The Red Lion

A new version of Patrick Marber's football drama

The secret world of the lower league football clubs comes to light this winter season at the Trafalgar Studios. Patrick Marber's poignant memory play takes a look at the changing room dramas and relationships, once the final whistle has blown. Originally premiering in 2015 at the National Theatre, it was reworked in Newcastle in early 2017, it starred Stephen Tompkinson (Spamalot, Wild At Heart), John Bolwer (Operation Elvis,) and Dean Bone (Vera), who will return for this West End transfer.

Set in Tyneside, the action takes place in the changing rooms of a semi-professional football team, and explores three members' contrasting ideas about team loyalty, personal ambition and the will to win through the eyes of three different generations. At the centre of the drama is a promising young player, who has suffered from both a turbulent early life and a troubling Achilles heel injury, which threatens his career. He is taken under the wing of an old legend of the "Lions", who has been retained as the club's kitman, as well as a wheeling-dealing manager, who appears to value the club's performance over the well-being of his players.