‘The Lesson’ to open at Southwark Playhouse

The play will run for four weeks in London ahead of a national tour.

Sophie Thomas
Sophie Thomas

Donald Watson’s translation of Eugène Ionesco’s The Lesson will play a London premiere this summer. The Lesson begins previews at Southwark Playhouse on 29 June, with an opening night on 1 July, and performances to 23 July.

The Lesson follows an aged professor and his pupil through a series of meetings. However, the professor’s maid is concerned for the professor’s health, and so begins a tyrannical quest for power and knowledge.

Jerome Ngonadi will play the professor, Hazel Caulfield will play the pupil, and Julie Stark will play Marie, the maid.

Max Lewendel directs The Lesson, originally written by Eugène Ionesco and translated by Donald Watson. The production features set design by Christopher Hone, costume design by Isabella Van Braeckel, lighting design by Stevie Carty, and sound design by Matt Downing.

The Lesson is at Southwark Playhouse.

Photo credit: The Lesson (Photo by Bernadett Ostorhazi)

Originally published on

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