In 1812 a scandal rocked the Croom household in Derbyshire. A sexual liaison, possibly involving Lord Byron, apparently ended in a fatal duel.
Two hundred years later, a pushy academic and a popular historian are trying to uncover the house’s true history.
Landscape gardening, Newtonian physics, classicism versus romanticism, and chaos theory are all part of this comic literary detective story, which is both an exuberant celebration of the unpredictability of love and sex, and a poignant study of change and decay.
Arcadia’s wit, elegance, and sheer exuberance have made it a modern classic. This Library Theatre production is playing to excellent reviews.
Arcadia Performances |
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| Thu 23 Sep | 7:15pm | Preview | All £10 | |
| Fri 24 Sep | 7:15pm | Press Night | £18 / £16 | |
| Sat 25 Sep | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 25 Sep | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Mon 27 Sep | 7:15pm | All £10 | ||
| Tue 28 Sep | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Wed 29 Sep | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Thu 30 Sep | 2:30pm | Weekday Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 30 Sep | 7:15pm | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | ||
| Fri 1 Oct | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Sat 2 Oct | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 2 Oct | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
| Mon 4 Oct | 7:15pm | All £10 | ||
| Tue 5 Oct | 7:15pm | Audio Described | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Wed 6 Oct | 7:15pm | Director's Pre-Show Talk | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 7 Oct | 2:30pm | Weekday Matinee | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Thu 7 Oct | 7:15pm | Signed Performance | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Fri 8 Oct | 7:15pm | Captioned Performance | £18 / £16 | |
| Sat 9 Oct | 2:30pm | Weekend Matinee, Audio Described, Director's Pre-Show Talk | £14 / £12 (£12 / £10) | |
| Sat 9 Oct | 7:15pm | £18 / £16 | ||
The Lowry
- Pier 8, Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, M50 3AZ
- Box Office: 0843 208 6010
The Lowry is our chosen venue for our main season plays whilst we are on the move. We are performing in the intimate setting of the Quays Theatre.
The Lowry is 10 minutes drive from Manchester City Centre, 20 minutes drive from Manchester Airport, and a quarter of a mile from the motorway network, giving access from all over the North West and beyond. It also has excellent public transport links and is situated in the centre of a vibrant shopping, eating and leisure destination.
Find out more about the getting to The Lowry here
This Library Company production is the first of several at the Lowry over the next four years, and talk about starting on a high… Every performer is well-drilled and every performance beautifully honed on a sumptuous, day-room set by Judith Croft.
This is a very polished and entertaining production of a really clever and thoughtful but accessible and funny play by Stoppard and is highly recommended. Chris Honer’s production is perfectly paced and very well performed.
… there’s no let-up in the quality of its work, with Chris Honer’s staging of Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard, the first production of the new era. The set is beautifully constructed (designed by Judith Croft), music and sound (Jon Nicholls) and lighting (James Whiteside) all work effectively, and the casting is top-notch.
Director Chris Honer and designer Judith Croft pull off the dual time-setting – a drawing room of an English country house in 1809 and current day – which would certainly have been a struggle in The Library Theatre’s former home.
Honer has gathered one of his strongest acting companies in recent years, with no weak member in the cast.
…this production of Tom Stoppard’s gloriously funny masterpiece is a total five-star-plus joyous night at the theatre… packed with verbal wit and intellectual games, every line a gem… Chris Honer has picked a totally perfect dozen as his cast and he deploys them with masterly aplomb. A superb drawing room set (designer Judith Croft)… exquisitely detailed costumes and perfect sound and light all help make this my best night at the theatre this year.
What should you get for a play that has everything? Such an easy question to answer: a Library Theatre production. This is a play that will move you, make you laugh and tickle your brain cells too. You will find this production to be well-nigh perfect. Perfectly acted, perfectly paced, perfectly realised overall.
I was left with the rare feeling that I must come and see this production again, not least because I think, like a fine wine, it will improve with age … the clarity (that) Chris Honer, cast and crew bring to this tale is breathtaking.
Library Theatre Company
The Cast
- Charlie Anson
- Septimus
- Peter Barich
- Brice
- Caroline Bartleet
- Chloe
- Alasdair Craig
- Valentine
- Felix Donaldson
- Gus / Augustus
- Emma Gregory
- Lady Croom
- Cate Hamer
- Hannah
- Richard Heap
- Noakes
- Beth Park
- Thomasina
- Joseph Shalom
- Gus / Augustus
- Leigh Symonds
- Chater
- James Wallace
- Bernard
- Christopher Wright
- Jellaby
Production Crew
- Chris Honer
- Director
- Judith Croft
- Designer
- Jon Nicholls
- Composer / Sound Designer
- James Whiteside
- Lighting Designer
- Elisa Amesbury
- Assistant Director
- Geoff Steer
- Dance
- Jamie Byron
- Company Stage Manager
- Rebecca Jenner
- Deputy Stage Manager
- Chris Booth
- Assistant Stage Manager
- Julie Williams
- Chaperone
Related News & Blog Posts
News: Arcadia gets rave reviews!
Arcadia by the Library Theatre, played at The Lowry recently to rave reviews. Read extracts here.… Read more
Press Release: Launch event at The Lowry
Today we launched our Moving Experience Campaign, our partnership with The Lowry and our latest production of Arcadia. Find out what happened here.… Read more
News: First day of rehearsals for Arcadia
It’s been a big day for us here at the Library Theatre as we’ve started rehearsing for Arcadia, our very first play at The Lowry. … Read more
Blog: Arcadia: Chaos Theory and props, slightly related!
I’m Becky and I am the Deputy Stage Manager on Arcadia. Here's an update about what is happening backstage in order to put on the first show of the new season.… Read more
Comments on Arcadia
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A witty and engaging play. The cast gave it their all. James Wallace ---What a blister!
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I brought a small group (12) to the matinee on Thursday. I thought your production was absolutely marvellous - casting and actors, set and direction were all superb. I felt distraught to learn that Thomasina died at 17 in a fire - so you can tell I was thoroughly caught up in the play! We all enjoyed it hugely. Thank you for all your hard work.
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I and 3 friends travelled over from Hull and what a treat. The set, lighting, acting were all superb. For us, James Wallace stole the show but we thought everyone was brilliant.
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Does anyone know any Arcadia production playing in England currently or in near future?
Thanks
We thoroughly enjoyed your first night - marvellous performances from all the cast. We are regular theatre-goers and think that this is the best play we have seen. Loved the transition from past to present via the leaf etc amongst a host of other things.
Regards