What Did London Critics Think of Downstate at the National Theatre? | Playbill

The Verdict What Did London Critics Think of Downstate at the National Theatre? The Bruce Norris play opened in the U.K. March 20 following a world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
Francis Guinan and K. Todd Freeman Michael Brosilow

Bruce Norris' Downstate made its U.K. debut March 20, officially opening at London's National Theatre. The Pam MacKinnon staging is a co-production with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, where the play premeired last year.

MacKinnon and Norris reunite after collaborating on Clybourne Park. The new play follows four men living in an Illinois group home—each convicted of sex crimes against minors.

The ensemble of American and British actors includes Glenn Davis, K. Todd Freeman, Francis Guinan, Tim Hopper, Elyakeem Avraham, Maura Kidwell, Cecilia Noble, Eddie Torres, Nate Whelden, Aimee Lou Wood, and Matilda Ziegler.

Read reviews for the London bow below.

The Evening Standard (Henry Hitchings)

The Guardian (Michael Billington)

Independent (Paul Taylor)

Londonist (Johnny Fox)

LondonTheatre.co.uk (Mark Shenton)

The Stage (Tim Bano)

The Telegraph (Ben Lawrence)

Time Out London (Andrzej Lukowski)

The Times (Ann Treneman)

The production features sets by Todd Rosenthal, costumes by Clint Ramos, and lighting design by Adam Silverman.

Performances will run through April 27 at the National's Dorfman Theatre.

 
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