A HAMPSTEAD THEATRE WORLD PREMIERE
ANTHROPOLOGY
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Anna Ledwich
Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes without an interval
I built you because this is what I do. It’s my job. These are my tools, I used them, and honestly it’s not that hard – you’re basically a chatbot.
Main Stage
7 Sep - 14 Oct 2023
Box Office: 020 7722 9301
‘An intriguing, inventive new play… fizzingly intelligent’ The Times
‘No chatbot could surely ever write anything as original and compelling' The Guardian
‘A highly original, beautifully written piece’ Daily Mail
‘An atmospheric and philosophically resonant piece’ The Telegraph
‘Acidly funny’ Evening Standard
‘A sleek, well-acted production’ The Upcoming
‘Grippingly watchable’ London Theatre
Merril is one of Silicon Valley’s leading software engineers, but her life disintegrates when her younger sister Angie vanishes on her way home from college. A year later, when the police have long abandoned their search, Merril assembles all the digital material Angie has left behind and sets about building herself a digital simulation of her sister. The resultant ‘virtual Angie’ offers her some solace – until, that is, it starts to reveal new details about the real Angie's disappearance…
San Francisco-based Lauren Gunderson is one of the world’s most produced playwrights; her I and You was a huge success at Hampstead in 2018. Author of over 20 plays, Lauren has also received the Lanford Wilson Award at the Dramatists Guild Awards and two Steinberg/ATCA New Play Awards.
anthropology is the twelfth play that Anna Ledwich has directed for Hampstead, where her work has ranged from Labyrinth to the Olivier nominated productions of Dry Powder and Four Minutes Twelve Seconds.
MyAnna Buring (Twilight: Breaking Dawn; The Witcher; Downton Abbey; Ripper Street; A Very Expensive Poison, Old Vic; The Wasp, Hampstead Theatre) plays Merril. She is joined by Dakota Blue Richards (The Golden Compass; Skins; Arcadia, English Touring Theatre), Yolanda Kettle (Patriots, Almeida; Deep Blue Sea, National Theatre and Eden, Hampstead Theatre) and Abigail Thaw (Endeavour and The Strange Death of John Doe, Hampstead Theatre).
Artistic team
WRITER
LAUREN GUNDERSON
DIRECTOR
ANNA LEDWICH
DESIGNER
GEORGIA LOWE
LIGHTING DESIGNER
JAMES WHITESIDE
COMPOSER AND SOUND DESIGNER
MAX PAPPENHEIM
VIDEO DESIGNER
DANIEL DENTON
mOVEMENT AND INTIMACY DIRECTOR
SARA GREEN
CASTING DIRECTOR
GABRIELLE DAWES
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
MARLIE HACO
COMPANY STAGE MANAGER
BENJAMIN SMITH
DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER
JULIA CRAMMER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
ROMA RADFORD
Cast
MERRIL
MYANNA BURING
RAQUEL
YOLANDA KETTLE
ANGIE
DAKOTA BLUE RICHARDS
BRIN
ABIGAIL THAW
LISTEN TO LAUREN GUNDERSON ON BBC RADIO 4’S START THE WEEK
Playwright Lauren Gunderson spoke to BBC Radio 4 Start The Week’s about interrogating our relationship with Artificial Intelligence in her new play anthropology, which opened on the Main Stage on 7 September.
A CUP OF TEA WITH EWAN MILLER
We caught up with actor Ewan Miller to talk acting highlights, dream roles, and Octopolis, which runs Downstairs until 28 October.
NINETEEN GARDENS CASTING ANNOUNCED
Magdalena Miecznicka is set to make her playwriting debut at Hampstead Theatre with Nineteen Gardens, an intimate two-hander directed by Alice Hamilton and starring Olivia Le Andersen and David Sturzaker.
PLAQUE HONOURING THE FOUNDER OF HAMPSTEAD THEATRE UNVEILED
A plaque honouring the inspirational founder of Hampstead Theatre has been unveiled at the theatre in north London.
COMPETITION: WIN TWO AND A PAIR OF TICKETS FOR TO HAVE TO HOLD
Coming to see anthropology? You can be in with a chance to win tickets to our next Main Stage show
LAUREN GUNDERSON INTERVIEWED BY BROADWAY WORLD
Alexander Cohen interviews Anthropology writer Lauren Gunderson who asks pressing questions about AI in her new sci-fi thriller at Hampstead Theatre
HAMPSTEAD THEATRE ANNOUNCES FULL SEASON OF EIGHT NEW PRODUCTIONS
Hampstead Theatre today announces a full season of eight new productions beginning on 7 September 2023 and running until 16 March 2024.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH INTERVIEWS GREG RIPLEY-DUGGAN
When funding was withdrawn, all seemed lost for the off-West End venue – but now star names are stepping in to save it.
Previews
Full Price: £25/£35/£45
Under 30s/Students: £10
Access ½ price
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
*Ages 60+
Monday – Saturday
Full price: £35/£45/£55
Under 30s/Students: £10
Access ½ price
Seniors*: (matinees only): £26/£36/£46
Groups: For every 9 tickets get the 10th free
All prices are subject to change. Book early for the best price.
CONTENT WARNINGS - anthropology
This production contains strong language and haze.
References to death, domestic abuse, substance abuse and suicide.
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