Till the Stars Come Down
a new play by Beth Steel
Booking and details
Everyone loves a wedding…
It’s Sylvia and Marek’s wedding and you are all invited.
Over the course of a hot summer’s day, a family gathers to welcome a newcomer into their midst. But as the vodka flows and dances are shared, passions boil over and the limits of love are tested.
What happens when the happiest day of your life opens the door to a new, frightening and uncertain future?
Directed by Bijan Sheibani (A Taste of Honey, Barber Shop Chronicles), this new play by former National Theatre writer-in-residence Beth Steel (The House of Shades) is a passionate, heartbreaking and hilarious portrayal of a larger-than-life family struggling to come to terms with a changing world.
Performed 24 January — 16 March 2024 in the Dorfman Theatre.
‘Sears and scintillates’
The Stage
Nominated for two Olivier Awards 2024 including:
- Best New Play
- Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Lorraine Ashbourne
Video
Gallery
Production images
Suitability
Please note: This production features loud noises, flash pyrotechnics, strobe effects, haze, strong language, themes of racism and xenophobia, reference to suicide, scenes of a sexual nature and depictions of mild violence. More advice and guidance.
Cast
Lorraine Ashbourne
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down and Three Sisters
Lucy Black
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down, Top Girls, 3 Winters and Children of the Sun
Lisa McGrillis
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down and The Pitmen Painters (also Broadway)
Sinéad Matthews
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down, The Antipodes, Absolute Hell, Hedda Gabler, Evening at the Talk House, Blurred Lines, Our Class, The Women of Troy and The Mandate
Derek Riddell
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down
Ruby Stokes
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down
Philip Whitchurch
For the National Theatre: Boys from the Blackstuff (also Liverpool’s Royal Court and Garrick), Till the Stars Come Down, Summerfolk and Women of Troy
Alan Williams
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down, Faith, Hope and Charity (for A Zeldin Company), As You Like It, Here We Go, Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour and War Horse (also West End)
Marc Wootton
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down and Season’s Greetings
The role of Sarah is played by:
Bodhi Rae Breathnach
Till the Stars Come Down is Bodhi Rae Breathnach’s professional theatre debut. TV includes So Awkward and The Capture 2. Short films include Lurk and Weekend Dad.
Maggie Livermore
Till the Stars Come Down is Maggie Livermore’s professional theatre debut. Short films include In This Family.
Cadence Williams
Cadence Williams’ work in theatre includes The Crucible at the National Theatre. TV includes The Midwich Cuckoos and an untitled upcoming project. Short films include Walk Out.
Production team
Playwright
Director
Bijan Sheibani
Bijan Sheibani
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down, Barber Shop Chronicles, A Taste of Honey, The Kitchen, Emil and the Detectives, Romeo and Juliet and Our Class
Set and Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Paule Constable
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The Confessions, Dixon and Daughters, The Normal Heart, The Visit, or The Old Lady Comes to Call and The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Choreographer and Movement Director
Aline David
Aline David
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down, A Taste of Honey, Barber Shop Chronicles, Romeo and Juliet, Emil and the Detectives, Antigone, The Kitchen, Greenland and Our Class
Sound Designer
Gareth Fry
Gareth Fry
Recent National Theatre includes: Till the Stars Come Down, Barber Shop Chronicles, A Small Family Business and Othello
Fight Director
Kev McCurdy
Kev McCurdy
Recent National Theatre includes: Till the Stars Come Down, Othello, Antony & Cleopatra, An Octoroon and Network
Intimacy Director
Asha Jennings-Grant
Asha Jennings-Grant
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down
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
Children's Casting
Chloe Blake
Chloe Blake
Recent National Theatre includes: Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Jekyll and Hyde, Barrier(s), Hamlet for Young Audiences, The Effect and Blues for an Alabama Sky
Dialect Coach
Charmian Hoare
Charmian Hoare
Recent National Theatre includes: Underdog: The Other Other Brontë (also with Northern Stage), Till the Stars Come Down, The Motive and the Cue, The Lehman Trilogy (also West End), Jack Absolute Flies Again, Our Generation (also at Chichester)
Company Voice Work
Cathleen McCarron
Cathleen McCarron
For the National Theatre: Mnemonic (2024), a co-production with Complicité, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, The House of Bernarda Alba, The Confessions, Dear England, The Motive and the Cue, Death of England: Closing Time and Romeo and Julie
Company Voice Work
Tamsin Newlands
Tamsin Newlands
For the National Theatre: The Hot Wing King, Nye (also Wales Millennium Centre), Till the Stars Come Down, Jekyll & Hyde and The House of Bernarda Alba
Staff Director
Stepan Mysko von Schultze
Stepan Mysko von Schultze
For the National Theatre: Till the Stars Come Down
Latest What’s on Guide
What's on guide
Download a pdf of the latest guide (2MB)
Download a large print pdf version of the latest guide (4MB), with most images removed.
Photography (Marc Wootton and Sinead Matthews) by Simon Sorted.