Oppenheimer Tickets

Oppenheimer

It’s 1939 and Nazi fascism is rapidly spreading across Europe. As Franco’s men discover the attributes of atomic fission, an ambitious American theoretical physicist takes it upon himself to outwit the Nazis by spearheading a project to develop this new science and create the first atomic bomb.

This is the basis of the young dramatist with numerous Fringe credits Tom Morton-Smith’s new play, Oppenheimer.

Referred to as “intoxicating excitement”, Oppenheimer has been showing at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Oppenheimer has enjoyed great acclaim and five star reviews in Stratford, having been described as a “massively impressive play” that explores the “moral chain reactions before and after the bombing of Hiroshima.”

In battling to win the race to create an atomic weapon with the power to ‘end all wars’, the charismatic Oppenheimer initiates what became known as the Manhattan Project, a research and development project that produced the first atomic bombs during World War II.

Morton-Smith’s compelling play takes the audience to the core of the Manhattan Project and the intense political tension it created as the scientists raced against the Nazis and the moral consequences of creating a new science with devastating potentialities.

Oppenheimer is directed by the BAFTA-nominated Angus Jackson, whose recent credits include King Lear at the Chichester Theatre and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Following its run at the Swan Theatre, Oppenheimer is transferring to the Vaudeville Theatre where it will show for a limited eight weeks.

In London, the play will retain most of its original cast, which is led by John Heffernan as J Robert Oppenheimer.

Sharing his excitement of this epic play being shown on the West End, the RSC Artistic Director, Gregory Doran said:

“I am so pleased that Tom’s wonderful play can be seen by London audiences. The epic nature of the subject and the broad sweep of the new narrative is something we have always encouraged in our commissioned new work. This is a direct legacy of Shakespeare, who, of course, was once a ‘new writer’ himself.”

The production is running at the Vaudeville Theatre for an eight-week period from 27 March – 23 May, 2015.