Woman in Mind tickets
About Woman in Mind
Don’t miss Woman in Mind, Alan Ayckbourn’s darkly comedic psychological drama, as it returns to the West End in a powerful revival starring two-time Olivier Award winner Sheridan Smith. Book Woman in Mind tickets on TodayTix.
Woman in Mind is a play about a woman named Susan, who seems to be living a quiet, ordinary life until a minor accident in her garden fractures reality as she knows it. Upon awakening from a state of unconsciousness, Susan is stuck between two worlds. One is real, bleak, and emotionally distant; the other is idealised, filled with love, and entirely a figment of her imagination.
As these realities begin to collide dangerously, Susan has a hard time discerning what is real and what isn’t, giving way to something deeply unsettling.
Directed by Michael Longhurst, this revival is where sharp wit and emotional depth come together. Woman in Mind is an excellent exploration of identity and the desire to run from the beds we’ve made ourselves.
Run time
2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
Categories
Age
Ages 12+
Start date
9th December, 2025
End date
28th February, 2026
Stars on stage
Sheridan Smith
Romesh Ranganathan
Woman in Mind cast and creative team
By: Alan Ayckbourn
Director: Michael Longhurst
Cast list: Sheridan Smith
Romesh Ranganathan
Louise Brealey
Tim McMullan
Sule Rimi
Chris Jenks
Safia Oakley-Green
Taylor Uttley
Katie Buchholz
Michael Woolfitt
Venue
Directions
Location: West End
Railway station: Charing Cross
Bus numbers: (Charing Cross Road) 24, 29, 176; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139
Night bus numbers: (Charing Cross Road) 24, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41, N279; (Strand) 6, 23, 139, N9, N15, N11, N13, N21, N26, N44, N47, N87, N89, N91, N155, N343, N551
Car park: Chinatown (5mins)
Directions from tube: (5mins) Take Charing Cross Road to St Martin’s Court, head down until the end and then take a right onto St Martin’s Lane until you reach the theatre on your right.
More information about Woman in Mind
First staged in 1985, Woman in Mind is one of Alan Ayckbourn’s most daring and complex plays. Expertly blending humour with emotional intimacy, it offers a terrifying picture of a woman’s retreat into her own mind as her real world becomes too unbearable to survive.
This revival places Susan’s mind at the centre stage, allowing audiences to experience her twisted realities in real time. Moments of absurd comedy live alongside flashes of true heartache, creating a show that is as funny as it is devastating.
Woman in Mind in London boasts a formidable cast. Alongside Sheridan Smith is Romesh Ranganathan in his West End debut, as well as Louise Brealey, Tim McMullan, Sule Rimi, Chris Jenks, Safia Oakley-Green, Taylor Uttley, Katie Buchholz, and Michael Woolfitt. Also showcased is a masterful creative team, including set and costume designer Soutra Gilmour, lighting designer Lee Curran, and sound designer Paul Arditti.
This production is bold and contemporary, stripping the play back to its core to reveal just how easily our fantasies can become a source of joy and pain.
What to watch for
- Woman in Mind had its American premiere in New York in 1988, directed by Lynne Meadow.
- Most of Ayckbourn’s plays were finished the day before rehearsals began. Woman in Mind was unique in that it was finished a week earlier than anticipated.
- Woman in Mind was Ayckbourn’s first play to use first-person narration and a subjective point of view.
- Sheridan Smith won two Olivier awards, one for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Legally Blonde, and the other for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her role in Flare Path.
Frequently asked questions
What is Woman in Mind about?
Don’t miss Olivier Award-winning Sheridan Smith as she stars in Woman in Mind, Alan Ayckbourn’s funny psychological drama about a woman slipping between the cracks of two very different realities.
How do you get tickets for Woman in Mind?
Check the top of this page for current availability on Woman in Mind tickets on TodayTix.
What is the running time of Woman in Mind?
Woman in Mind runs for 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 interval.
Which theatre is Woman in Mind at?
Woman in Mind is at London's Duke of York's Theatre, which is located at 104 St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4BG.
What is the age recommendation for Woman in Mind?
Ages 12+
How much are tickets for Woman in Mind?
Woman in Mind tickets start at £18.
Who wrote Woman in Mind?
Alan Ayckbourn is the writer.
Who directed Woman in Mind?
Michael Longhurst is the director.
Is Woman in Mind appropriate for kids?
This play is most appropriate for those ages 12 and older.
Is Woman in Mind good?
Woman in Mind is as witty as it is unsettling. A truly gripping revival that balances its humour well with its psychological components, led by a remarkable cast and directed by the talented Michael Longhurst.
