The National Theatre has released a first look at production images for its contemporary revival of Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy. This intense exploration of fatherhood, corruption, and the fragile ego of the "self-made man" is currently running in the Dorfman theatre until 14 March 2026.
A Modern Take on a Financial Thriller
Directed by Anthony Lau (The Crucible), making his highly anticipated National Theatre debut, the production reimagines Rattigan’s 1963 play for a modern audience. The story is set against the backdrop of 1930s New York City—an era of jazz, Broadway, and the brutal economic reality of the Great Depression.
The plot follows international financier Gregor Antonescu, a man whose empire is built on the philosophy that "in finance, man makes his own miracles." When a catastrophic business deal threatens to ripple across the globe, Antonescu's luck finally expires. In a desperate bid to save his reputation and prevent a total imperial collapse, he flees to the Greenwich Village apartment of his estranged son, Basil.
A Powerhouse Cast
Ben Daniels (The Normal Heart) leads the company as the ruthless Gregor, starring alongside Laurie Kynaston (Long Day’s Journey into Night) as his son, Basil Anthony. The production captures the high-stakes tension as truths are uncovered and the pair’s fractured relationship is weaponized for financial gain.
The ensemble cast features:
Phoebe Campbell as Carol Penn
Nick Fletcher as Sven Johnson
Isabella Laughland as Countess Antonescu
Malcolm Sinclair as Mark Herries
Leo Wan as David Beeston
Creative Vision
Lau is supported by a stellar creative team, including set and costume designer Georgia Lowe and lighting designer Elliot Griggs, who bring the claustrophobic tension of a Depression-era New York apartment to life. The production also features an original score by composer Angus MacRae.
Man and Boy holds its official press night on Tuesday 10 February 2026. Tickets are available now via the National Theatre website, with the limited run concluding in mid-March.
