The Effect
by Lucy Prebble
in association with The Jamie Lloyd Company

Booking and details
Lyttelton Theatre
National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
For Sold Out performances, please check back regularly for any updates to availability – we often have tickets returned to us by customers who are no longer able to attend, especially on the day of their performance.
Who I am
Is not
A side effect.
Hearts and minds racing, Connie and Tristan are falling for each other fast. But is their sudden and intoxicating chemistry real, or a side effect of a new antidepressant?
As two young volunteers in a clinical drug trial, their illicit romance poses startling dilemmas for the supervising doctors.
Lucy Prebble’s (Succession) critically acclaimed play returns to the National Theatre in a bold new production directed by Jamie Lloyd (Cyrano de Bergerac).
Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You) is joined by Taylor Russell (Bones and All) in this funny and intimate examination of love and ethics.
★★★★★
‘Glorious’
Mail on Sunday
★★★★★
‘Tender, thrilling and elegantly brutal’
The Stage
★★★★★
‘Acting of the highest calibre. Utterly compelling.’
WhatsOnStage
★★★★★
‘Theatre at its finest’
Gay Times
★★★★
‘A stellar cast. Intense and intoxicating’
Guardian
★★★★
‘Lloyd is the most exciting director working today’
Evening Standard
★★★★
‘Lucy Prebble’s lab trial drama fires the synapses’
Independent
★★★★
‘Jamie Lloyd’s exhilarating production. Dazzling.’
Sunday Times
★★★★
‘Lucy Prebble’s greatest play in a fiery production’
Daily Telegraph
★★★★
‘Jamie Lloyd’s superbly performed, stylised production’
Daily Mail
★★★★
‘Unfailingly exciting’
Observer
Suitability
Please note: Latecomers cannot be admitted and there is no re-admittance to the theatre during this performance. The running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes, without an interval.
This production contains strong language and adult themes. There are strobe/flashing lights, smoke and haze effects, with some loud music.
Some scenes include sexual content, physical aggression, depictions of seizures and references to depression, anxiety and suicide.
If you are likely to be affected by these themes during your visit or have concerns regarding readmittance, please speak to our Front of House team for extra support.
You may also find the following resources useful before and after your visit:
Video
Cast

Michele Austin
For the National: The Effect and Manor

Shereener Browne
For the National: The Effect

Paapa Essiedu
For the National: The Effect, Bent and King Lear

Valentine Hanson
For the National: The Effect

Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
For the National: The Effect, Edward II, NT 50, Antigone and Death and the King’s Horseman

Mara Huf
For the National: The Effect

Joseph Langdon
For the National: The Effect

Taylor Russell
For the National: The Effect
Production team
Writer
Lucy Prebble
Lucy Prebble
Lucy Prebble is a writer for film, television, games and theatre.
Director
Set and Costume Designer
Soutra Gilmour
Soutra Gilmour
For the National: The Effect, Twelfth Night, Les Blancs, Romeo and Juliet (also for Sky Arts) and My Brilliant Friend for (also at the Rose, Kingston)
Lighting Designer
Jon Clark
Jon Clark
Jon Clark is a Tony and Olivier award-winning lighting designer. He has designed extensively in the West End, on Broadway, for the National Theatre, Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company and with many other companies in the UK and internationally.
Composer
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Michael 'Mikey J' Asante
Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante is a producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ.
Sound Designer
George Dennis
George Dennis
For the National: The Effect, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Nine Night (also in the West End) and An Octoroon (also for the Orange Tree)
Movement Directors
Sarah Golding & Yukiko Masui (SAY)
Sarah Golding & Yukiko Masui (SAY)
SAY was founded by Sarah Golding and Yukiko Masui in 2019.
Fight Director
Intimacy Coordinator
Ingrid Mackinnon
Ingrid Mackinnon
Ingrid Mackinnon is a movement director, choreographer and intimacy director.
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer is the Head of Casting at the National Theatre. He was previously the Casting Director at the Donmar Warehouse.
Staff Director
Photography (Paapa Esseidu and Taylor Russell) by Johnny Ho.
Photo of Taylor Russell by Julian Ungano