Arcadia begins rehearsals for West End run

Rehearsals have begun for the West End transfer of Carrie Cracknell’s sell-out Old Vic production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia.

The revival – the first time the play had been staged at the Old Vic – ran from 24 January to 21 March 2026 as part of outgoing artistic director Matthew Warchus’s final season at the venue. It picked up two Olivier nominations earlier this year.

This summer, the production will play at the Duke of York’s Theatre. It is the second time the play has been housed at the Duke of York’s, following David Leveaux’s 2009 production with Dan Stevens and Nancy Carroll.

It will run from 20 June to 12 September, with the venue adapted into the round for the production. A press night is set for 1 July.

Stoppard, who died in November 2025 aged 88, premiered Arcadia at the National Theatre in 1993, where it won the Olivier Award for Best Play.

Cracknell directs Nikki Amuka-Bird as Hannah Jarvis and Oliver Chris as Bernard Nightingale, who join the cast alongside Aaron Anthony as Richard Noakes, David Buttle as Captain Brice, Matthew Doswell as Gus Coverly / Augustus Coverly and Yolanda Kettle as Lady Croom.

Returning to the production are Angus Cooper as Valentine Coverly, Seamus Dillane as Septimus Hodge, Tim Frances as Jellaby, Holly Godliman as Chloë Coverly, Isis Hainsworth reprising her Olivier Award-nominated role as Thomasina Coverly and Matthew Steer as Ezra Chater, with understudies Alex Britt, Peta Cornish and Keziah Hayes.

Joining Cracknell on the creative team are Alex Eales (set design), Suzanne Cave (costume design), Guy Hoare (lighting), Donato Wharton (sound), Ira Mandela Siobhan (movement), Stuart Earl (composer) and Serena Hill (casting). The West End production is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Winkler and Smalberg.