Gillian Anderson and Billy Crudup to star in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at @sohoplace
Sonia Friedman Productions, in association with Nica Burns, has announced a new West End production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, opening at @sohoplace on 21 September 2026.
The production will star Gillian Anderson as Martha and Billy Crudup as George, alongside Josh Dylan as Nick and Phoebe Horn as Honey. It is directed by Marianne Elliott, with performances running until 19 December 2026.
Staged in the round, the production places audiences inside the volatile relationship at the centre of Albee’s play, drawing spectators directly into the emotional and psychological battleground between its characters.
Set in the early hours on an American college campus, the play follows Martha and George as they invite a younger couple, Nick and Honey, back to their home after a faculty party. As the night wears on and alcohol flows, what begins as polite conversation spirals into a series of increasingly vicious games, exposing illusions, resentments and long-buried truths.
Described by Anderson as a character who has “built a persona to survive the emotional battlefield,” Martha remains one of theatre’s most demanding roles — ferocious, volatile and darkly comic.
Director Marianne Elliott calls the play “brutal, witty, and deeply human,” highlighting its exploration of love, illusion and survival.
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This marks the first American classic to be staged at @sohoplace, the West End’s first new-build theatre in 50 years. Designed as an in-the-round venue, it offers an unusually intimate setting for a play known for its emotional intensity.
Producer Sonia Friedman describes the work as “raw, ferociously funny and devastating,” while Nica Burns emphasises the “up close and personal” experience created by the theatre’s configuration.
Cast and creatives
The production brings together a high-profile cast with extensive stage and screen credits:
- Gillian Anderson (Martha), known for The X-Files, The Crown and Sex Education, as well as acclaimed stage performances including A Streetcar Named Desire
- Billy Crudup (George), Emmy Award-winning actor for The Morning Show, with a distinguished career across film, television and theatre
- Josh Dylan (Nick), whose credits include The Buccaneers and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
- Phoebe Horn (Honey), recently seen in The Motive and the Cue and Call the Midwife
The creative team includes:
- Marianne Elliott (Director)
- Miriam Buether (Set Designer)
- James Farncombe (Lighting Designer)
- Ian Dickinson (Sound Designer)
- Jim Carnahan CSA (Casting Director)
Venue: @sohoplace
4 Soho Place, Charing Cross Road, London W1D 3BG
Dates: 21 September – 19 December 2026
Tickets: From £25
Booking: sohoplace.org | 0330 333 5961
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
