The celebrated movie epic is made over for the London stage

This brand-new work sees the celebrated movie by Ingmar Bergman translated to the London stage by Stephen Beresford, and directed by Max Webster. Focusing on two siblings whose idyllic family existence is shattered with the death of their father, the titular pair and their loving mother have a struggle for happiness when she is forced to marry a strict bishop. A touching portrayal of family upheaval and the sanctity of childhood.

What is it about?

Based in early Edwardianer-era Sweden, the theater-based Ekdahls family lead a happy-go-lucky existence until patriarch Oscar dies suddenly from a stroke. Desperate to secure her children a comfortable upbringing, the siblings' mother Emillie decides to marry a wealthy local bishop, Edvar at his palatial estate.

However when they move in, Emillie's dreams of carrying on her comfortable life are shattered when the bishop reveals his totalitarian nature; frequently punishing Alexander for his youthful high spirits. After locking the children into their nursery, Edvar's actions pushes Emillie to act; one night she spirits the children away from the house and hides them with friends for their safety, all the while planning their flight from his control.

Edvar, furious at her actions, threatens his new wife and her children, promising to trail them throughout their lives and refusing to divorce her. In one last desperate act, Emillie drugs him with sleeping pills, setting in course a series of events that will affect them all for the future..