Amadeus tickets

Join Michael Sheen and Callum Scott Howells as they play rival composers Salieri and Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s celebrated drama Amadeus at the Noël Coward Theatre. Book Amadeus tickets on London Theatre.

Amadeus is a play set in Vienna in 1820. Antonio Salieri is an aged composer with a big confession to make. He was once a successful figure at the Austrian court, carrying status and influence, and an unshakeable faith that his devotion to God would reward him with musical greatness. Then, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrived on the scene.

Mozart is crude and childish, seemingly incapable of behaving with any sort of dignity that Salieri believes a great artist should have. Yet, his music possesses such brilliance that Salieri recognises in him something far beyond his own abilities. Convinced that Mozart’s extraordinary talent must be a gift only given by God, Salieri becomes consumed by the grief that such a gift was bestowed upon Mozart rather than him.

Admiration quickly boils down to resentment. While he publicly presents himself as Mozart’s ally, Salieri begins his work to damage Mozart’s career and reputation. His jealousy curdles into something tangible as he campaigns against the man whose music he seemingly worships and despises all at once.

Michael Sheen stars as Salieri opposite Callum Scott Howells as Mozart in Amadeus in London, marking the first time two Welsh actors have played these roles together in a major production. Jeremy Herrin directs the revival, with set design by Bunny Christie and costume design by Lez Brotherston.

Sheen also brings a unique history to Shaffer’s play, having previously portrayed Mozart in London and on Broadway before taking on Salieri in Sydney.

Fuelled by Mozart’s music, Amadeus transforms a fictionalised rivalry between two composers and shines a light on the consequences of admiration quickly turning into obsession.