Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Old Vic’s ‘Arcadia’ Revival Draws Acclaim as a Poignant Salute to Tom Stoppard

Critics praise the in-the-round staging, with many saying the present-day timeline loses momentum.

Overview

  • Carrie Cracknell’s production at London’s Old Vic is widely hailed as a high-caliber revival of Tom Stoppard’s 1993 masterwork.
  • Reviews highlight Alex Eales’s revolving circular set with glowing ellipses and hanging orbs that visualize time and scientific ideas.
  • Performances by Isis Hainsworth as Thomasina and Seamus Dillane as Septimus earn strong notices, alongside Prasanna Puwanarajah, Leila Farzad, Angus Cooper and Fiona Button.
  • Several critics say the modern storyline centered on Bernard Nightingale proves less compelling, with pacing that sags against the 19th‑century scenes.
  • The run is scheduled through 21 March 2026, with Stoppard’s November 2025 death noted as deepening the play’s reflections on mortality and reputation.