photo portrait

Holly Atkins

Charlotte / Ensemble

Sinéad Cusack
Sinéad Cusack photo portrait

Sinéad Cusack

Doctor / Therapist / Mum

Miriam Elwell-Sutton
Photo portrait of Miriam Elwell-Sutton

Miriam Elwell-Sutton

Ensemble

Emma Jane Fearnley
Photo portrait of EMMA-JANE FEARNLEY

Emma Jane Fearnley

Ensemble

Denise Gough
Denise Gough photo portrait

Denise Gough

Emma

Ryan Hutton
Ryan Hutton photo portrait

Ryan Hutton

Shaun

Malachi Kirby photo portrait

Malachi Kirby

Mark

Danny Kirrane
Danny Kirrane photo portrait

Danny Kirrane

Foster

Genevieve Labuschagne
Photo portrait of Genevieve Labuschagene

Genevieve Labuschagne

Ensemble

Imogen Mackenzie
Photo portrait of Imogen Mackenzie

Imogen Mackenzie

Ensemble

Kevin McMonagle
Kevin McMonagle photo portrait

Kevin McMonagle

Dad / Paul

Ayọ̀ Owóyẹmi-Peters
Ayo Owoyemi Peters photo portrait

Ayọ̀ Owóyẹmi-Peters

Laura / Ensemble

Lottie Power
Photo portrait of LOTTIE POWER

Lottie Power

Ensemble

Dillon Scott-Lewis
Dillon Scott-Lewis photo portrait

Dillon Scott-Lewis

T / Ensemble

Louise Templeton
Louise Templeton photo portrait

Louise Templeton

Ensemble

Paksie Vernon photo portrait

Paksie Vernon

Jodi / Ensemble

Production team

Writer

Duncan Macmillan

Duncan Macmillan

Director

Jeremy Herrin

Jeremy Herrin

Set Designer

Bunny Christie

Bunny Christie

Costume Designer

Christina Cunningham

Christina Cunningham

Lighting Designer

James Farncombe

James Farncombe

Music

Matthew Herbert

Matthew Herbert

Sound Designer

Tom Gibbons

Tom Gibbons

Video Designer

Andrzej Goulding

Movement

Polly Bennett

Polly Bennett

Casting

Jessica Ronane CDG CSA

Jessica Ronane CDG CSA

Original Casting

Wendy Spon

Company Voice Work

Hazel Holder

Hazel Holder

 

Artwork photography by Matt Humphrey. Artwork design by Bob King Creative