Broadway's new revival of Oedipus, a version the Sophocles tragedy set during a modern election, officially opened at Studio 54 November 13 after beginning previews October 30. And the critics have released their reviews.
The play, adapted and directed by Robert Icke, first ran in the West End. Mark Strong (A View From the Bridge, Deep State) is reprising his Olivier-nominated performance in the title role, opposite Lesley Manville (The Crown, Phantom Thread) reprising her Olivier-winning work as Jocasta. Also back from the U.K. run are Samuel Brewer as Teiresias, Bhasker Patel as Corin, Jordan Scowen as Eteocles, and James Wilbraham as Polyneices.
Read the reviews below.
- 1 Minute Critic (Matthew Wexler)
- Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)*
- Cititour (Brian Scott Lipon)
- Culture Sauce (Thom Geier)
- The Daily Beast (Tim Teeman)
- Los Angeles Times (Charles McNulty)*
- New York Theatre Guide (Kyle Turner)
- New York Magazine / Vulture (Sara Holdren)*
- New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)
- New York Stage Review (Melissa Rose Bernardo)
- New York Stage Review (Frank Scheck)
- The New York Times (Alexis Soloski)*
- TheaterMania (Pete Hempstead)
- Theatrely (Juan A Ramirez)
- Time Out New York (Adam Feldman)
- Wall Street Journal (Charles Isherwood)*
- Washington Post (Naveen Kumar)*
- The Wrap (Robert Hofler)*
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
They're joined by John Carroll Lynch as Creon, Teagle F. Bougere as Driver, Ani Mesa-Perez as Lichas, Olivia Reis as Antigone, and Anne Reid as Merope. The ensemble features Brian Thomas Abraham, Denise Cormier, Karl Kenzler, and Oliver Rowland-Jones.
Icke’s production, originally presented in Dutch at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and subsequently at the Edinburgh International Festival, is set on election night. All signs point to a landslide victory, but everything is about to change. The West End bow won two 2025 Olivier Awards, including Best Actress for Manville and Best Revival of a Play.
Icke has re-assembled his London creative team, with the production featuring scenic design by Hildegard Bechtler, costume design by Wojciech Dziedzic, lighting design by Natasha Chivers, sound design by Tom Gibbons, and video design by Tal Yarden. Casting is by Julia Horan and Jim Carnahan. David Lober serves as production stage manager.
Sonia Friedman Productions, Sue Wagner, John Johnson, and Patrick Catullo are producing in association with Roundabout Theatre Company.
Mark Strong and Samuel Brewer in Oedipus
Mark Strong and company of Oedipus
John Carroll Lynch and company of Oedipus
Company of Oedipus
Lesley Manville in Oedipus
Anne Reid and Olivia Reis in Oedipus
Olivia Reis and company of Oedipus
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in Oedipus
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in Oedipus
Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in Oedipus
James Wilbraham and Mark Strong in Oedipus
