Death of England: The Plays

Following acclaimed seasons at the National Theatre, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ extraordinary series of three state of the nation plays, DEATH OF ENGLAND, will be performed together for the very first time for a strictly limited season @sohoplace.

 

These three interconnected plays are, by turns, exhilarating, profoundly moving, funny but furious, and deeply theatrical. Watch one as a standalone experience or discover the connections between two or three of the plays as Michael, Delroy, Denise and Carly navigate the joys and challenges of what it means to be British in 2024.

 

Starring Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You, Gangs of London), Thomas Coombes (Baby Reindeer), Erin Doherty (The Crown) and Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Dune) and directed by Clint Dyer, the “uniquely brilliant” (Evening Standard) DEATH OF ENGLAND is set to be the theatrical event of the year.

DEATH OF ENGLAND: MICHAEL

 

A family in mourning. A man in crisis.

 

After the death of his dad, Michael is powerless and angry. In a state of heartbreak, he confronts the difficult truths about his father’s legacy and the country that shaped him. At the funeral, unannounced and unprepared, Michael decides it is time to speak.

 

Thomas Coombes stars in this scorching and fearless play which asks explosive and enduring questions about identity, race and class in Britain.

 

★★★★
“The most exhilarating and hair-raising drama. This is truly a play for today”.
The Guardian

DEATH OF ENGLAND: DELROY

 

Unapologetically upwardly mobile and working as a bailiff, Delroy’s life spirals out of control on one surreal day as he races to get to the hospital where his girlfriend Carly is about to give birth.

 

Starring Paapa Essiedu, Death of England: Delroy is the searing story of a Black working class man searching for truth and confronting his relationship with Britain.

 

★★★★
“A furious, funny shout of a play. Urgent and timely”.
Evening Standard

DEATH OF THE ENGLAND: CLOSING TIME

 

There are two sides to every story.

 

Grieving the loss of the family shop with their dreams destroyed, Denise and daughter-in-law Carly are left to pick up the pieces of their relatives’ mistakes.

 

Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Erin Doherty play Denise and Carly in this thought-provoking drama that explores family dynamics, race, colonialism and cancel culture.

 

★★★★
“Fierce and moving”
The Observer

Cast & Creative

Cast

DEATH OF ENGLAND: MICHAEL

Thomas Coombes

DEATH OF ENGLAND: DELROY

Paapa Essiedu

DEATH OF ENGLAND: CLOSING TIME

CARLY: Erin Doherty

DEATH OF ENGLAND: CLOSING TIME

DENISE: Sharon Duncan-Brewster

Understudy Michael

Cary Crankson

Understudy Carly

Kate Donnachie

Understudy Delroy

Ashley D. Gayle

Understudy Denise

Paulette P. Williams

Creatives

Written by

Clint Dyer & Roy Williams 

Director

Clint Dyer

Set and Costume Designer

Sadeysa Greenaway-Bailey

Set and Costume Designer

ULTZ

Lighting Designer

Jackie Shemesh

Sound Designer

Benjamin Grant

Sound Designer

Pete Malkin

Associate Lighting Designer

Chris Davey

Associate Director

Anastasia Osei-Kuffour

Media

In rehearsals – photography by Alistair Muir

Death of England: Michael – production photography by Helen Murray

Book Tickets

DEATH OF ENGLAND: MICHAEL

15 July – 28 September

LONDON @sohoplace

DEATH OF ENGLAND: DELROY

23 July – 28 September

LONDON @sohoplace

DEATH OF ENGLAND: CLOSING TIME

22 August – 28 September

LONDON @sohoplace