Evenings 7.30pm
Matinees Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm
Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Fri 20 Oct — Sat 18 Nov
Ustinov Studio
Rosie Sheehy, Buffy Davis, Tim Frances
Machinal
- 20 October - 18 November
Event Information
★★★★★ “ONE OF THE GREAT THEATRE NIGHTS OF THE DECADE” WhatsOnStage
★★★★★ “Extraordinary, outstanding production. MAGNIFICENT” StageTalk Magazine
★★★★ “A MASTERPIECE” The Times
★★★★ “Rosie Sheehy cements her reputation as an astounding stage talent” Guardian
★★★★ "Rosie Sheehy is mesmerising. AN OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION" Daily Mail
★★★★ "Riveting" The Stage
★★★★ "Rosie Sheehy's bravura performance... the cast is first-rate... one of the best productions I've seen this year" Broadway World
Five time Olivier Award winning director Richard Jones brings Sophie Treadwell’s extraordinary epic masterpiece, based on the true story of the committal and execution of Ruth Snyder, to the intimate surrounding of the Ustinov Studio.
This provocative drama of the 1920s offers one of the greatest female roles in theatre – challenging, powerful, emotive and poignant – which has been portrayed by many renowned actresses of the British stage.
Machinal is based on a fascinating true story uncovered by Sophie Treadwell while working as a journalist in America between the wars. Among her assignments was the sensational case involving Ruth Snyder, who with her lover Judd Gray, had murdered her husband and been sent to the electric chair.
This fascinating case has inspired countless plays, movies, books and songs as diverse as Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity, The Postman Always Rings Twice, William March’s The Bad Seeds and Guns’n’Roses Use Your Illusion albums.
Rosie Sheehy recently starred in Oleanna which opened at the Ustinov Studio prior to a celebrated West End run, as well as in lead roles at the National Theatre and RSC. She is joined by a strong cast including Buffy Davis, Tim Frances, Sam Alexander, Daniel Abelson, Steven Beard, Daniel Bowerbank, Imogen Daines, Carla Harrison-Hodge Emilio Iannucci, Pierro Niel-Mee, and Wendy Nottingham.
Richard Jones has directed productions on some of London’s largest stages including the Coliseum and Royal Opera House. He now brings his unique talent for epic scale to the powerful intimacy of the Ustinov Studio, in what promises to be one of this year’s most memorable theatrical events.
Please note - this production features the use of strobe lighting
Age Guidance: 14+ (Contains adult themes)
Running time: Approx. 1 hour 50 mins with no interval
Friday 20 October - Saturday 18 November
Monday - Saturday 7.30pm
Matinees Thursday & Saturday 2.30pm
Press Night Tuesday 31 October 7pm
All tickets £38.50 / £28.50 discounts
Discounts apply to children, students in full-time education and members of the Theatre Royal Bath's access register.
A booking fee of £2.50 per ticket applies
Please note - this production features the use of strobe lighting
CAST
Rosie Sheehy - Young Woman
Tim Frances - Husband
Buffy Davis - Mother
Daniel Abelson, Sam Alexander, Steven Beard, Daniel Bowerbank, Imogen Daines, Carla Harrison-Hodge, Emilio Iannucci, Pierro Niel-Mee and Wendy Nottingham.
Director Richard Jones
Set Designer Hyemi Shin
Costume Designer Nicky Gillibrand
Lighting Designer Adam Silverman
Sound Designer Benjamin Grant
Movement Director Sarah Fahie
Intimacy & Fight Director Enric Ortuño
Assistant Director Stanley Wade
Casting Director Ginny Schiller CDG
Production Photographs Credit Foteini Christofilopoulou
The Ustinov Studio entrance is on Monmouth Street. Please note, the Ustinov cannot be accessed from the Main House foyer.
Box Office phone lines are open from 10am - 6pm Monday - Saturday.
We aim to open the auditorium doors 20 minutes prior to the performance, where possible.
Tickets for Ustinov Studio productions may include a £2.50 building levy.
Ustinov Studio discounts apply to children, students in full-time education and members of the Theatre Royal Bath's access register.
Please see the ACCESS page for details regarding our Access Register and associated discounts.
A booking fee of £3 per ticket applies to all booking channels and payment types.
There is a lift for wheelchair users from the Ustinov foyer to the Stalls level. The Circle has stair access only.
Full booking terms & conditions can be found here
If you have any concerns regarding the content of any production, please speak to a member of the Box Office.
To find out more about priority booking and other membership benefits, or ways to support the Theatre Royal Bath, please CLICK HERE
