Francesca Moody Productions, the powerhouse behind theater sensations “Fleabag” and “Baby Reindeer,” is bringing Tim Crouch’s groundbreaking play “An Oak Tree” to London’s The Young Vic Theatre this spring, assembling a roster of heavy-hitting talent including Sope Dirisu (“Gangs of London”), Michelle Terry (“Tribes”), Luke Thompson (“Bridgerton“), Russell Tovey (“American Horror Story: NYC”) and Indira Varma (“Game of Thrones“).
The innovative production, running May 6-17, features a unique twist: each performance pairs Crouch with a different guest artist who has neither seen nor read the play before stepping on stage. The guest performers will only be revealed to audiences live on the night of their respective performances.
“An Oak Tree,” which pioneered the theatrical “cold-read” format, tells the story of a father who loses his daughter in a car accident and later encounters the stage hypnotist responsible for her death when he volunteers for the hypnotist’s act. Since its 2005 premiere, the play has featured over 350 different guest artists globally, including Frances McDormand, Geoffrey Rush, Sharon D. Clarke, Alanis Morissette, Sophie Okonedo and Peter Dinklage.
“Exactly 20 years ago a laboratory was created in a small room above a pub in South London where an experiment took place,” says Crouch. “Actors were invited to try out a new play I’d written called ‘An Oak Tree’ — like trying out a new drug formulation. Each time a different actor who knew nothing about the play they were going to be in — a blind test each time. For some of the actors the drug was euphoric. For some it was heartbreaking. For some it was riotous. For some it was hard work. But the experiment was never less than enthralling.”
The production continues a hot streak for Francesca Moody Productions, whose stage-to-screen prowess has yielded two of the decade’s biggest television hits with “Fleabag” and “Baby Reindeer.” The company’s slate includes “Weather Girl” at London’s Soho Theatre, “Feeling Afraid as if Something Terrible Is Going to Happen” touring major Australian venues including Sydney Opera House, and “How to Win Against History” at Bristol Old Vic.
Thompson said: “I’m very excited to join the ‘Oak Tree’ family and be a part of a piece which I think takes the very best thing about going to the theatre, that is, something actually happening live in front of you rather than filtered through a screen. I’d say more but I have no clue what I’m in for…”
The production marks a significant moment for The Young Vic, as it will be part of the 2025/26 season under new artistic director Nadia Fall, whose inaugural program will be announced later this spring.