Arthur Miller’s ground-breaking play The American Clock centres on a nation’s unwavering faith in capitalism – even as disaster strikes.
In New York City in 1929, The American Clock turns. Fortunes are made. Lives are broken. And then the stock market crashes, and everything changed.
In an American society where governance by race and class prevails, The American Clock follows the Baum family, who attempt to navigate the maelstrom of an unprecedented financial crisis.
To a soundtrack which fuses 1920s swing and jazz with contemporary sounds, the production spins up a world that spans a vast horizon – from the claustrophobia of high rises to the effervescence of the rural heartlands.
The play premiered at the Spoleto Festival in South Carolina in May 1980. Having played a short run of only 12 performances and 11 previews on Broadway, it arrived in London’s National Theatre in August 1986, where it was nominated for an Olivier Award.
This production of The American Clock is unique in its casting. The show celebrates the changing face of the American family by having three sets of actors in the roles of Moe, Rose and Lee Baum for each performance, including the likes of Sule Rimi, Clare Burt, John Marquez and Golda Rosheuvel.
Directed by the visionary Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown; Tony-nominated for Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet Of 1812), The American Clock is a gripping play of hope, idealism – and reinvention.
Please note that Giles Terera has had to withdraw from The American Clock due to personal reasons.