A Story Of Dreams, Ambition And Family

Remember the largest bankruptcy filing in US history? The one that some say instigated the global financial crisis of the late-2000's? That was the fall of the once mighty Lehman Brothers' financial conglomerate, and on the National Theatre Lyttleton stage this season, The Lehman Trilogy will tell their story spanning 163 years. Shown in three parts over an evening, multi-award-winning director Sam Mendes leads an illustrious cast of Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles portraying the family Lehman over three generations.

Following playwright Stefano Massini's The Lehman Trilogy debuting in Milan in 2015, Mendes began planning an English adaptation of the epic drama. Ben Power was tasked with creating a new version of the play from a literal translation by Mirella Cheeseman, and the Neal Street Productions and National Theatre co-production was born.

What Is The Lehman Trilogy About?

A show depicting the successes and failures of three generations of Lehmans, beginning with Henry, Emanuel and Mayer, who came from Bavaria and settled in Alabama to make their fortune. The immigrant brothers and their descendants live a story of capitalism; they grapple with a rapidly changing society - one in demand of cotton, coffee and railways, to cigarettes, televisions and oil, navigating all the way up to their legacy's collapse into bankruptcy. The saga of the Lehman brothers is a glimpse into the American dream; a fresh start in a country where anyone willing to demonstrate talent and inventiveness can have it all, but also in which over only a few turns can reverse fortunes and destinies. It charts the transformation of a family's identity, and with the trilogy staged over an extended period of history, it may well entice you to reflect on your own connections to the past.