The Young Vic Theatre is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tim Crouch’s innovative play An Oak Tree, with a special run from May 6–17, 2025. Presented by Francesca Moody Productions in association with the Young Vic, this unique theatrical experience features a different guest artist in every performance. Each guest artist—who will not have read or rehearsed the play beforehand—is revealed to the audience only on the night of their performance.
Among the first performers announced are Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Slow Horses), Michelle Terry (Henry V), Luke Thompson (A Little Life), Russell Tovey (American Horror Story: NYC), and Indira Varma (Obsession). Additional guest artists will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Written, performed, and co-directed by Crouch, An Oak Tree is a bold and deeply moving exploration of grief, suggestion, and the mind’s power. The story follows the encounter between a grieving father and a stage hypnotist—the man responsible for his daughter’s death. First staged in 2005, the play pioneered the concept of the “theatrical cold-read,” influencing a generation of theatermakers. Since its debut, it has been performed in 19 countries with over 350 guest artists, including Frances McDormand, Geoffrey Rush, Sharon D. Clarke, and Peter Dinklage.
Reflecting on the play’s enduring impact, Crouch remarked, “An Oak Tree began as an experiment 20 years ago in a small room above a pub. The play has continued to evolve, traveling across the globe, and every performance is as thrilling and unpredictable as the first.”
This anniversary run marks a homecoming for the play and promises to be a highlight of the Young Vic’s 2025 season. Nadia Fall, the Young Vic’s new Artistic Director, will unveil the rest of the theater’s program later this spring.
Tickets for An Oak Tree are now available to Young Vic members, with public booking opening on January 27, 2025. Accessible performances include BSL, captioned, and relaxed options on select dates. For tickets and more information, visit www.youngvic.org.
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