Grenfell: in the words of survivors
a new play by Gillian Slovo
Booking and details
It was my safest place. It was home.
A powerful new verbatim play from the testimony of residents at the heart of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Six years on, interviews conducted with a group of survivors and bereaved reveal the impact of the multiple failures that led to a national disaster, asking: how do we stop this ever happening again?
Created from these interviews by Gillian Slovo (Another World: Losing our Children to Islamic State), the play is co-directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy) and Anthony Simpson-Pike (The P Word).
Startling and deeply moving, it explores the courage and resilience of an ill-treated community and their continued campaign for justice.
Grenfell: in the words of survivors is part of a multi-year programme of National Theatre creative activity in North Kensington, delivered in collaboration with local community organisations.
Performed 13 July — 26 August 2023 in the Dorfman Theatre.
★★★★★
‘desperately moving and deeply enraging’
Financial Times
★★★★
‘a powerful production that gives the residents a voice’
Telegraph
Q&A
How have survivors and bereaved families been involved in making the play?
This is a verbatim play made directly from the words of some survivors and bereaved of the Grenfell tragedy. Over the course of several years, playwright Gillian Slovo has been interviewing people about the impact of the tragedy. Gillian Slovo remains in direct contact with everyone who shared their experiences, and all were invited to a reading of the play during its development. The National Theatre’s Welfare Team have worked with Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service to provide care and support.
Over the last 12 months the National Theatre has consulted with a wide range of organisations based in North Kensington, including community and youth groups, cultural organisations and educational institutions. We have established an advisory group, made up of survivors and bereaved, and community leaders, who we have consulted about the production and wider project, and who will continue to meet over the coming months.
Will the National Theatre be making a profit from this play?
The National Theatre, a registered charity, is investing in both the production of this play and the community programme delivered in partnership with local organisations. We will not be making any profit from this work. We believe this is an important story of national significance that deserves to be told on a national stage.
How are you working with the North Kensington community?
The National Theatre will work with community-based organisations including Latimer Community Art Therapy (LCAT), Our Power Hub, Youth Action Alliance and others. This includes workshops, free tickets for NT productions, paid long and short-term work placements, collaboration on creative projects and learning programmes in local schools for people who live, work, socialise or study in North Kensington.
If you are interested in hearing more about these placements, please contact thenorthkensingtonproject@nationaltheatre.org.uk
What welfare support is in place for survivors and bereaved?
Welfare is paramount to this project.
The National Theatre’s Welfare Team are working with Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service to ensure a coordinated approach to providing the care needed when working with the North Kensington community. We are working with therapists who are supporting the survivors and bereaved, as well as the creative team, the cast and all those involved in the play.
We are grateful to Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service for their guidance and continued presence throughout the project.
Suitability
Please note: This production does not include images or depictions of smoke or fire. The production does contain adult themes and describes the experiences of the night of the Grenfell Tower fire, which some people may find upsetting.
For further details on the synopsis and self-care practices, please download our Self-Care Guide.
The Self-Care Guide is also available to download in Arabic and Farsi.
For further information on the welfare support available for audience members, please see our Q&As above.
Supporters
Our community engagement programme in North Kensington is generously supported by John Lyon’s Charity.
Grenfell: in the words of survivors is supported by the Arete Foundation, who support the National Theatre to make work that is ambitious and socially relevant.
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
Cast includes
Joe Alessi
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Gaz Choudhry
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Jackie Clune
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Houda Echouafni
For the National Theatre: Grenfell: in the words of survivors and The Boy with Two Hearts
Keaton Guimarães-Tolley
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Ash Hunter
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors, Wuthering Heights and Light Shining in Buckinghamshire
Pearl Mackie
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Rachid Sabitri
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors and Rafta Rafta (also at the Old Globe, San Diego and on UK tour)
Michael Shaeffer
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Grenfell: in the words of survivors, London Road, Table and The Threepenny Opera
Sarah Slimani
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité and Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Nahel Tzegai
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors
Lisa Zahra
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors, The Boy with Two Hearts and Macbeth
Production team
Writer
Gillian Slovo
Gillian Slovo
Gillian Slovo is a novelist, journalist and memoirist. Born in South Africa, she has lived in England since 1964.
Co-Director
Phyllida Lloyd
Phyllida Lloyd
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors,The Way of the World, Pericles, What the Butler Saw, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Duchess of Malfi
Co-Director
Anthony Simpson-Pike
Anthony Simpson-Pike
Anthony Simpson-Pike is a director, dramaturg and writer.
Set and Costume Designer
Georgia Lowe
Georgia Lowe
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors, All of Us, Dick Wittington, Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear – the Musical!, An Octoroon (also Orange Tree) and Pomona (also at the Orange Tree and and Royal Exchange, Manchester)
Lighting Designer
Azusa Ono
Azusa Ono
Azusa Ono has been creating lighting design for a range of live performances and art forms for 20 years.
Sound Designer
Donato Wharton
Donato Wharton
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Grenfell: in the words of survivors (also St. Ann’s Warehouse, New York), Under Milk Wood, Middle and Three Sisters
Composer
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell is the Musical Director of the House and Garage Orchestra.
Additional Music
Brain Rays
Brain Rays
Video Designer
Akhila Krishnan
Akhila Krishnan
Akhila Krishnan is an award-winning projection designer and creative director for moving image and immersive technology.
Movement Director
Chi-San Howard
Chi-San Howard
For the National: Grenfell: in the words of survivors and Variations for National Theatre Connections.
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Alastair Coomer CDG
For the National Theatre: over 50 productions including The Grapes of Wrath, Mnemonic (2024), Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, Othello, The Crucible (also West End), Blues for an Alabama Sky, The Corn is Green, The Normal Heart, The Welkin, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Mosquitoes, This House, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, One Man, Two Guvnors and War Horse
Casting Director
Voice and Dialect Coach
Hazel Holder
Hazel Holder
For the National Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath, The Hot Wing King, Death of England: Closing Time, The Effect, Grenfell: in the words of survivors, Trouble in Mind, The Crucible, Death of England: Delroy, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Rockets and Blue Lights, Death of England, Small Island, Nine Night, Barber Shop Chronicles, Angels in America, Les Blancs and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Wellbeing Practitioner
Staff Director
Film created in collaboration with TEA films