About the Show

Ivo van Hove directs this stage adaptation of the bestselling novel by Hanya Yanagihara.

'A Little Life' follows the trials and tribulations of four college friends in New York City: aspiring actor Willem, architect Malcolm, struggling artist JB, and successful lawyer Jude. As ambition, addiction, and pride threaten to push them all apart, the group finds itself bound together by the love they have for Jude and the mysteries of his past. But when Jude's secrets come to the surface, they finally learn the limitless potential that love has over the turmoil of life.

Starring James Norton ('Happy Valley'), Luke Thompson ('Bridgerton'), Omari Douglas ('Cabaret', 'Constellations'), Zach Wyatt ('The Witcher'), Elliot Cowan ('2:22 A Ghost Story'), Zubin Varla ('Tammy Faye'), Nathalie Armin ('The Doctor'), and Emilio Doorgasingh ('Best of Enemies').

Critic Reviews (13)

For a previous production

"The play it's certain to divide both audiences and critics: its effect ultimately depends on what one looks for. It's only a shadow of the book, but, realistically, this is probably the best adaptation fans and sceptics will get.”
Read more

For a previous production

“What comes out of ‘A Little Life’ is not the excessive trauma and graphic abuse, but rather, how amid these terrors, the characters remain steadfast in their dedication to one another, searching for common ground and belonging even while struggling with trust and intimacy.”
Read more

For a previous production

“...’A Little Life,’ it can change you. Whoever you are as you approach the Harold Pinter Theatre, you’ll leave someone else, having seen and heard things that can never be unseen or unheard...Here, we assure you, there isn’t an ounce of exaggeration.”
Read more

For a previous production

“I can’t help but think ‘A Little Life’ is probably essentially meaningless, a horrible story told for the thrill of telling a horrible story, its nihilism ultimately sophomoric and unserious. Brilliant acting, great direction, but at heart it’s simply an empty vision of despair.”
Read more

For a previous production

“...here’s my content warning: the exposition-heavy script is as overstated as the accompanying string music – a little less of it, in fact a lot less of it, would help.”
Read more

For a previous production

“Yanagihara’s perspective seems to be that abuse messes you up for life, making emotional intimacy almost impossible and suicide the only way out...Real-life suffering is more complex, interspersed with moments of joy, care and healing – and recovery is too precious to give up on.”
Read more

For a previous production

“I felt I had witnessed a terrible, truthful depiction of the ongoing effects of mankind’s capacity for cruelty. I still wondered why I would want to delve so deep, but there is no doubting the production’s power – or the belief and excellence of all the actors.”
Read more

For a previous production

“I still can’t decide if ‘A Little Life’ is a work of great empathy, great voyeurism or some conflation of the two. But it’s been staged here with consummate skill and Norton’s astonishing performance puts him into the top rank.”
Read more

Trailer

Creative team

Ivo van Hove

Writer / Director

Hanya Yanagihara

Author of Original Book

James Norton

Jude

Omari Douglas