Matthew Bourne's 'Play Without Words' will return to London in 2027

The Olivier Award-winning production will play at Sadler’s Wells from 27 July until 21 August 2027.

Summary

• Matthew Bourne’s production will return for its 25th anniversary
• It is inspired by the 1963 film classic The Servant
• The production will play a limited 4-week season at Sadler’s Wells from 27 July until 21 August 2027

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words will return, coming to Sadler’s Wells from 27 July until 21 August 2027.

Set in Chelsea in 1965, the dance production explores power, class, and sexual dominance between an affluent, repressed young bachelor, and his astute domestic staff.

The production premiered at the National Theatre in 2002 as part of Trevor Nunn’s Transformations season dedicated to showcasing newly devised work. It went on to be nominated for five Olivier Awards, winning two for Best Entertainment and Best Theatre Choreographer

Inspired by the 1963 film classic The Servant and the new-wave British cinema of the 1960s, is set to a jazz-influenced original score by Terry Davies played live onstage.

Bourne said: “When Trevor Nunn asked me if I would like to make a devised piece of theatre for his farewell Transformations season at the NT in 2002, I jumped at the opportunity, telling him that I would like to try and make ‘a play without words’. This was more of a description than a title, but the title stuck and became one of the most adventurous and unique pieces I have ever made. Trevor asked all directors in the season to choose a key word as a starting point for their work, mine was ‘seduction’. Not only did we do away with words, but we added to the intrigue by casting each character two or three times over, identically dressed by Lez Brotherston, each giving a variation on the story. Inspiration came from the cultural revolution and changing times as seen through the lens of the new wave British cinema of the 1960s and most specifically one of my favourite movies of that time, Joseph Losey’s The Servant, with its brilliantly ambiguous screenplay by Harold Pinter, full of dual meanings which directly inspired the central staging idea with its multiple possibilities. I’m delighted that the show, or should I say ‘play’, is not only returning for its 25th Anniversary but also, rightly, as the centrepiece of my company’s 40th Anniversary in 2027.”

Devised by Matthew Bourne with music by Terry Davies, the production has Olivier nominated designs by Lez Brotherston, and Olivier nominated lighting design by Paule Constable.

Casting is to be announced.

Check back for Play Without Words tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo Credit: Hugo Glendinning