About the Show

In Simon Godwin's staging of Shakespeare's tragedy, the role of is Timon re-gendered as female and played by Olivier Award winner Kathryn Hunter.

From the show:

Kathryn Hunter, the internationally recognized Olivier Award winner, plays the role of Timon re-gendered as female. Celebrated as “astonishing,” her performance was first seen in a 2018 production at the Royal Shakespeare Company, directed by Simon Godwin. Ms. Hunter, memorable as Puck in TFANA’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Julie Taymor, has also been acclaimed as King Lear, Juliet, Cleopatra, and Richard III.

Timon of Athens is a play for our times. Hilarious, satiric, and deeply moving, the play explores ingratitude, wealth, and what determines self-worth. Timon lives in a world of opulence, throwing wild parties and lavishing gifts on her friends. But, when Timon suddenly loses her fortune, almost everyone abandons her. Timon retreats to a forest, exchanging luxurious gowns for sackcloth, in a powerful journey of self-discovery.

Timon of Athens is a co-production of Theatre for a New Audience and Shakespeare Theatre Company in association with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Critic Reviews (11)

"Shakespeare’s ‘Timon’ Gets an Occupy Athens Makeover: Kathryn Hunter stars as the fabulously rich Greek who understands the corrupting value of money only after she loses it."
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"A 'Timon of Athens' for the Age of Peter Thiel"
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"Contemplating Two Philosophical Extremes in Timon of Athens: Kathryn Hunter stars in Simon Godwin's new production of a lesser-known Shakespeare play at Theatre for a New Audience."
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"The world of 'Timon of Athens' is one of false glitter -- illusory wealth, faithless friends, and social status that evaporates overnight -- but, at TFANA, the play has a solid-gold centerpiece named Kathryn Hunter."
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3/5 Stars. "An opportunity to experience Timon of Athens in a smartly revised version that's staged and performed with unusual distinction. It's worth the trip to Brooklyn."
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4/5 Stars. "Shakespeare's rarely produced tale of a big-hearted spendthrift gets a powerful production with a first-rate female Timon."
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"Very entertaining both in its visual spectacle and high style. The play may not be up to Shakespeare's usual standard of poetry and psychology, but director Simon Godwin has shown how to make it work for a modern audience. Kudos to all involved in this revelatory production."
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"Instead of revealing the fun in 'Timon of Athens,' Godwin more frequently reinforces the sense that this is a work resistant not only to playfulness but probably to performance."
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Cast and creative team

Theatre for a New Audience

Royal Shakespeare Company

Producer