“There were three people in my marriage, Dr Giscard… Three people and twelve legs.”

‘Brilliant’ The Daily Mail

‘Jemma Redgrave excels’ The Times

‘Crisp and surprising humour’ The Guardian

‘An engrossing night’ WhatsOnStage

‘Tender, excited and beautifully exciting to watch’ The Arts Desk

‘Strikingly original and highly entertaining’ The Reviews Hub

‘Unmissable’ BroadwayWorld

 

Professor George Grey is a brilliant behavioural biologist who, alongside her recently deceased husband, became world-renowned for her pioneering research into octopus intelligence. Mainly the intelligence of one particular octopus, in fact: Frances, who still resides in a large, purpose-built tank in George’s campus accommodation.

Into this house of grief walks Harry, an ambitious anthropologist, despatched by the university with permission to test his breath-taking new theory on Frances. The nature of his assignment is shocking to George, and threatens to tear her world apart in more ways than one.

Marek Horn’s plays include Wild Swimming (Edinburgh Fringe and Bristol Old Vic) and Yellowfin (Southwark Playhouse). Octopolis is directed by Ed Madden and is his second collaboration with Marek. Ed’s credits include Yellowfin (Southwark Playhouse), A Table Tennis Play (Edinburgh Fringe) and the original production of Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons.

Ewan Miller plays Harry. Ewan made his London stage debut in 2022 in Much Ado About Nothing (National Theatre) and other theatre credits include The Comedy of Errors and A Christmas Carol (Citizens Theatre). Recent screen credits include ITV’s Crime.

Jemma Redgrave plays Professor George Gray. Previous theatre credits include Farewell To The Theatre (Hampstead Theatre); Mood Music (Old Vic); An Ideal Husband and The Cherry Orchard (Chichester Festival Theatre). Her extensive TV credits include Silent Witness; Granchester; Holby City; Doctor Who and her film credits include Howard’s End and Love and Friendship.