Witness an extraordinary struggle for survival in Touching The Void, director Tom Morris’ remarkable production based on Joe Simpson’s best-selling memoir.
Directed by the award-winning Tom Morris (War Horse) and based on Joe Simpson’s best-selling memoir, turned BAFTA-winning film, Touching The Void charts Joe Simpson’s and Simon Yates’ struggle for survival on the perilous Siula Grande mountain in the Peruvian Andes.
Follow the terrifying dilemma faced by Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, both experienced mountaineers to set out to journey into the unknown. Excitement and hope will pave the way for fear, however, as Simon eventually finds himself perched on an unstable snow-cliff, clinging onto the rope that ties him to the severely injured Joe. When he realises that he won’t be able to recover Joe from the void, and can neither see nor hear his partner in the icy conditions, Simon is left with one course of action: cut the rope that binds them.
Penned by The Lyceum’s David Greig (The Events, The Suppliant Women, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory), this play made its world premiere in 2018. It has since garnered plaudits across the UK and internationally, with runs at the Bristol Old Vic, Royal & Derngate Northampton, the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, the Hong Kong Festival and on tour.
The West End transfer of Touching The Void is playing at The Duke of York’s Theatre until 29 February and will see original cast members Fiona Hampton (Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s Globe), Patrick McNamee (The History Boys, Selladoor) and Josh Williams (One Night In Miami, Donmar) return to the show, joined by Angus Yellowlees (in his professional stage debut).
The famous story behind the show has sold over a million copies worldwide, being translated into over 20 languages. In 2003 it was adapted into a docudrama survival film directed by Kevin MacDonald, which was last listed by PBS as one of the 100 Greatest Documentaries Of All Time and won a BAFTA Award.
Opening to sensational reviews in the West End, David Greig’s thrilling adaptation takes the audience on an epic adventure that asks how far you’d be willing to go to survive. Life-affirming and often darkly funny, book now and be part of the experience.