The Almeida Theatre in Islington has announced the full cast for the much-anticipated world premiere of The Line of Beauty, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Grandage. Adapted by Olivier Award nominee Jack Holden from Alan Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize-winning novel, this captivating production opens on 29 October and runs until 29 November 2025.
Set against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain in the 1980s, the play traces the story of Nick Guest, a young man who becomes entangled in a dazzling yet dangerous world of wealth, politics and desire. Nick moves into the grand Notting Hill home of his university friend Toby, only to find himself swept into the orbit of Toby’s father Gerald, a newly elected Conservative MP, his poised wife Rachel, and their troubled daughter Cat. From glittering parties to private gardens and country estates, Nick experiences the privileges of high society, but soon discovers that beauty, in all its forms, comes at a cost.
As the play unfolds, Nick is forced to navigate the tensions between love and power, freedom and repression, aspiration and class boundaries. At its core, The Line of Beauty is both a celebration and critique of a society intoxicated by money, privilege and ambition, yet fractured by prejudice and political divides.
Cast and Creative Team
The Almeida’s production boasts a superb ensemble cast: Francesca Amewudah-Rivers; Ellie Bamber; Doreene Blackstock; Charles Edwards; Arty Froushan; Claudia Harrison; Matt Mella; Hannah Morrish; Alistair Nwachukwu; Robert Portal; Leo Suter and Jasper Talbot.
Behind the scenes, the creative team includes Christopher Oram (set and costume design), Howard Hudson (lighting), Adam Cork (sound and composition), and Ben Wright (movement and intimacy direction), with casting by Sophie Holland CDG.
When and Where
Venue: Almeida Theatre, Islington, London
Dates: 21 October – 29 November 2025
Press Night: Wednesday 29 October, 7pm
Performance times: Evenings at 7.30pm, Matinees at 2pm
Accessible performances include audio-described, captioned and relaxed environment showings across November, ensuring all audiences can experience this landmark production.
Why You Should See The Line of Beauty
With its themes of desire, identity and the clash between public image and private truth, The Line of Beauty remains as relevant today as when Hollinghurst’s novel first captured the cultural moment. Under Michael Grandage’s direction, audiences can expect a sumptuous, emotionally resonant production that offers both nostalgia and sharp social commentary.
Tickets are already in high demand, with additional seats being released on 22 October at 12pm. For anyone planning a cultural escape to London this autumn, The Line of Beauty at the Almeida promises to be one of the theatre highlights of 2025.
