If you think of comedy plays currently running in the West End, *The Play That Goes Wrong* probably comes to mind. Mischief Theatre, a British comedy acting troupe, is the mastermind behind these West End hits. They’re not just one trick ponies though — their improvisational shows and TV series have garnered critical acclaim. 

[*The Play That Goes Wrong*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/345-play-that-goes-wrong-tickets) is Mischief Theatre’s smash-hit play. Since the first performance in...

A complete guide to Mischief Theatre shows in the West End

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Find out more about the leading British drama troupe, the brains behind hilarious shows like *The Play That Goes Wrong* and *The Comedy About a Bank Robbery.* 

Are you a Traitor or a Faithful? *The Traitors: Live Experience*, a stage production inspired by the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning TV series, is set to open in the West End in spring 2025. A theatre and dates have yet to be announced.

In *The Traitors* TV show, which premiered in the U.K. in 2022, contestants are split into two groups: Traitors and Faithfuls. Via various challenges and games, must try to find out and eliminate the members of the other group to win a prize.

At *The Traitors:...

'The Traitors: Live Experience' to open in the West End this spring

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The interactive stage show inspired by the hit reality TV series will allow audience members to compete with other theatregoers in various challenges.

Mischief have announced their next West End show *The Comedy About Spies*, which opens at the Noël Coward Theatre next year. Performances begin on 14 April 2025.

Written by original Mischief company members Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, and directed by Matt Di Carlo, *The Comedy about Spies* is set in 1960s London, and follows a British agent who steals plans for a top-secret new weapon. 

When spies from the CIA and the KGB come together at London’s Piccadilly Hotel to track down the stolen...

Mischief's 'The Comedy About Spies' to open in the West End in 2025

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Written by Mischief company members Henry Lewis and Henry Shields, *The Comedy about Spies* follows a British agent who steals plans for a top-secret new weapon. 

*Back to the Future* has been a family favourite since the film starring Michael J Fox as Marty McFly came out in 1985 – and now there’s a musical version! With a rocking score plus all the beloved songs from the film, it’s a rollicking adventure with spectacular visual effects and lovable performances. 

Read our guide to all the activities you can make time for that will make your day all the more thrilling. See you at the clock tower!

Book [*Back to the Future: The Musical*...

Make a day out of 'Back to the Future: The Musical' in London

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We can't promise time travel, but there's never a dull moment with all these exciting attractions in London! 

Mark Rosenblatt’s new play *Giant*, starring Tony winner John Lithgow, will transfer to the West End's Harold Pinter Theatre next year, following a run at the Royal Court this September. The play will run from 26 April 2025 – 2 August 2025.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner (*[Guys & Dolls](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/25504-guys-and-dolls-tickets), Straight Line Crazy, La Belle Sauvage*) and designed by Bob Crowley, the play follows the acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl over the course...

John Lithgow-led 'Giant' to transfer to the West End in 2025

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The play follows the acclaimed children's author Roald Dahl over the course of a single afternoon, in the wake of scandal caused by an explicitly antisemitic article. 

Do you hear the people sing? You will do soon if you’ve booked a trip to one of the West End’s longest-running and most popular musicals, *[Les Misérables](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/300-les-miserables-tickets)*. Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s show, adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel, is a revolutionary epic packed with unforgettable songs like “I Dreamed A Dream” and “Bring Him Home”.

Make your *Les Misérables* outing even more incredible by adding other activities to your...

Make a day out of 'Les Misérables' in London

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Make your trip to the West End's revolutionary musical even more memorable by adding visits to an historic London pub, a French restaurant, and a museum full of historic treasures.

You can-can-can have an unforgettable night of bohemian entertainment in the West End now that Baz Luhrmann’s legendary movie *[Moulin Rouge!](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/23350-moulin-rouge-the-musical-tickets)* has become an equally spectacular stage musical. Like the film, it juxtaposes a romance set in 19th-century Paris between cabaret star Satine and aspiring composer Christian with modern pop music – in fact, the show boasts more than 70 songs in total!

Make your trip even better...

Make a day out of 'Moulin Rouge!' in London

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Make your trip to this spectacular West End musical even more memorable by adding in a trip to a world-famous art gallery, an airborne adventure, and a delicious French meal.

For the first few performances of a West End show, the show is typically in previews. The preview period allows the show to be performed in front of an audience to help spread the word of a new production, as well as allow the actors and creatives to continue working on reaching the show’s finishing point. 

Once the preview period finishes, West End shows typically invite reviewers for the official opening night. Shortly after, theatre critics publish their reviews, allowing the general public...

Book tickets to the best-reviewed West End shows

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Discover five-star West End shows to see in London right now, including *Guys & Dolls* and *Six*. Get tickets to hit musicals and plays on London Theatre. 

In December 1997, a group of United Nations delegates at the Kyoto Conference Centre had just hours left to agree a climate deal that might save the world. That’s the riveting subject for the explosive political thriller *[Kyoto](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42734-kyoto)*, which is hitting the West End in spring 2025 following its acclaimed premiere earlier this year.

The show is written by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, the powerhouse duo behind the award-winning play *The Jungle*,...

Learn all about the real history behind 'Kyoto'

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The gripping political thriller set during the vital 1997 UN climate conference is coming to @sohoplace in the West End. Ahead of your trip, find out what really happened!

Neither Alexander Hamilton nor Aaron Burr, the protagonists of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical phenomenon, ever came to London. Thomas Jefferson, the Act II antagonist, visited for six weeks in spring 1786. He described the architecture as “in the most wretched stile I ever saw” and "both town and country fell short of my expectations." Ouch. However, Jefferson certainly made the most of the entertainments and shopping the city had to offer. 

On the other hand, Benjamin Franklin, who first visited...

Make a day out of 'Hamilton' in London

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Explore some fascinating Anglo-American ties, including the Benjamin Franklin House, Kew Palace, and two historical churches.

Robert Icke will direct his new play <a href="/show/the-doctor">The Doctor</a>, which is freely adapted by Arthur Schnitzler's 1912 play Professor Bernhardi, at the <a href="/theatres/almeida-theatre">Almeida Theatre</a> in August, it has been announced.Schnitzler's play is set in 1900 Vienna, and explores antisemitism and Austrian-Jewish identity. It was banned in Austria until the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and was last performed in London at the Arcola Theatre in 2005.The play will star Juliet Stevenson, who starred in Icke's productions of Mary Stuart and Hamlet at the <a href="/theatres/almeida-theatre">Almeida</a>, and Ria Zmitrowicz, who currently stars in Three Sisters at the theatre. Further casting is to be announced in due course.<a href="/show/the-doctor">The Doctor</a> will run at the <a href="/theatres/almeida-theatre">Almeida Theatre</a> from 12th August to 28th September, and the production will feature designs by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Natasha Chivers, sound by Tom Gibbons and casting by Julia Horan.It has also been announced that <a href="/show/the-doctor">The Doctor</a> will be Icke's final production as associate director at the Almeida. His work during his time in the role has includes The Wild Duck, Mary Stuart, Uncle Vanya, Oresteia, 1984, Hamlet, The Fever and Mr Burns.Rupert Goold, artistic director of the <a href="/theatres/almeida-theatre">Almeida </a>, said: "Robert's contribution to the Almeida is immeasurable. His emergence from our time working together at Headlong to international renown through his work for this theatre has been a privilege to be part of."He has been a friend and a visionary and we wish him well on the next stage of his artistic journey and look forward to him making other Almeida productions in the future."Icke, who is departing to pursue freelance projects, said: "I've had a fantastic six years here, but it's become impossible to give the building the attention it deserves alongside my other work for theatre and for the screen."I'm grateful to all my supportive and talented colleagues over that time, on stage and off, including so many wonderful actors, and to all of the wider Almeida team, some of whom I first met as an Almeida assistant director a decade ago. I look forward to returning in the future."<a href="/show/the-doctor">The Doctor</a> is at the <a href="/theatres/almeida-theatre">Almeida Theatre</a> from 12th August to 28th September.

Juliet Stevenson and Ria Zmitrowicz to star in Robert Icke’s The Doctor at the Almeida

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Off-West End

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Genre: Play

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Juliet Stevenson stars in Robert Icke's blistering production of *The Doctor* at the Duke of York’s Theatre. *The Doctor* tickets are available on London Theatre now.

*The Doctor* play is based on Arthur Schnitzler’s 1912 drama, *Professor Bernhardi*. The pre-World War One drama was banned when war broke out, and was later allowed to be staged after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

The original play explores the treatment of a woman who contracts sepsis after an abortion. Nearly a century later, *The Doctor* follows a similar story. This time, the story is set in north London — rather than Vienna — and follows Professor Ruth Woolf, a senior physician who treats a young patient with sepsis when a priest is sent by the girl's parents to deliver the last rites. This poses a huge moral dilemma for the doctor, which erupts into a national scandal.

Robert Icke's *The Doctor* modernises the 20th-century story, setting it in a contemporary hospital, while also posing questions about human's innate views on identity, perception and bias.

*The Doctor* premiered at the Almeida Theatre in 2019. In a [London Theatre review of *The Doctor*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/reviews/the-doctor-review-duke-of-yorks-theatre-juliet-stevenson), our critic said: “Professor Bernhardi’s identity politics overhaul transforms *The Doctor* into an urgent and provocative piece of theatre that taps into the sociopolitical zeitgeist."

[Juliet Stevenson](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/actor-profile/juliet-stevenson) reunites with director Icke after their previous collaborations on plays such as *Hamlet* and *Mary Stuart*, both productions for the Almeida which ultimately transferred to the West End. 

*The Doctor* tickets are available on London Theatre now. Book your *The Doctor* tickets on London Theatre today.

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Morals meet medicine in a national scandal. Acclaimed writer/director Robert Icke and Juliet Stevenson unite to bring this sell-out adaptation to the West End. 
Banned in its time, this 19th century drama is reimagined as the story of a North London physician who is faced with a difficult problem that becomes national news. 
Get your tickets to *The Doctor* at the Duke of York’s Theatre today. 

Robert Icke’s *The Doctor* play raises questions of identity, religion and perception in a modern-day society. The play also reunited Icke with lead actress Juliet Stevenson. Together, they’ve worked on London plays such as *Hamlet* and *Mary Stuart*, coincidentally all shows opened at the Almeida Theatre.

Juliet Stevenson reprises her Olivier Award-nominated turn as Professor Ruth Woolf in *The Doctor*. Christopher Osikanlu Colquhoun, Mariah Louca, Daniel Rabin, Naomi Wirthner and Hannah Ledwidge also return from the Almeida production to star in the West End transfer.

Enter the West End’s newest waiting room — the Duke of York’s Theatre — this autumn. The doctor will see you now. Book *The Doctor* tickets in London on TodayTix.

## What to Watch For:

- Arthur Schnitzler’s 1912 drama, *Professor Bernhardi*, was banned when it was first published. The pre-World War One drama was banned when war broke out, and was later allowed to be staged after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.
- Director Robert Icke often adapts contemporary texts. He’s previously worked on adaptations of *Oresteia*, *1984*, and *The Crucible*. He served as associate director at the Almeida Theatre from 2013 to 2019.

The Doctor [18876] - TodayTix

“No human is an island. We don’t drive change alone,” says a televised debate moderator in [*The Doctor*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/18876-the-doctor-tickets). But for Professor Ruth Wolff, the subject of said debate, what instigates change? Can medicine be the basis for all rational thoughts, or does identity politics intersect into big decision making?

At the start of *The Doctor*, Wolff rationalises denying a 14-year-old who self-administered her own abortion the ability to have her last rites as a Father is not permitted in the room. The case initially sends shockwaves in the medical community, but quickly transpires into a national medical ethics dilemma: a 50,000-strong petition demands her appearance on TV debates, she eventually resigns from her position, and becomes physical. By the end, the central case is overshadowed by wider debates about religion, ethnicity, and personal morals, but for Wolff, it all relays back to the one moment she said no.

Robert Icke adapts Arthur Schnitzler’s 1912 play, *Professor Bernhardi*, into *The Doctor*. Elements of the original text remain — Ruth Wolff is a Jewish physician, and the patient dies of sepsis. But *Professor Bernhardi*’s identity politics overhaul transforms *The Doctor* into an urgent and provocative piece of theatre that taps into the sociopolitical zeitgeist.

Icke taps into our unconscious bias from the get-go. As characters reveal their ethnicity or gender through words, we’re left to build the characters through language, rather than at face value. In doing so, it takes away potential predictability, and we learn of events at the same time as Ruth Wolff. As she begins to understands how her ideas affect others, you almost watch the character’s brain snap into action, and it’s compelling viewing. Three hours fly by in a matter of minutes. 

[Juliet Stevenson](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/juliet-stevenson) gives a masterful performance as Professor Ruth Wolff, timing every disdainful look and eyebrow raise to perfection. She starts out as a callous doctor with a penchant for correct grammar and a booming voice to a fragile, vulnerable woman who loses everything that forms her identity. You see her tears. You feel her heartache. As she frantically runs around the bare stage, you cry for someone to help her break her surroundings and the walls she built for herself. For Stevenson to do this eight times a week is seriously impressive. 

You’d be forgiven for thinking Ruth Wolff’s case in The Doctor is similar to that of the witch hunts in *The Crucible*, coincidentally playing at the National Theatre. For Wolff, “doctors are witches in white,” — a label to be feared and an easy scapegoat if things go wrong. As she’s forced into the spotlight in a televised debate (Stevenson sits with her back to the audience and we see her on camera throughout this section), Wolff must defend herself in a medical witchhunt where there’s no way out. She must wake up to “wokeness”, or else she’s on the stakes.

But for one doctor to shine, it takes an exceptional team too: Chris Osikanlu Colquhoun, Doña Croll, Mariah Louca, Daniel Rabin, Naomi Wirtner, and Sabrina Wu work commendably as doctors of all ranks in the first half to bring a *Grey’s Anatomy* likeness to proceedings, and debate show panellists in the second half. 

Detached from the main narrative, Wolff acts as an emotional crux for Sami, a young person who struggles to find their place in a confusing world. Matilda Tucker plays Sami with their heart on their sleeve, and as the pair break apart from each other, the end result is harrowing.

Hannah Ledwidge’s live drumming adds a theatrical heartbeat to the proceedings. It amplifies the tension in all the right moments without distraction, and also adds pace. Natasha Chiver’s cold and clinical lighting matched with Hildegard Bechtler’s equally bare set design complement the show.

If *The Doctor* play laid on an operating table, medical practitioners would examine how science, religion, and identity sit in the body and affect our way of living. Now, *The Doctor* sits on a wider table — the [Duke of York’s Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/duke-of-yorks-theatre) — allowing more audiences to understand what makes a person. *The Doctor* is the dramatic equivalent of a scientific breakthrough.

[*The Doctor is at the Duke of York's Theatre through 11 December. Book The Doctor tickets on London Theatre.*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/18876-the-doctor-tickets)

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'The Doctor' review — a battle between science and religion in Robert Icke's urgent morality play

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Juliet Stevenson is a highly regarded British stage and screen performer known for her many performances across both in films and plays in London.

Juliet Stevenson was born in Essex. Stevenson’s mother was a teacher and her father was an army officer who was assigned a new post every two and a half years. Having studied at a number of different schools, Stevenson was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company upon graduating.

During her time with the RSC, Stevenson appeared in productions of *The Tempest*, *Antony and Cleopatra*, *Measure for Measure*, *Henry IV* and *As You Like It*. Having made her name as a stage actress, Stevenson began to split her time between stage and screen as she landed roles in films like *The March* and *Truly, Madly, Deeply* during the early 1990s.

In 1991, she appeared in the role of *Death and the Maiden* at the [Royal Court](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/royal-court-theatre) and its subsequent West End transfer, which saw her recognised with the Olivier Award for Best Actress. She had received four nominations prior, in 1984, 1986 and 1987, and since she has been nominated for *Duet for One* in 2010.

In recent years, Stevenson has forged a relationship with Robert Icke and the [Almeida Theatre](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatres/almeida-theatre). She has starred in his productions of *[Mary Stuart](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/mary-stuart)*, *[Hamlet](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/hamlet-almeida-theatre-2017)* and *[The Doctor](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/the-doctor)*, all of which premiered at the North London fringe theatre, and subsequently transferred to the West End. *Mary Stuart* saw Stevenson share the lead role with Lia Williams, and a coin flip at the beginning of each performance determine who played the title character or Elizabeth I.

Stevenson then led the highly-acclaimed Robert Icke play, *The Doctor*, at the Almeida Theatre. *The Doctor* transfers to the Duke of York's Theatre.

Juliet Stevenson - LON

Juliet Stevenson is a highly regarded British stage and screen performer known for her many performances across both in films and plays in London. Stevenson was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Juliet Stevenson - Stars on Stage | London Theatre

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The **Duke of York's Theatre** is one of the most prestigious theatres in the bustling city of London. Nestled in the heart of St Martin's Lane, it boasts a rich history dating back to its opening in 1892. The theatre is named after King George V and since its establishment, it has featured an array of stunning performances and world-renowned plays. The auditorium is an impressive spectacle in its own right, designed in proscenium style, with the capacity to accommodate up to 640 spectators. Over the years, it has maintained its classic Edwardian decor, adding to the immersive theatre experience it provides. Furthermore, the theatre has state-of-the-art technical facilities and provides excellent acoustics, ensuring an awe-inspiring experience. 

**How to get to the venue:** 

Duke of York's Theatre is well-connected to public transportation. The closest tube stations include Charing Cross, Leicester Square, and Covent Garden. Alternatively, several buses stop near St Martin's Lane. For those driving, there are car parks nearby. However, due to London's congestion charge, public transport is the most convenient and often, the easiest way to reach the theatre.

**Additional Information** 

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime. 
Please arrive with plenty of time. Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

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The Duke Of York’s Theatre opened as the Trafalgar Square Theatre in 1892.The playhouse received its current name three years later in 1895, in honour of the future King George V. 

Famous productions to play at the Duke Of York’s Theatre include David Belasco’s *Madame Butterfly* in 1900 – Puccini was in the audience and famously turned the story into an opera. J. M. Barrie's famous creation *Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up* opened at the theatre on 27 Dec. 1904.

Typically, the Duke of York's Theatre is home to short-running plays, with West End and Broadway stars appearing.

## Duke of York's Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has three levels – Stalls, Royal Circle and Upper Circle.

The Stalls offer good legroom throughout, and the raking of the seats is very good, noticeably from Row D onwards. 

In the Royal Circles, there is no visual obstruction from the Upper Circle. 

The seats in the Upper Circle curve towards the stage. The final two rows of the Upper Circle are bench seats.

## Additional Information

Venue opens 1hr 30min before showtime. 
Please arrive with plenty of time. Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable point, which may be the interval.

Duke of York's Theatre - London Theatre

Duke of York's theatre, initially Trafalgar Square Theatre in 1892, was renamed in 1895. It typically showcases short-running plays with West End, Broadway stars, and has three auditorium levels.

Duke of York's Theatre - TodayTix

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The Duke of York's Theatre is a prestigious historical venue in London, showcasing world-renowned plays with modern facilities. It's accessible via public transport.

Juliet Stevenson and Ria Zmitrowicz to star in Robert Icke’s The Doctor at the Almeida

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