The Score

Brian Cox Stars

Multi-award winning stage and film star Brian Cox (Succession) stars in Oliver Cotton's new play The Score, transferring to the West End following a successful run at Theatre Royal Bath in 2023. Directed by Trevor Nunn (Les Miserables), Cox portrays the legendary genius of composer Johann Sebastian Bach, as he finds himself in a fateful encounter with the King of Prussia, Frederick II.

The Score is the latest in writer Cotton's rich and varied career, whose writing credits include Scrabble at the National Theatre and The Enoch Show at the Royal Court. Re-enlisting Cox for the transfer was a no-brainer, with the multiple BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy and Olivier Award winner praised by the Guardian in the original run for his ability to transfer between light and dark with the character. Storied former National Theatre and RSC artistic director Trevor Nunn rounds out the creative team, with the cast also including Nicole Ansari-Cox, Matthew Burns, Dona Croll, Peter de Jersey and Stephen Hagan.

What Is The Story?

The Score is a gripping historical drama set in the spring of 1747 at the court of Frederick II of Prussia. The revered composer JS Bach is devoutly Christian, introspective and anti-war, while Frederick is a ruthless militant ruler steeped in Enlightenment ideals. But Frederick admires Bach's genius and presents him with a fiendish musical puzzle. What begins as a fiery clash of minds soon escalates into a series of events which will challenge both men and the worlds they represent, leading to one of the most important pieces of music in history.