HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS / CELIA ATKIN PRESENT

AKEDAH

By MICHAEL JOHN O'NEILL
Directed by LUCY MORRISON

Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes, no interval

We heal people. That’s what we do here. We are a kinship.

Downstairs

15 - 18 Mar 2023

Box Office: 020 7722 9301

Details

★★★★ 'expert performances and excellent production values' PlaysToSee

'Molloy and Campbell are both excellent' WhatsOnStage

'Fascinating' Broadway World

'Mairead McKinley... excellent' The Times

'The intensity and ambiguity at play make for an interesting dynamic that is never short of drama' The Reviews Hub

'Brilliantly focused performances' The Stage

'Stunning, incredibly promising debut' All That Dazzles


Gill has returned home to the north coast of Northern Ireland determined to speak to her younger sister Kelly for the first time in three years. There she is shocked to discover that Kelly has become a devout member of a rapidly expanding Christian community called Harvest. As Gill struggles to reconcile this Kelly with the Kelly she has been keeping safe in her mind, a noise is gathering at their periphery that refuses to go unheard any longer.

Akedah is Michael John O’Neill’s first full-length play, and won the Bruntwood Prize Original New Voice Award in 2019.

Lucy Morrison returns to Hampstead after The Animal Kingdom. An Associate Director at the Royal Court, her credits include This Is Not Who I AmScenes with girls and The Woods (Royal Court) and Little on the Inside (Almeida).

Akedah stars Ruby Campell (The Snow Queen, Lyric Theatre, Belfast; Translations, Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Mairead McKinley (The String Quartet's Guide to Sex and Anxiety, Birmingham Rep/world tour; Filthy Business, Hampstead Theatre) and Amy Molloy (This is Paradise, Traverse Theatre; Translations, National Theatre). 

Our promise to you

In the event of Akedah being postponed, you can choose between a full refund or credit to be used for any show at Hampstead.

As always, our audience, company and staff are our top priority. For more information about how we’re keeping you safe, please click here.


Please note that for performances of Akedah, latecomers will not be permitted to enter the auditorium and there will be no readmissions once the show has started. Please ensure you arrive on time. 


An Audio Introduction is available for this production. This is a pre-recorded introduction describing the set, characters and costumes and includes an interview with the cast.

Click here to listen to the Akedah Audio Introduction

Cast

Artistic team

WRITER

MICHAEL JOHN O'NEILL

DIRECTOR

LUCY MORRISON

DESIGNER

NAOMI DAWSON

LIGHTING

KEVIN MURPHY

SOUND

BETH DUKE

 

STAGE MANAGER

GRACE HANS

Cast

News

HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES FOUR NEW PLAYS

Posted on 16 September 2022

'“Our autumn/winter season celebrates Hampstead’s cosmopolitan roots with a range of international playwrights from Scotland to the USA, Northern Ireland to France and some great homegrown talent in between.'

Tickets

First five performances: All tickets £5
Performances thereafter: £20
Seniors*: £12 (matinee only)
Under 30s and Students: £10
Emergency Services/NHS Workers: £10
Access: £10

*Ages 60+

Content Warnings

CONTENT WARNINGS - akedah

This production contains:

Strobe lighting, flashing lights and haze.

Strong language, including one use of a sectarian, anti-catholic slur.

Mild physical violence.

References to domestic abuse, child abuse, rape and death.

References to mental illness and treatment of mental illness.

Please note that our content warnings evolve as the production does throughout rehearsal and previews, so there may be changes made between booking and attending the theatre. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about specific themes or concerns, please call the Box Office on 020 7722 9301 or email boxoffice@hampsteadtheatre.com

Video and Image Gallery

AMY MOLLOY (GILL) Photo by Helen Murray AMY MOLLOY (GILL)Photo by Helen Murray
RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY), AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & MAIREAD MCKINLEY (SARAH) Photo by Helen Murray RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY), AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & MAIREAD MCKINLEY (SARAH)Photo by Helen Murray
RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) & AMY MOLLOY (GILL) Photo by Helen Murray RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) & AMY MOLLOY (GILL)Photo by Helen Murray
AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) Photo by Helen Murray AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY)Photo by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Michael John O'Neill (Writer) Photo taken by Helen Murray Michael John O'Neill (Writer)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Mairead McKinley (Sarah) Photo taken by Helen Murray Mairead McKinley (Sarah)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Photo taken by Helen Murray Photo taken by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Michael John O'Neill (Writer) Photo taken by Helen Murray Michael John O'Neill (Writer)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Mairead McKinley (Sarah), Grace Hans (Stage Manager) & Lucy Morrison (Director) Photo taken by Helen Murray Mairead McKinley (Sarah), Grace Hans (Stage Manager) & Lucy Morrison (Director)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Lucy Morrison (Director) Photo taken by Helen Murray Lucy Morrison (Director)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Photo taken by Helen Murray Photo taken by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill), Ruby Campbell (Kelly) & Mairead McKinley (Sarah) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill), Ruby Campbell (Kelly) & Mairead McKinley (Sarah)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Lucy Morrison (Director) Photo taken by Helen Murray Lucy Morrison (Director)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Ruby Campbell (Kelly) Photo taken by Helen Murray Ruby Campbell (Kelly)Photo taken by Helen Murray
AMY MOLLOY (GILL) Photo by Helen Murray AMY MOLLOY (GILL)Photo by Helen Murray
Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly) Photo taken by Helen Murray Amy Molloy (Gill) & Ruby Campbell (Kelly)Photo taken by Helen Murray
Mairead McKinley (Sarah) Photo taken by Helen Murray Mairead McKinley (Sarah)Photo taken by Helen Murray
MAIREAD MCKINLEY (SARAH) Photo by Helen Murray MAIREAD MCKINLEY (SARAH) Photo by Helen Murray
AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) Photo by Helen Murray AMY MOLLOY (GILL) & RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY)Photo by Helen Murray
RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) & AMY MOLLOY (GILL) Photo by Helen Murray RUBY CAMPBELL (KELLY) & AMY MOLLOY (GILL)Photo by Helen Murray

KEEPING YOU SAFE AT HAMPSTEAD

1 Social Distanced 1

RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE

2 MASKS REQUIRED 1

FACE MASKS ENCOURAGED

4 STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION 1

STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION

5 ENHANCED CLEANING 1

ENHANCED CLEANING

7 CONTACTLESS TICKETS 1

CONTACTLESS TICKETS

8 HAND SANITIZING STATIONS 2

HAND SANITISING STATIONS

9 CASHLESS PAYMENT 1

CASHLESS PAYMENT