Man and Boy tickets
About Man and Boy
Don’t miss Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy as it returns in a major reimagining directed by Anthony Lau (The Crucible) in his National Theatre debut, led by Ben Daniels (The Normal Heart) and Laurie Kynaston (Long Day’s Journey into Night) as a fractured father-son duo. Book Man and Boy tickets on TodayTix.
Set in New York City in the 1930’s during the Great Depression, Man and Boy is a play that follows the powerful financier Gregor Antonescu as he navigates the catastrophic fallout of a deal gone wrong, threatening to destroy everything he has built.
This disaster sends him running to his estranged son, Basil’s apartment. What unfolds from there is what could only be called a reckoning, as family once more turns into leverage and survival comes at the worst cost. It’s incredibly tense but brilliantly elegant as it touches on what damage ambition can leave behind.
Audiences can anticipate sharp dialogue as panic rises and Gregor’s collapsing empire threatens to suffocate him beneath the rubble.
Venue
Categories
Start date
30th January, 2026
End date
14th March, 2026
Man and Boy cast and creative team
By: Terence Rattigan
Director: Anthony Lau
Cast list: Ben Daniels, Laurie Kynaston, Phoebe Campbell, Nick Fletcher, Isabella Laughland, Malcolm Sinclair, Leo Wan
Venue
Dorfman Theatre
Directions
Location: National
Railway station: Waterloo
Bus numbers: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68
Car park: National Theatre basement, accessed from Upper Ground Opening times: 6am to 12 midnight (Mon – Fri) and 7am to 12 midnight (Sat and Sun)
Directions from tube: The National Theatre is on the South Bank, just minutes from Covent Garden, the West End and Waterloo. The main entrance is on the riverside walkway.
More information about Man and Boy
Man and Boy in London is one of Rattigan’s more provocative plays. It is strikingly contemporary in its view of money not being the sum total of happiness; a story not only about financial collapse but also about what it reveals when one loses everything they fought so hard to build for themselves. When Gregor is cornered, he instinctively returns to a hunger for control, using his closest relationship in the same way he used finances, to his benefit, treating others as instruments rather than loved ones.
This relationship between father and son is what gives this play its beating heart. Basil is not merely a refuge to his father, but a reminder of just what Gregor’s success cost him. Anthony Lau’s production leans heavily into its source material’s intimacy, sharpening each conversation and the silence between them.
This incredible production boasts a masterful cast, including Ben Daniels, Laurie Kynaston, Phoebe Campbell, Nick Fletcher, Isabella Laughland, Malcolm Sinclair, and Leo Wan, creating an intimate, beautiful night at the theatre you must experience for yourself.
What to watch for
- Man and Boy was poorly received in 1963, and only received great acclaim during its revival in 2005.
- There was an Australian premiere of the show in Perth in June 2007.
- Man and Boy received a Tony nomination in 2011 for Best Actor in a Play.
- The character of Gregor Antonescu was based on both Ivar Kreuger, the Swedish Match King, and Samuel Insull, the Anglo-American investor.
Frequently asked questions
What is Man and Boy about?
Don’t miss Man and Boy, an incredibly intelligent and beautifully written play by Terence Rattigan. Directed by Anthony Lau in his National Theatre debut, and led by Ben Daniels and Laurie Kynaston.
How do you get tickets for Man and Boy?
Check the top of this page for current availability on Man and Boy tickets on TodayTix.
Which theatre is Man and Boy at?
Man and Boy is at London's Dorfman Theatre, which is located at National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX.
How much are tickets for Man and Boy?
Man and Boy tickets start at £51.
Who wrote Man and Boy?
Terence Rattigan wrote the play.
Who directed Man and Boy?
Anthony Lau stages the show.
Is Man and Boy appropriate for kids?
While there is no age guideline for this production be advised that Man and Boy shows depictions of substance abuse and references suicide. It also mentions child abuse and neglect.
Is Man and Boy good?
This reimagining of Man and Boy makes a seldom-seen Rattigan play feel urgent, compelling, and strikingly modern. It promises to deliver a picture of the stark realities of family relationships, as well as the rot that can come from putting finances above those you love.
