A HAMPSTEAD THEATRE PRODUCTION

THE INVENTION OF LOVE

By TOM STOPPARD
Directed by BLANCHE MCINTYRE

Running time: Approximately 3 hours including an interval

If I had my time again, I would pay more regard to those poems of Horace which tell you you will not have your time again. Who knows how many tomorrows the gods will grant us? Now is the time, when you are young, to deck your hair with myrtle, drink the best of the wine, pluck the fruit…

Main Stage

Choose a date and select your own seats online

4 Dec 2024 - 1 Feb 2025

Box Office: 020 7722 9301

Details

CAN'T GET TICKETS? Most performances of The Invention of Love are Sold Out or Limited Availability. Keep checking our website for returns, or join our Returns Queue in person from 6pm each day.

A E Housman is, as he understands it, finally dead. The noted Latin scholar and celebrated poet of A Shropshire Lad is being ferried across the Styx to Hades – but beyond the stygian gloom on the other side of the river he finds, to his surprise, the Oxford University of his youth. Alive with the academic debates that shaped his work and the friendships that shaped his life, this is the Oxford of Ruskin and Pater; a place still marked by the brilliance of a recently departed student called Wilde…

Tom Stoppard returns to Hampstead after the triumphant revivals of Hapgood and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Winner of eight Evening Standard, three Olivier and five Tony Awards, Stoppard’s plays include Leopoldstadt; Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Arcadia.

Director Blanche McIntyre directed Botticelli in the Fire in 2019. She recently directed The Merry Wives of Windsor for the RSC and has worked extensively at The Globe; her previous credits include The House of Shades and The Writer (both Almeida) and Tartuffe (National Theatre).

BAFTA, Olivier and Tony award-winner Simon Russell Beale returns to Hampstead following the 2015 sell-out hit Mr Foote's Other Leg. His theatre credits include The Lehman Trilogy (National Theatre, West End and Broadway), King Lear and Hamlet (National Theatre) and Jumpers (West End and Broadway). His film and television work includes The Death of Stalin, The Hollow Crown, Dunkirk and House of the Dragon.

We are grateful to The Invention of Love Giving Circle who have generously supported this production: Ken & Lin Craig, Melanie J. Johnson, David & Carole Warren. 

We also thank The Invention of Love Production Syndicate members for their contributions to the production: Frances Lynn, Mark & Liz Astaire, Jean-Charles & Luce Julien, Jill Hunter Matichak, Ian Kelson, Jocelyn Abbey & Tom Carney, David Dutton & Mave Turner, Neil & Florence Hasson, Claire Tremeer & Robert Reichert.


 

Suggested age guidance 14+

 

 

King James MPU 500x800px

Dates
Mon 09 Dec 19:30 PREVIEW Limited Availability Book now
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Tue 17 Dec 19:30 Sold Out
Wed 18 Dec 19:30 Sold Out
Thu 19 Dec 14:30 FRIENDS PLUS MATINEE Limited Availability Book now
Thu 19 Dec 19:30 Sold Out
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Sat 04 Jan 14:30 Sold Out
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Sat 11 Jan 19:00 GALA PERFORMANCE Limited Availability Book now
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Thu 16 Jan 14:30 Sold Out
Thu 16 Jan 19:30 PATRONS EVENING, POST SHOW DISCUSSION Limited Availability Book now
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Sat 18 Jan 14:30 Sold Out
Sat 18 Jan 19:30 Sold Out
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Cast

Artistic team

WRITER

TOM STOPPARD

DIRECTOR

BLANCHE MCINTYRE

DESIGNER

MORGAN LARGE

LIGHTING DESIGNER

PETER MUMFORD

COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER

MAX PAPPENHEIM

PRODUCTION MANAGER

DAVID PRITCHARD

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

POLLY BENNETT

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

MATT DANN

CASTING DIRECTOR

ANNA COOPER CDG

STAGE MANAGER

ALISON RANKIN

DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER

FIONA BARDSLEY

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

BETHANY JEFFERIES

Cast

News

SIMON RUSSELL BEALE TALKS TO THE LONDON THEATRE REVIEW PODCAST

Posted on 6 December 2024

The London Theatre Review podcast caught up with Simon Russell Beale during rehearsals about tackling Latin and poetry in Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love.

RUN EXTENDED FOR TOM STOPPARD’S THE INVENTION OF LOVE AT HAMPSTEAD THEATRE

Posted on 18 November 2024

Hampstead Theatre announces an extension to its upcoming run of Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love. Due to phenomenal demand the show will now run from 4 December 2024 to 1 February 2025.

FULL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR TOM STOPPARD’S THE INVENTION OF LOVE AT HAMPSTEAD THEATRE

Posted on 4 November 2024

Hampstead Theatre today unveils the full cast for its upcoming production of Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love. Directed by Blanche McIntyre the show will run at Hampstead Theatre from 4 December 2024 to 25 January 2025.

SIMON RUSSELL BEALE STARS IN TOM STOPPARD’S THE INVENTION OF LOVE AT HAMPSTEAD THEATRE

Posted on 10 July 2024

Simon Russell Beale will star as A E Housman in Tom Stoppard’s The Invention of Love directed by Blanche McIntyre at Hampstead Theatre from 4 December to 25 January.

Tickets

Previews

Full Price: £25/£35/£45/£55

Under 30s/Students: £10 

Access ½ price 

Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free 

 

Monday – Saturday 

Full price: £35/£45/£55/£65  

Under 30s/Students: £10 

Access ½ price 

Seniors*: (matinees only): £26/£36/£46/£56

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: references to suicide and the use of homophobic language
Technical: use of haze and flashing lights

 

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

MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN) Photo by Helen Murray MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN)Photo by Helen Murray
STEPHEN BOXER (DR JOWETT / LABOUCHÈRE), PETER LANDI (PATTISON / POSTGATE) & DOMINIC ROWAN (RUSKIN / STEAD / JERMONE K. JEROME) Photo by Helen Murray STEPHEN BOXER (DR JOWETT / LABOUCHÈRE), PETER LANDI (PATTISON / POSTGATE) & DOMINIC ROWAN (RUSKIN / STEAD / JERMONE K. JEROME)Photo by Helen Murray
ALAN WILLIAMS (CHARON) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN) Photo by Helen Murray ALAN WILLIAMS (CHARON) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN)Photo by Helen Murray
STEPHEN BOXER (DR JOWETT / LABOUCHÈRE) & MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN) Photo by Helen Murray STEPHEN BOXER (DR JOWETT / LABOUCHÈRE) & MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN)Photo by Helen Murray
JONNIE BROADBENT (PATER / HARRIS) & BLANCHE MCINTYRE (DIRECTOR) Photo by Helen Murray JONNIE BROADBENT (PATER / HARRIS) & BLANCHE MCINTYRE (DIRECTOR)Photo by Helen Murray
BEN LLOYD-HUGHES (JACKSON) Photo by Helen Murray BEN LLOYD-HUGHES (JACKSON)Photo by Helen Murray
MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN) & SEAMUS DILLANE (POLLARD) Photo by Helen Murray MATTHEW TENNYSON (HOUSMAN) & SEAMUS DILLANE (POLLARD)Photo by Helen Murray
MICHAEL MARCUS (CHAMBERLAIN / ELLIS) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN) Photo by Helen Murray MICHAEL MARCUS (CHAMBERLAIN / ELLIS) & SIMON RUSSELL BEALE (A E HOUSMAN)Photo by Helen Murray
FLORENCE DOBSON (KATHARINE HOUSMAN) & MICHAEL MARCUS (CHAMBERLAIN / ELLIS) Photo by Helen Murray FLORENCE DOBSON (KATHARINE HOUSMAN) & MICHAEL MARCUS (CHAMBERLAIN / ELLIS)Photo by Helen Murray
DICKIE BEAU (OSCAR WILDE) Photo by Helen Murray DICKIE BEAU (OSCAR WILDE)Photo by Helen Murray