First staged in 1939, After The Dance is Terence Rattigan’s subtle, witty unmasking of the hedonistic 20s generation and is a devastating study of repression and the human heart. 

As the world races towards catastrophe in After The Dance, a crowd of Mayfair socialites party their way to oblivion. At its centre is David, who idles away his sober moments researching a futile book until the beautiful Helen decides to save him, shattering his marriage and learning too late the depth of both David’s indolence and his wife’s undeclared love. But with finances about to crash and humanity on the brink of global conflict, the drink keeps flowing and the revellers dance on.

After The Dance is directed by Thea Sharrock, who previously directed The Emperor Jones and Happy Now? at the National Theatre. In the West End the former Artistic Director of the Gate theatre has credits including The Misanthrope, Equus, A Voyage Round My Father and Heroes.

For more about After The Dance at the National Theatre, read the First Night Feature or the Big Interview with Benedict Cumberbatch.