Cloud 9 at the National Theatre – first look photos

Take a first look at Caryl Churchill’s Cloud 9. 

Dominic Cooke directs the production, following his work on Game of Thrones: The Mad King and ahead of overseeing his first season as artistic director of the Almeida Theatre. First performed in 1979, Cloud 9 moves between Victorian Africa and 1970s London, examining gender, power and the legacy of empire.

The cast features Rebecca Humphries as Ellen/Mrs Saunders/Lin, Eloka Ivo as Joshua/Gerry, Tom Mothersdale as Harry Bagley/Martin, Charlotte Ritchie as Maud/Victoria, Ellen Robertson as Edward/Betty, Stuart Thompson as Betty/Edward and Sam Troughton as Clive/Cathy.

They are joined by Tom Brace-Jenkins as understudy Betty/Edward, Izaak Cainer as understudy Clive/Cathy, Dan Furlonger as understudy Harry Bagley/Martin, Skye Hallam as understudy Maud/Victoria and Ellen/Mrs S/Lin, Meg Lewis as understudy Edward/Betty and Ola Teniola as understudy Joshua/Gerry

The creative team includes set designer Miriam Buether, costume designer Samuel Wyer, lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun, sound designer Donato Wharton, composer Andy Roberts, music director Josh Sneesby, casting director Naomi Downham, dialect coach Penny Dyer, voice coach Shereen Ibrahim, associate set designer Luke Smith and staff director Max Harrison.

The show will run at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton theatre to 13 January 2027.