In 1941, in the middle of the Second World War, the great German physicist Werner Heisenberg made a strange trip to Copenhagen to see his Danish counterpart Niels Bohr. They were old friends, and their brilliant collaboration in the twenties had begun to lay bare the mysteries at the heart of the atom. But now Denmark was under German occupation, the meeting was fraught with danger and embarrassment - and Heisenberg was burdened with a terrible secret.

Why he went to Copenhagen and what he wanted to say to Bohr are questions which have exercised historians ever since. In Michael Frayn’s multi-award-winning drama Heisenberg meets Bohr and his wife Margrethe once again to look for the answers, and to explore, just as they once had the uncertainty at the heart of the atom, the uncertainty of the human mind.

This modern classic receives its first London production since the 1998 National Theatre premiere in a completely new production by Michael Longhurst (Between Riverside and Crazy, Caroline or Change and Gloria at Hampstead).

Starring award-winning actors Alex Kingston (ER, Doctor Who) as Margrethe, Damien Molony (Being Human, Brassic) as Heisenberg and Richard Schiff (The West Wing, The Good Doctor) as Bohr. 

‘The most invigorating and ingenious play of ideas in many a year and a work of art that humanizes physics in a way no other has done.’ – New York Times

Suggested age guidance 14+

Thematic: themes of war, antisemitism, death including the death of a child

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