Five theatres to stage Never Let Me Go

Published: 13 August 2024
Reporter: Steve Orme

The cast of Never Let Me Go

Rehearsals have begun for the adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go, a co-production which will be staged at five theatres over a two-month period.

Written by Suzanne Heathcote and directed by Christopher Haydon, Never Let Me Go is a Rose Theatre Kingston, Northampton Royal and Derngate, Malvern Theatres, Bristol Old Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre co-production.

Ishiguro said, “I’m filled with excitement by news of the upcoming production of Never Let Me Go. Suzanne Heathcote is a superb writer for both stage and screen. Christopher Haydon directed a beautiful adaptation of my The Remains of the Day in 2019. And the arrival of this new version of Never Let Me Go feels particularly well-timed.

“Its central question—how we find and hold onto love in a world ruled by out-of-control science and savage hierarchical structures—feels even more haunting today than when I wrote the novel 20 years ago. I look forward to discovering how this wonderfully talented team will re-imagine the story for the stage and for our time.”

Haydon added, “Never Let Me Go has been among my favourite novels since I first read it two decades ago. It’s an achingly beautiful story of how we maintain hope and continue to love in the face of a hostile world. It’s become one of the world’s best-loved novels and has all of the elements of a great piece of theatre.”

The cast features Amelie Abbott (Hannah and Chrissi), Susan Aderin (Miss Emily), Matilda Bailes (Ruth), Nell Barlow (Kathy), Maximus Evans (Philip), Angus Imrie (Tommy), Princess Khumalo (Laura), Emile Patry (Miss Lucy and Madame) and Tristan Waterson (Rodney and Alfie).

The creative team includes Tom Piper (set and costume designer), Ayse Tashkiran (movement director), Joshua Carr (lighting designer), Eamonn O’Dwyer (composer), Carolyn Downing (sound designer), Sam Jones CDG (casting director), Haruka Kuroda (fight director) and Emma Denson (assistant director).

Never Let Me Go will open at the Rose Theatre, Kingston from Friday 20 September until Saturday 12 October. Press night will be Wednesday 25 September.

It will then transfer to Royal and Derngate, Northampton from Wednesday 16 until Saturday 26 October, Malvern Theatres from Tuesday 29 October until Saturday 2 November, Bristol Old Vic from Tuesday 5 until Saturday 23 November and Chichester Festival Theatre from Tuesday 26 until Saturday 30 November.

Related listings

  • Never Let Me Go - Suzanne Heathcote, based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (Rose Original with Bristol Old Vic, Malvern Theatres, and Royal & Derngate, Northampton)

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