Rehearsals are underway at The Old Vic for Sir Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, with a cast that boasts Fiona BUtton, Leila Farzad and Prasanna Puwanarajah.
‘Sex, the attraction that Newton left out.’
Brilliant minds, burning hearts and the unstoppable pull between chaos and order. In a country house, two centuries apart, genius unfolds. A teenage prodigy discovers the mathematics of the universe, as the adults around her fail to hide their passions under reason. In the present day, scholars chase the ghosts of that same household — seeking truth, proof and perhaps each other.
Directed by Carrie Cracknell, the full cast features Gabriel Akuwudike as Richard Noakes, Button as Lady Croom, Angus Cooper as Valentine Coverly, Seamus Dillane as Septimus Hodge, Farzad as Hannah Jarvis, Tim Frances as Jellaby, Holly Godliman as Chloë Coverly, Isis Hainsworth as Thomasina Coverly, William Lawlor as Gus Coverly/Augustus Coverly, Colin Mace as Captain Brice, RN, Puwanarajah as Bernard Nightingale and Matthew Steer as Ezra Chater.
They are joined by understudies David Buttle, Keziah Hayes, George Lorimer and Lizzie Schenk.
Performed in the round, the creative team includes set designer Alex Eales, costume designer Suzanne Cave, lighting designer Guy Hoare and sound designer Donato Wharton. Movement is by Ira Mandela Siobhan, the composer is Stuart Earl, casting is by Serena Hill, props supervisor is Zoë Wilson, costume supervisor is Peter Todd, wigs, hair & makeup supervisor is Dominique Hamilton, the voice coach is Nia Lynn and associate director is Anna Ryde.
Premiered at the National Theatre in 1993, this new production of Arcadia will be the first time it has ever appeared on The Old Vic stage.
Arcadia plays The Old Vic from January 24 – March 21, 2026. Tickets here.
Top image: Company of Arcadia at The Old Vic 2025 in rehearsals. Photo by Manuel Harlan (image supplied)