OVERVIEW
PEOPLE
MEDIA

One Night Only

Beowulf

BY SEAMUS HEANEY

DIRECTED BY AL MILLER.

14 September 2025

Overview

“Let whoever can win glory before death!”

King Hroðgar of the Danes is under attack. The music and merriment from his great mead-hall has angered the monster Grendel. Emerging from his swamplands, Grendel terrorises and kills the King’s men in their sleep despite their efforts to fight back. However, a young warrior, Beowulf, hears of the King’s plight and sails to Denmark. Determined to defeat the monster, will Beowulf be able to save the King?

This Anglo-Saxon epic roars to life in Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney’s inspired translation (Whitbread Book of The Year).  This is the latest in our acclaimed series of epic theatrical journeys – we began with The Odyssey and The Mahabharata before charging on with Ulysses. And now an all-star cast brings this ancient masterpiece to life with fresh fire.

 

This performance will have two intervals.

 

This event is generously supported by The Old Possum’s Practical Trust

People

Madeline Appiah
performer
Madeline has frequently performed at the National Theatre and has been seen on the West End in Tina Turner: The Musical and Robert Icke’s production of Hamlet. She trained at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Alan Cox
Performer
Alan Cox previously appeared at Jermyn Street Theatre as Leopold Bloom in Ulysses, Heisenberg in Farm Hall and Godfrey Daybrook in Love All. He recently starred in Uncle Vanya at the Hampstead Theatre and is known for his role as Dr Watson in the Barry Levinson production Young Sherlock Holmes.
Caleb Hughes
Performer
Caleb graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he was awarded the Arnold Fleming Scholarship and a commendation at the Carlton Hobbs competition. He's excited to be performing at the Jermyn Street Theatre for the first time.
Rosie Sheehy
Performer
Rosie was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a play this year for Machinal at the Old Vic. She was previously nominated for the Ian Charleson Awards 2023 for her performances in All’s Well That Ends Well and Richard III both at the RSC and for Breakthrough Artist at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2023 for Romeo and Julie at the National Theatre.
Ayoola Smart
Performer
Ayoola is known for her roles in BBC’s BAFTA-winning Killing Eve and in the TV series Wheel of Time. She has recently been on stage at the Bush Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe. She trained at East 15 Acting School.
Alan Turkington
Performer
Alan is known for roles in TV shows including Dead Hot (Amazon Prime) and Heartstopper (Netflix). He has performed at the National Theatre, Abbey Theatre and the RSC amongst others. He can also be heard as the voice of Sky TV.

Seamus Heaney
Writer
Al Miller
Director
Bella Kear
Sound Designer

Media

“[Heaney] has made a masterpiece out of a masterpiece”
Andrew Motion, The Financial Times.