Rockets and Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock
25 Aug – 9 Oct 2021

National Theatre

Rockets and Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock, National Theatre (c) The Masons
Rockets and Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock, National Theatre (c) The Masons

On the set of a new film about Victorian artist JMW Turner, young actress Lou is haunted by an unresolved history. 

Meanwhile, in 1840 Londoners Lucy and Thomas try to come to terms with the meaning of freedom. 

Moving between London past and present the production is a powerfully personal voyage through time. 

Directed by Miranda Cromwell, and first staged at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester before being cancelled due to Covid-19, this astonishing and fiercely political new play by Winsome Pinnock was named winner of the 2018 Alfred Fagon Award. 

Winsome Pinnock began work on the play during the attachment with the National Theatre’s New Work Department in 2016. 

The cast are Anthony Aje, Paul Bradley, Karl Collins, Kiza Deen, Rochelle Rose, Matthew Seadon-Young, Kudzai Sitima, Cathy Tyson, Everal A Walsh and Luke Wilson. 

Set and costume design by Laura Hopkins, lighting design by Jessica Hung Han Yun, composition and music direction by Femi Temowo, sound design by Elena Peña, movement direction by Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster, fight direction by Yarit Dor and staff director Mumba Dodwell. 

Supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation through the Weston Culture Fund.

NEED TO KNOW: Rockets and Blue Lights is at the National Theatre from 25 August to 9 Oct 2021