A HAMPSTEAD THEATRE PRODUCTION

LABYRINTH

By Beth Steel
Directed by Anna Ledwich

Running time: 2 hours 25 minutes including interval

£10 - £35 (See ticket information)
Limited availability

Three years ago the doomsayers were predicting the end. Financial apocalypse. But the system survived. Because the system works. Time to take advantage of the goodies on offer…

Main Stage

1 Sep - 8 Oct 2016
£10 - £35

Box Office: 020 7722 9301

Details

★★★★ 'Full of fire-in-the-blood swagger' The Times
★★★★ 'Exhilarating... Racily exciting' The Guardian
★★★★ 'Wildly entertaining' The Telegraph
★★★★ 'A great night out' Daily Mail
★★★★ 'Indecently entertaining' Sunday Telegraph

1978, New York. John Anderson is barely out of college and has landed himself a job on Wall Street. His dreams of unimaginable wealth, travel and power are made a reality as he jets around the globe selling loans to developing countries eager to borrow. And there are plenty – Mexico, Brazil, Argentina…

But cracks in the banks’ excessive lending strategy soon start to show. Despite the warning signs - and their consciences - John and his colleagues continue to pursue their targets, threatening to leave them all financially, and morally, bankrupt.

Beth Steel’s compelling new thriller explores the fallout of one of the most catastrophic economic crises of modern history, which brought Latin America to its knees for decades. Winner of The Evening Standard’s Most Promising Playwright award, Beth returns to Hampstead following the critically acclaimed Wonderland.

Anna Ledwich makes her Main Stage debut following Donny’s Brain, The Argument and the Olivier Award nominated Four Minutes Twelve Seconds Downstairs. 

Labyrinth has been made possible by the generous support of Lin and Ken Craig, who are proud to continue their association with Beth Steel at Hampstead Theatre

    
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Reviews
  • The Times

    'This fizzing play by the ultra-talented Beth Steel is set in New York but its core feels more Middle America'

    'The year is 1978 and sitting in front of Howard (Martin McDougall, on fantastic form) is a naive young man named John (Sean Delaney) in an ill-fitting suit, who didn’t go to Harvard but who has the hunger. “Nobody can work harder than me,” he shouts during his interview. “I don’t need sleep. I don’t do lunchbreaks. I am an animal!”'

    'There’s a great vroom vroom to this play, an energy that lifts it out of the ordinary. The director Anna Ledwich keeps mixing things up... Jagged music discombobulates, people appear out of nowhere, some scenes are paranoiac, others full of fire-in-the-blood swagger.'

    'All of the acting is good and the set, by Andrew D Edwards, is arresting. The stage is in the centre, with the audience on both sides... It’s ingenious, slick and perfect for this.'

    To read the full review please click here to visit The Times online.

    Theatre: Labyrinth at Hampstead Theatre
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  • The Guardian

    'Beth Steel scored a big hit in 2014 with Wonderland... In Labyrinth, she again goes back to the 1980s, this time to probe the Latin American debt crisis. The result is a racily exciting work'

    'As so often in drama, the virtue lies in the detail. Steel doesn’t just tell, but shows how the system works... This is invigorating, informative stuff.'

    'Played on a wide traverse stage, Anna Ledwich’s production has a hurtling energy... Sean Delaney as John has the right air of a Candide-like innocent slowly succumbing to the system. Tom Weston-Jones as his Mephistophelian mentor exudes a narcissistic hedonism and there is high-grade support from Philip Bird as John’s dodgy dad and from Elena Saurel as a journalist who sees the ruinousness of reckless loans.'

    To read the full review please click here to visit The Guardian online.

    Labyrinth: 'exhilarating financial drama is best since Enron'
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  • The Telegraph

    'Richly researched, it’s insistently useful and almost indecently entertaining.'

    'It explores this through the contradictions of its central character, played by very bankable-looking newcomer Sean Delaney, fresh out of Rada.'

    'The archetypal banker bogeyman (Tom Weston-Jones, superb) merely points at a lone desk, an “off-shore” fiscal dodge. Bang on the money, that gag.'

    'The cast make the Mamet-like most of the zinging script, with assured work from Martin McDougall as the yo-yo spinning, boots-on-table bank exec, Elena Saurel as a canny economics journalist and a trio of Latin American government honchos played by one actor (Joseph Balderrama).'

    To read the full review please click here to visit The Telegraph online.

    Labyrinth is Latin America's wildly entertaining answer to Wall Street
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  • Daily Mail

    'I was sat next to playwright Beth Steel’s twin sister at the opening night of her new work about the Latin American financial crisis of the 1980s, and rarely have I seen anyone enjoy themselves so much in a theatre. Happily, her pleasure was well founded.'

    'Steel is the author of Wonderland, the Hampstead theatre’s previous hit about the miners’ strike. Once again she wears her research lightly, painting a rogues’ gallery of top-of-the-range spivs in a world of sex, drugs and sub-prime loans.'

    'Matt Damon lookalike Sean Delaney, who plays John, is an impressive young actor, allowing other characters — from Martin McDougall’s yoyo-spinning Texan bank president to Joseph Balderrama’s box set of Latin American leaders — to whirl around him.'

    'Anna Ledwich’s production enters fully into the carnival spirit... It also sets up a story which is in thrall to these glamorous lowlifes... a great night out.'

    To read the full review please click here to visit Daily Mail online.

    Seventies bankers are back with a vengeance in Labyrinth
    ,
Cast

Artistic team

WRITER

BETH STEEL

DIRECTOR

ANNA LEDWICH

DESIGNER

ANDREW D EDWARDS

LIGHTING

RICHARD HOWELL

SOUND

MAX PAPPENHEIM

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR

JOHN ROSS

CASTING

SUZANNE CROWLEY AND GILLY POOLE

 

Cast

News

A Cup of Tea with... Labyrinth's Elena Saurel

Posted on 30 September 2016

We chat to Labyrinth's Elena Saurel about Jim Carey, Ru Paul and Macadamia nuts.

Backstage with Sean Delaney

Posted on 22 September 2016

We catch up with actor Sean Delaney, who's currently starring in Beth Steel's Labyrinth on the Main Stage

Labyrinth: Reviews roundup

Posted on 9 September 2016

Here's a roundup of what the critics had to say about Beth Steel's compelling new thriller Labyrinth

Labyrinth: ★★★★ from Daily Mail

Posted on 9 September 2016

Patrick Marmion awards Labyrinth four stars

A Cup of Tea with... Labyrinth's Abubakar Salim

Posted on 8 September 2016

We chat to Labyrinth actor Abubakar Salim about Beauty and the Beast, Batman and the importance of flossing

Labyrinth: ★★★★ from The Telegraph

Posted on 8 September 2016

Dominic Cavendish awards Labyrinth four stars

Labyrinth: ★★★★ FROM THE GUARDIAN

Posted on 8 September 2016

Michael Billington awards Labyrinth four stars

Labyrinth: ★★★★ from The Times

Posted on 8 September 2016

Ann Treneman awards Beth Steel's Labyrinth four stars

Labyrinth: Press Night photos

Posted on 8 September 2016

Photos taken by Alice Boagey

A Cup of Tea with... Labyrinth's Tom Weston-Jones

Posted on 2 September 2016

We chat to actor Tom Weston-Jones about Labyrinth, alternative career paths and life advice

Labyrinth: The Playlist

Posted on 1 September 2016

Get in the mood for Labyrinth with our 1970s/1980s Spotify playlist

Video: Meet the Labyrinth company

Posted on 30 August 2016

Get an exclusive look into the rehearsal room as Director Anna Ledwich, Writer Beth Steel and the cast talk about explosive new thriller, Labyrinth.

Designing the look of Labyrinth: An interview with Designer Andrew D Edwards

Posted on 23 August 2016

Designer Andrew D Edwards talks to us about designing the set and costumes for upcoming play Labyrinth

Inside the rehearsal room with Labyrinth's Sean Delaney

Posted on 17 August 2016

We get the inside line on the Labyrinth rehearsal room from actor Sean Delaney

Labyrinth: An exclusive extract from Beth Steel's new play

Posted on 11 August 2016

We're thrilled to share with you an exclusive extract from Beth Steel's compelling new thriller, Labyrinth. The play is yet to be published, so this is your only chance of a sneak peek before the show opens on our Main Stage on 1 September.

Labyrinth: Full cast announced

Posted on 26 July 2016

Full casting announced for Beth Steel's new play Labyrinth

Video: Writer Beth Steel introduces Labyrinth

Posted on 25 July 2016

Beth Steel introduces her compelling new thriller Labyrinth

Labyrinth: Navigating the maze of making an image

Posted on 11 July 2016

A behind-the-scenes look at how we created the image for Beth Steel's latest play

10 Questions with Beth Steel

Posted on 24 June 2016

We interview Beth Steel, writer of Labyrinth

Video: Autumn Season 2016 - Meet the writers

Posted on 27 May 2016

Artistic Director Edward Hall introduces the Main Stage Autumn Season, and we meet Beth Steel, Tony Kushner and Michael Frayn

Main Stage Autumn Season Announced

Posted on 27 May 2016

With plays from Beth Steel, Tony Kushner and Michael Frayn

Tickets

Previews, Mondays and matinees 

Full price: £28/£25/£18/£12
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10* 
Seniors (matinees only): £20/£18/£15/
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
Access: £15

Tuesday – Saturday evenings 
Full price: £35/£30/£25
Under 30s/Students: £15/£10* 
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
Access: £15

*Under 30s and Student concession seats are available in rows A (£15), Q & PP (£10)

Audio described performance:
1 October at 3pm, with a touch tour at 1.30pm

Captioned performance:
7 October at 7.30pm, with a transcribed post show discussion

Video and Image Gallery

Tom Weston-Jones and cast Tom Weston-Jones and cast
Sean Delaney Sean Delaney
Tom Weston-Jones and Abubakar Salim Tom Weston-Jones and Abubakar Salim
Elena Saurel Elena Saurel
Martin McDougall Martin McDougall
Anna Ledwich (Director) Anna Ledwich (Director)
Andrew D Edwards (Designer) and Beth Steel (Writer) Andrew D Edwards (Designer) and Beth Steel (Writer)
Ryan Ellsworth Ryan Ellsworth
Sean Delaney and cast Sean Delaney and cast
Alexia Traverse-Healy and Matt Whitchurch Alexia Traverse-Healy and Matt Whitchurch
Joseph Balderrama Joseph Balderrama
Christopher Sawalha Christopher Sawalha
Philip Bird Philip Bird
Eric Kofi Abrefa, Matt Whitchurch and Sean Delaney Eric Kofi Abrefa, Matt Whitchurch and Sean Delaney
Tom Weston-Jones and Sean Delaney Tom Weston-Jones and Sean Delaney
Tom Weston-Jones and cast Tom Weston-Jones and cast
Martin McDougall and Sean Delaney Martin McDougall and Sean Delaney
Martin McDougall Martin McDougall
Sean Delaney Sean Delaney
Christopher Sawalha and Tom Weston-Jones Christopher Sawalha and Tom Weston-Jones
Sean Delaney and Tom Weston-Jones Sean Delaney and Tom Weston-Jones
Christopher Sawalha Christopher Sawalha
Tom Weston-Jones Tom Weston-Jones
Abubakar Salim and Joseph Balderrama Abubakar Salim and Joseph Balderrama
Sean Delaney and Philip Bird Sean Delaney and Philip Bird
Tom Weston-Jones Tom Weston-Jones
Eric Kofi Abrefa Eric Kofi Abrefa
Sean Delaney and Elena Saurel Sean Delaney and Elena Saurel
Abubakar Salim Abubakar Salim
The company of Labyrinth The company of Labyrinth
Matt Whitchurch Matt Whitchurch
Joseph Balderrama Joseph Balderrama
Tom Weston-Jones, Martin McDougall and Alexia Traverse-Healy Tom Weston-Jones, Martin McDougall and Alexia Traverse-Healy
Eric Kofi Abrefa and Sean Delaney Eric Kofi Abrefa and Sean Delaney
Ryan Ellsworth Ryan Ellsworth
Sean Delaney and Alexia Traverse-Healy Sean Delaney and Alexia Traverse-Healy

KEEPING YOU SAFE AT HAMPSTEAD

1 Social Distanced 1

RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE

2 MASKS REQUIRED 1

FACE MASKS ENCOURAGED

4 STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION 1

STATE OF THE ART VENTILATION

5 ENHANCED CLEANING 1

ENHANCED CLEANING

7 CONTACTLESS TICKETS 1

CONTACTLESS TICKETS

8 HAND SANITIZING STATIONS 2

HAND SANITISING STATIONS

9 CASHLESS PAYMENT 1

CASHLESS PAYMENT