directed by TOM LITTLER with FRANCESCA ELLIS
starring DAVID SUCHET
For good or ill, let the wheel turn.
1170. A nation divided. Once the best of friends, King Henry II and his Archbishop, Thomas Becket, are now mortal enemies. Ignoring his allies’ fears, Becket, the ‘turbulent priest’, returns to Canterbury, tempting the monarch’s wrath. As the women of Canterbury seek shelter in the sacred space of the cathedral, four knights ride out on a deadly mission. The only question: who will blink first?
T.S. Eliot’s 1936 verse drama is one of his crowning achievements. In it, he explores questions that haunt his writing: of worldly and spiritual authority; faith and doubt; temptation and martyrdom.
David Suchet returns to theatre to play Thomas Becket. Besides his iconic role as Hercule Poirot, the Emmy Award-winning Suchet’s five-decade stage career includes Amadeus, Oleanna, and All My Sons. OT Artistic and Community Directors Tom Littler and Francesca Ellis stage a sweeping, atmospheric drama blending dazzling poetry with live choral music, in Richmond’s striking St John the Divine church.
★★★★
"A striking example of site-specific theatre"
The Guardian
★★★★
"Startled by jolts of modernity, humour and a pin-sharp score”
The Telegraph
★★★★
"T.S. Eliot's earnest verse drama comes alive"
The Times
★★★★
"Hugely impressive"
Daily Mail
★★★★
"David Suchet is spellbinding"
The Standard
★★★★★
"A masterful revival”
Arts Hub
★★★★★
"The sacred is intersected by the spectacular with aplomb"
View from the Gods
★★★★★
“Immersive and atmospheric”
Theatre Weekly
★★★★★
Spy in the Stalls
★★★★★
Mark Aspen
★★★★★
Theatre News
★★★★
The Stage
★★★★
Broadway World
★★★★
The Recs
★★★★
The Reviews Hub
★★★★
WhatsOnStage
How to get tickets
Murder in the Cathedral is currently sold out.
Members enjoy priority waitlist access
Join today as an OT Member for as little as £60/year, and get access to our priority waitlist – we release tickets every week with Members getting the chance to book them before anybody else. Plus, your membership goes to support all the work we do at the OT, including our community projects, artist development, and even our capital development project.
Friday Rush
Every Friday at midday, we release a number of tickets for performances the following week. These are available exclusively online and can be booked on a first-come-first-served basis. Find out more.
Watch this page, or get in touch
We regularly release returns on the day of a performance, so it’s well worth keeping an eye on our website, or give our box office team a call on 020 8940 3633 for the latest availability.
Ruby Members & Patrons
We reserve a limited number of house seats for Ruby Members and Patrons. As a Ruby Member, you’ll enjoy priority access to these seats for sold-out productions, alongside invitations to exclusive events and a closer relationship with the Orange Tree. Ruby Membership starts at £750 annually and directly supports our artistic and community work. Interested in joining and seeing this production?
Photo Credit: Marc Brenner
Show Info
PERFORMANCE LOCATION
Please note this performance will take place at St John the Divine church, Richmond, TW9 2NA, located directly opposite us on Kew Road.
ACCESS INFORMATION
The balcony at St John the Divine has no step-free access. This means that some seats at the venue may not be suitable for wheelchair users or anyone unable to use stairs. Please get in touch with our box office team if you would like any further information.
PERFORMANCE TIMES
Mon, Wed, Fri 7.30pm
(Thu, Sat 8pm)
Thu & Sat 4pm
No performance Tue
SATURDAY SEMINAR
Sat 31 Oct, 11am – find out more and book here
CONTENT ADVICE
This production contains scenes of physical violence and mild threat, and the use of both theatrical haze and incense.
MEMBERS’ AND PATRONS’ EVENING WITH POST SHOW-TALK
Wed 21 Oct
Booking is open exclusively to all our Members and Patrons.
Membership starts at £60 and supports the OT to create our ambitious programme of artistic and community work. These evenings are a chance to mingle with fellow Members and Patrons, meet the OT staff, and hear from the cast and creative team of the production.
OT UNDER 30 NIGHT
Fri 30 Oct, 7.30pm
On OT Under 30 Nights, enjoy a free drink and post-show talk all included with your £15 ticket.
RELAXED & DISTANCED PERFORMANCE
Wed 28 Oct, 7.30pm
AUDIO-DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Wed 4 Nov, 7.30pm
To book accessible seats, and for audio described and captioned, please call the box office on 020 8940 3633 (Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm) or email
box.office@orangetreetheatre.co.uk. If you’re on our Access List, you can log in and book online.
TICKET PRICES
No booking fees. Prices increase based on demand. Book early to secure your seats at the best prices.
£20 tickets for Under 30s on all seats for all performances – subject to availability
£20 access tickets – find out more
Half-price tickets available for members of theatre unions and guilds
£1 tickets available through our subsidised ticket scheme – find out more
Cast
David Suchet
Thomas Becket
Mensah Bediako
Third Priest
Ben Caplan
Second Tempter / Second Knight
Paul Hickey
Second Priest
Jyuddah Jaymes
First Tempter / First Knight
Michael Lyle
First Priest
Nick Sampson
Third Tempter / Third Knight
Jad Sayegh
Messenger
David Yelland
Fourth Tempter / Fourth Knight
Chorus
Mila Carter
Sally Cheng
Chyna-Rose Frederick
Rebecca Thorn
Community Chorus
Sophie Brigstocke
Nia Brooks
Chloe Chatburn
Chloe Lauren Cheung
Leah Dawson
Claudia Giacomelli
Caitlin Golding
Rosa Hendrie
Lingquan Kong
Laura Lowenthal
Carmen Mackey
Kaja Posnik
Beth Rabjohn
Sarah Ricca
Lois Savill
Izzy Silver
Atira Shack
Katherine White
Creative Team
T.S. Eliot
Writer
Tom Littler
Director
Francesca Ellis
Associate Director
Rob Jones
Set Designer
Cat Fuller
Costume Designer
Peter Mumford
Lighting Designer
Max Pappenheim
Sound Designer & Associate Music Director
Michael Waldron
Music Director
Orlando Gough
Composer
Lizzi Kew Ross
Movement Director
Matilda James
Casting Director CDG
Philip d’Orléans
Fight Director
Freya Griffiths
Assistant Director
Ethan Creek
Associate Set Designer
Zoë Thomas-Webb
Associate Costume Designer
Emily Chase
Casting Assistant
Mio Jue
Design Assistant
Amber Layton
Wardrobe Supervisor
Phil Michael
Sound Number One
Daisy Taylor
Sound Number Two
Jack Boissieux
Production Manager
Lisa Cochrane
Deputy Stage Manager
Claire Hill
Assistant Stage Manager
Charlotte Smith-Barker
Assistant Stage Manager
Kerstyn Johnson
Stage Management Student Placement
Phil Bell
Production & Technical Director
Jade Gooch
OT Company Stage Manager
Priya Virdee
Production Technician
About St John the Divine - FAQs
Where is St John the Divine church?
St John the Divine church is right over the road from our home on Kew Road.
It’s a 1 minute walk from the OT, on the corner of Church Road and Kew Road.
Will there be reserved seating?
Yes – seats can be purchased as normal – all seating is reserved.
Will there be a bar?
Yes – there will be a bar in the church with alcoholic and soft drink options.
Are there bathrooms?
Yes! Including accessible bathrooms.
Is there level access?
There is level access to the main part of the church, but there is no step free access to the balcony. Please feel free to get in touch with our box office team if you have any access questions.
Access tickets can be purchased in the usual way.