The Truth
Warnings: Not suitable for those aged under 12.
Audio described performance: 22nd July 2026 at 8pm
Signed performance: 30th July 2026 at 8pm
Alice is married to Paul. Paul’s best friend is Michel. Michel is having an affair with Alice. Michel’s wife is suspicious.
Stephen Mangan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Sarah Hadland and Janie Dee star in Florian Zeller’s comedy. Casting details are given for information only. Theatremonkey.com cannot be responsible for the non-appearance of any performer.
(seen at the afternoon preview performance on 17th July 2026)
Opening appropriately at the start of the London tennis season, this comedy is a constant fast rally of balls in the air – two of them belonging to Michel (Stephen Mangan).
Perpetually “in the right,” ‘woebegone’ oozes insufferably from every pore. Rubber cheeks and bulging eyes, wounded and offended at every turn, he defends his baseline like John McEnroe - with considerably less success.
Wife Laurence (Janie Dee) is his Navratilova. Returning everything with knowing inscrutability. Their first scene is Duce, their final one a cross-court smash.
Other couple, Alice (Sarah Hadland) and Paul (Ardal O’Hanlon) match them when taking to centre court. Hadland’s ‘Williams Twins’ style combines professionalism and passion, outsmarting her lovers at every turn - while practising the medicine she loves.
O’Hanlon is pure entertainment, the Jimmy Connors of the outfit. His scene with Mangan is the first time the monkey has laughed this heartily in a theatre since “The Play That Goes Wrong.” And that is the highest compliment.
Christopher Hampton translates Florian Zeller’s work leaving the Frenchness intact. He adds a little British Cooney-style farcical timing and a dash of “Carry On” lasciviousness, without which no tale of marital infidelity is complete on this prurient little island.
Director Lindsay Posner lets the excellent text carry the piece, never over-working the cast to bring out meaning which does not exist. They all know exactly how thick to spread themselves over each sequence, leaving not a corner uncovered.
Lizzie Clachan impresses with a bland-coloured sliding wall design, anchored by two items of furniture. Highly inventive, it is of course two different hotel rooms (you have to see it) and the stage managers work impressively hard to keep up with the shelving (again...).
Likewise, Richard Howell captures the twilight of a hotel room in daytime as well as a tennis changing room and airy Parisian homes.
Only Adam Cork struggles with the sound design, phone and vending machine effects sadly emerging from the wrong places entirely. Probably fixable in late previews, hopes the monkey.
The same cannot be said of characters’ morals in this play. Generating end to end sophisticated strawberries-and-cream laughs, the sudden deluge changing the course of play is as unexpected as it is exquisitely crafted. Shocking to exactly the right degree.
Crisp comedic perfection, for thinking adults, by thinking adults. The full-bodied, fruity one to toast the West End with this summer.
The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.
| Run Time: | 1 hour 30 minutes with no interval |
| Monday: | 8pm |
| Tuesday: | 8pm |
| Wednesday: | 3pm, 8pm |
| Thursday: | 8pm |
| Friday: | 8pm |
| Saturday: | 3pm, 8pm |
| Sunday: | X |
Venue Box Office & Current Prices
0330 333 4809Venue box office details and show price charts are available on the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue page.
Ticketpipe
Ticketpipe has 2 deals available:LoveTheatre.com
Lovetheatre.com. Charge around 10% booking fee per ticket. They are owned by Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and often have good deals on shows at ATG venues.
See Tickets
See Tickets. Charge around 10% booking fee per ticket, plus £2.75 per booking (not per ticket) postal charge. They are owned by ticketing group Eventim.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster.co.uk. Charge around 8% to 10% booking fee per ticket. Handling fees may also be added. This is the largest ticketing agency worldwide.
TodayTix
TodayTix. Charge between 10% and 20% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are often available as this is a large global ticketing company with this specific aim.
London Theatre Direct
Londontheatredirect.com. Charge between 10% and 25% booking fee per ticket. Discounts are frequently available. Part of Trafalgar Theatre Group, known for customer service and unique offers.
Address: Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1V 7HD
Box Office: 0330 333 4809
More details: Seats to buy or avoid at this venue plus travel information and other details can be found on the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue page
