HAMPSTEAD DOWNSTAIRS / CELIA ATKIN PRESENT

KING JAMES

By RAJIV JOSEPH
Directed by ALICE HAMILTON

Running time: 1 hour 40 minutes including an interval

All the time we invested. In him. All the money. All the games we went to. The basis of our entire friendship... LeBron for the win. LeBron for the win…

Downstairs

Choose a date and select your own seats online

15 Nov 2024 - 4 Jan 2025

Box Office: 020 7722 9301

Details

★★★★★ 'Truly exceptional' Plays to See
★★★★★ 'An outstanding play’' Afridiziak
★★★★★ 'Joseph’s writing is natural and still impactful' The Rendition
★★★★ 'Fascinating' The Stage
★★★★ 'Funny and genuinely touching' Time Out
★★★★ 'Heartwarming' Broadway World
★★★★ 'A funny, moving, terrific play’' Reviewsgate
★★★★ 'A pitch perfect dissection of male friendship' The Spy in the Stalls
★★★★ 'Razor-sharp' The Reviews Hub


The fortunes of the Cavaliers are about to change: the great LeBron James, the biggest star in basketball, is coming to Cleveland. But when superfan Matt’s latest business venture turns sour, he has to sell his most prized possession – his pair of Cavs season tickets. The buyer, Shawn, just sold his first short story – so watching his team in the flesh for the first time will be a sweet reward. Now just to figure out what to do with that second ticket…

Thrown together by chance, the next 12 years prove as defining, dramatic, and sometimes heart-breaking for Matt and Shawn as they do for the Cavs – and for ‘King’ LeBron James.

Multi-award-winner Rajiv Joseph returns to Hampstead with a play-by-play look at how friendship and supporting a team intersect. His plays include Describe the Night (Hampstead), Guards at the Taj (Bush) and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Broadway).  

Alice Hamilton, Hampstead Theatre’s Associate Director, directs.  Her credits include The Harmony Test, Out Of Season, Every Day I Make Greatness Happen and Nineteen Gardens Downstairs, as well as The Dumb Waiter and The Memory of Water on the Main Stage. 


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 King James audio introduction

 

Suggested age guidance 14+

Dates
Mon 09 Dec 19:45 Book now
Tue 10 Dec 19:45 Book now
Wed 11 Dec 19:45 Book now
Thu 12 Dec 14:45 Book now
Thu 12 Dec 19:45 Book now
Fri 13 Dec 19:45 Book now
Sat 14 Dec 14:45 Book now
Sat 14 Dec 19:45 Book now
Mon 16 Dec 19:45 Book now
Tue 17 Dec 19:45 Book now
Wed 18 Dec 19:45 Book now
Thu 19 Dec 14:45 Book now
Thu 19 Dec 19:45 Book now
Fri 20 Dec 19:45 Book now
Sat 21 Dec 14:45 Book now
Sat 21 Dec 19:45 Book now
Mon 23 Dec 19:45 Book now
Tue 24 Dec 14:45 Book now
Fri 27 Dec 14:45 Book now
Fri 27 Dec 19:45 Book now
Sat 28 Dec 14:45 Book now
Sat 28 Dec 19:45 Book now
Mon 30 Dec 19:45 Book now
Tue 31 Dec 14:45 Book now
Thu 02 Jan 14:45 CAPTIONED Book now
Thu 02 Jan 19:45 Book now
Fri 03 Jan 19:45 CAPTIONED Book now
Sat 04 Jan 14:45 Book now
Sat 04 Jan 19:45 Book now
Cast

Artistic team

WRITER

RAJIV JOSEPH

DIRECTOR

ALICE HAMILTON

DESIGNER

GOOD TEETH

LIGHTING DESIGNER

MATT HASKINS

SOUND DESIGNER

MAX PAPPENHEIM

PRODUCTION MANAGER

JOSH COLLINS

COSTUME SUPERVISOR 

CAITLYN KEANEY

DIALECT

CARTER BELLAIMEY

STAGE MANAGER

OLIWIA ROKOWSKA

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

STELLA WANG

Cast

News

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR THE UK PREMIERE OF KING JAMES BY RAJIV JOSEPH DIRECTED BY ALICE HAMILTON

Posted on 15 October 2024

The full cast has been announced for the UK premiere of King James by Rajiv Joseph at Hampstead Downstairs from 15 November 2024 to 4 January 2025.

Tickets

Previews: £10 

Full Price: £25 

Seniors* (matinees only): £15  

Under 30s/Students: £10 

Access ½ price 

Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free 

*Ages 60+ 

 

All prices are subject to change. Book early for the best price. 

Content Warnings

Thematic: strong language, racially motivated discrimination and references to death and loss
Technical: sudden bright lights at multiple points during the show

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

SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
ALICE HAMILTON (DIRECTOR) SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ALICE HAMILTON (DIRECTOR) SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYIOKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYIOKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
ALICE HAMILTON (DIRECTOR), SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) Photo by Mark Douet ALICE HAMILTON (DIRECTOR), SAM MITCHELL (MATT) & ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN)Photo by Mark Douet
SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet
ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT) Photo by Mark Douet ENYI OKORONKWO (SHAWN) & SAM MITCHELL (MATT)Photo by Mark Douet