Olivier Winner Rebecca Frecknall Takes On Sarah Kane's Masterpiece At The Almeida

Olivier Award winning director Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Klub) takes the helm for a new production of Sarah Kane's brutal masterwork, premiering at the Almeida Theatre in summer 2026. As part of Rupert Goold's final season at the Almeida, this rare staging of Cleansed promises to be a cathartic and unforgettable experience.

What Is The Story?

In an institution filled with society's "undesirables", a varied group of inmates are kept under the watchful eye of the cruel and unpredictable Tinker. The inmates try desperately to cling onto the love in their lives from the outside world, while Tinker's tyrannical rule threatens to destroy them. Sarah Kane's seminal work is a violent, brutal examination of love, gender and desire which absolutely refuses to pull any punches. Since its initial run in 1998, it has gained a deep appreciation and is considered a cornerstone of British theatre.