Yentl Tickets at Marylebone Theatre: The Award-Winning Australian Production Comes to London (2026)

April 21, 20266 min read

Yentl at Marylebone Theatre: A Triumphant Australian Production Arrives in London

Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run at the Sydney Opera House, Kadimah Yiddish Theatre's award-winning production of Yentl is making its international premiere at London's Marylebone Theatre. Running from 6 March to 12 April 2026, this strictly limited six-week engagement brings one of Australia's most celebrated recent theatrical productions to the West End.

About the Production

This bilingual adaptation of Isaac Bashevis Singer's 1962 Yiddish short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy" is a bold new theatrical interpretation that reclaims the darker and more transgressive roots of the original text. Set in an 1870s Polish shtetl, the play follows a young woman who defies Orthodox Jewish law by disguising herself as a man to study Jewish scripture—a pursuit forbidden to women. As she delves deeper into her studies, her quest for knowledge leads to a powerful collision of faith, gender, desire, and tradition. Unlike the beloved 1983 Barbra Streisand musical film, this is a dramatic play that incorporates supernatural elements including dybbuks, demons, and ghosts, staying closer to Singer's original vision. About a third of the dialogue is performed in Yiddish (Lodz dialect) with English surtitles, creating an authentic bilingual theatrical experience that honors the story's cultural heritage.

Award-Winning Excellence

The production has garnered significant critical recognition in Australia, winning:

Four Green Room Awards
Sydney Theatre Award
Shortlisted for TimeOut Australia Best Play 2024

Australian critics were unanimous in their praise, with multiple publications awarding five-star reviews. The Guardian called it "A superb theatrical coup," while TimeOut described it as "Nothing short of magic." The Age proclaimed audiences should "Prepare to be astonished by the beauty and greatness of Yentl."

Creative Team

The production is directed and co-written by Gary Abrahams, alongside co-writers Elise Hearst and Galit Klas. The creative team brings together Australian and UK talent: Original Australian Team:

Set & Costume Designer: Dann Barber
Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke
Sound Designer & Composer: Max Lyandvert

UK Creative Team:

Set & Costume Designer: Isabella Van Braeckel
Lighting Designer: Tom Turner
Sound Designer: Julian Starr
Fight & Intimacy Director: Yarit Dor

The production is presented by Wild Yak Productions in association with Counterminers CIC, originally produced by Kadimah Jewish Cultural Centre & National Library and Kadimah Yiddish Theatre.

Cast

Three members of the original acclaimed Australian cast transfer to London for this production:

Amy Hack as Yentl – Delivering what critics describe as an endearingly vulnerable performance, Hack embodies the character's fierce thirst for knowledge. Her red hair symbolically represents a fire for learning.
Genevieve Kingsford as Hodes – Playing an emotionally damaged and vulnerable character, Kingsford's performance has been calibrated over four years of touring the production.
Evelyn Krape as The Figure – Portraying the "yeytser ho're" (Evil Inclination), Krape plays this sprite-like narrator figure, sometimes appearing as an elderly woman wearing ram's horns.

Joining them is:

Ashley Margolis as Avigdor – The lone male in the company, Margolis plays a conflicted character balancing physical urges with a deep thirst for rabbinical knowledge.

Understudies include Kandice Joy (Yentl/Hodes), Claire Morrissey (The Figure), and Michali Dantes (Avigdor).

What Makes This Production Special

This adaptation introduces innovative theatrical elements that distinguish it from previous interpretations. The script incorporates a narrator figure representing the Evil Inclination, who serves as an interlocutor throughout the story. The writers maintain dramatic tension through double-meaning dialogue and focus on the erratic emotional growth of the characters rather than simply guarding the central secret of Yentl's disguise. The staging features striking visual elements, including vivid white powdered faces designed by makeup artist Michal Wolf to honor theatrical ancestors. Dann Barber's set design creates a simple wooden shtetl with a Torah-encrusted curtain and muddy ground, establishing an authentic atmosphere. The production includes the ritual of binding tefillin and other traditional Jewish practices, adding cultural authenticity. Critics have praised the production as "raw and truthful," exploring emotions underpinned by devotion to faith and purity in love. It successfully revives the lost magic of Yiddish Theatre for contemporary audiences while addressing timeless themes of gender, identity, and religious devotion.

Practical Information

Performance Schedule:

Runs: 6 March – 12 April 2026
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes (including a 20-minute interval)
Press Night: Wednesday, 11 March

Venue:Marylebone Theatre 35 Park Road London NW1 6XT Box Office: 020 7723 7984 The venue offers wheelchair accessibility with space N5 and companion seat N4. Ticket Prices:Tickets start from £35.75, with some matinee performances available from £25.75. Age Recommendation: 14+ Content Warnings:The production contains adult themes, references to suicide, full-frontal male and female nudity, flashing lights, haze, and smoke effects. Allergy Warning:The set uses a large amount of rubber. Patrons with rubber or airborne allergies are advised to book at their own risk and should consider sitting at least six rows back due to a strong latex smell in the front rows.

Why You Should See Yentl

This is a rare opportunity to experience one of Australia's most acclaimed theatrical exports in its only London engagement. With its strictly limited six-week run, Yentl at Marylebone Theatre offers audiences a chance to witness a production that has been honed through multiple sold-out seasons, including its prestigious Sydney Opera House run. The production offers a fresh perspective on a beloved story, returning to Singer's original vision while incorporating contemporary theatrical techniques. For those familiar with the 1983 film, this dramatic adaptation provides new insights into the complexity of the source material. For newcomers, it's an accessible yet profound exploration of universal themes through a specific cultural lens. Critics have consistently praised the production's ability to balance intimate character study with broader questions about faith, knowledge, and identity. The bilingual presentation adds richness without creating barriers for English-speaking audiences, thanks to well-crafted surtitles.

The Cultural Significance

Yentl represents more than just entertainment—it's a cultural bridge connecting Australian and British theatre communities while celebrating Yiddish theatrical traditions. Kadimah Yiddish Theatre's mission to preserve and revitalize Yiddish culture through contemporary performance art has found particular resonance in this production. The story itself remains remarkably relevant, addressing questions about gender equality, religious tradition, the pursuit of knowledge, and personal authenticity that continue to resonate in 2026. Yentl's courage to transgress societal boundaries in pursuit of learning speaks to ongoing conversations about access to education and the right to self-determination.

Book Your Tickets

With its award-winning pedigree, five-star reviews, and limited engagement, Yentl at Marylebone Theatre is expected to be one of the must-see theatrical events of spring 2026. Tickets are available through the Marylebone Theatre box office, Official London Theatre, and other authorized ticket vendors. Don't miss this opportunity to witness a theatrical triumph that has captivated Australian audiences and is now ready to enchant London theatregoers. Whether you're drawn by the compelling story, the cultural significance, or the exceptional critical acclaim, Yentl promises an unforgettable theatrical experience.