Duration
2 hrs 30 mins
Closing Date
Until April 26, 2025
Age limit
Suitable for 12+ ##Know before you go
Why Watch The Score?
A titan of stage and screen, Olivier award-winning actor Brian Cox (Succession) turns Bach from a dusty portrait to flesh and blood in a ‘magnificent’ (Daily Telegraph) portrayal.
Trevor Nunn, the architect of theatrical landmarks from Les Misérables to Nicholas Nickleby, orchestrates this startling battle of ideas.
Fresh from international success after his latest TV stint, Cox romances his real-life wife Nicole Ansari-Cox on stage with ‘ardent chemistry’ (The Guardian).
Inspired by the true historical event that led Bach to create one of his final pieces ‘The Musical Offering’, Oliver Cotton’s play is a grand musical tribute without a soundtrack.
Part reality and part fiction, Oliver Cotton's powerful new drama reimagines the meeting between two musicians as a resonant exploration of morality, power, and artistic integrity. Under Trevor Nunn's masterful direction, the play rises from a witty period comedy, culminating in explosive philosophical confrontations. This non-musical inquiry into the moment that inspired one of Bach’s most important final pieces runs much like a fugue itself, interweaving parts of the story into a larger composition. As contemporary politics continues to evoke progress to justify military might, The Score strikes notes that resound far beyond a footnote in history books.
Storyline
In the spring of 1747, an aging Johann Sebastian Bach makes an unwilling journey to the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia. What begins as an enigmatic challenge to the composer’s musical prowess - to improvise a three-part fugue on an impossibly complex theme - evolves into an intimate confrontation. Bach, a deeply religious man who sees his music as divine inspiration, faces off against Frederick, an atheist monarch who justifies military conquests with new-age values. In a moment that has since inspired countless interpretations, the shrinking father of the late Baroque meets the prodigal son of the Age of Enlightenment. Who will hold up the mirror?
Show timings
- Tue - Sat at 7:30 pm
- Thu & Sat at 2:30 pm
- Mon (24/02/25) at 7:30 pm
Cast & Crew
Director: Trevor Nunn
Writer: Oliver Cotton
Leading roles: Brian Cox as Johann Sebastian Bach and Nicole Ansari-Cox as Anna Bach.
Theatre Royal Haymarket
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a historic West End Theatre in London's Haymarket. Boasting a seating capacity of 893, it has hosted a wide range of productions, including award-winning plays and musicals. Also called the Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre, this West End house’s origins can be traced back to 1720. Officially the third oldest playhouse to still be active, Theatre Royal Haymarket has seen a lot of ownership changes and modifications. Its beautiful auditorium, steeped in history and tradition, offers a unique theatrical experience that enhances the vivid storytelling of Farm Hall. Seating Capacity: 893 Theatre Royal Haymarket Seating Plan will help you find the best seats in the theatre.
Getting There
- Address: 18 Suffolk St, London SW1Y 4HT, UK
- By metro:
Charing Cross Station (Bakerloo/Northern Lines) and Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo/Piccadilly Lines)
- By train:
The nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines).
- By bus:
6, 9, 87, 243, and 341 (Haymarket); 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 168, 171, 172, 188, 243, 341, and 521 (Trafalgar Square) Overground: Charing Cross Station
Facilities & Accessibility
Amenities: Dining outlets, Toilets, Souvenir shop, Free parking, Cloak room
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, Service animals allowed
Additional Information
Security:To ensure your comfort and security, you might encounter a few security checks when you arrive at the venue.
Dress Code: Smart-casual or semi-formal attire is the way to go.
Outside Food: While outside food isn't allowed inside, the hotel complex hosts many cafes or restaurants inside for you to check out before or after the show.
Tickets Redemption
</ul>
Cancellation & Refunds
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Frequently asked questions
The cost of the tickets typically starts from £25. Prices may vary depending on the day of the event and the type of seats you choose.
The Score is an original play inspired by the real-life encounter between JS Bach and Frederick II in 18th-century Europe.
The show’s content is most appropriate for children and adults above 12 years of age.
After a successful run in 2023, the show will be hosted in Theatre Royal Haymarket from 20 February 2025.
The Score is a semi-fictional exploration of power, artistic integrity, and politics set in 18th-century Europe. It centers around a meeting between Johann Sebastian Bach and Frederick II in the monarch’s court in Prussia.
The play runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
