Theatre audiences in London will see White Rabbit Red Rabbit back on a West End stage when the piece opens at the Duchess Theatre from 8 June to 2 November 2026. This run marks the inaugural production for the new independent company There & Then, created by playwright Nassim Soleimanpour and director Omar Elerian. Performances are scheduled each Monday evening and will spotlight a different guest performer every week, turning each presentation into a singular theatrical event shaped by that actor’s real-time encounter with the script.
The return combines a commercial West End residency with an intentionally precarious artistic format. Presented in association with producers Nica Burns and Nimax, and supported by executive producer Roz Coleman and producing advisor Malú Ansaldo, the production aims to marry the draw of celebrity casting with an experimental, one-person, unrehearsed performance model. Audiences can expect unpredictability, immediacy and a different energy each Monday night.
About the production and the new company
There & Then is the new company formed by the long-standing creative partnership of Nassim Soleimanpour and Omar Elerian. The duo have worked together on projects such as Echo and Nassim, and have chosen White Rabbit Red Rabbit as the first title in their slate. The company intends to produce work that values presence and risk, pursuing theatre that feels immediate and unpredictable. This West End residency functions both as a showcase for their approach and as a statement of intent about the kind of live experiences they want to build in the UK and beyond.
Origins and cultural background
The play itself has an unusual origin: written by Nassim Soleimanpour while he was unable to leave Iran, White Rabbit Red Rabbit premiered in 2011 and has been translated and performed internationally. It has now been staged over 4,000 times in more than 25 languages. The format—an actor encountering the text for the first time onstage—was conceived as a probe into choice, authority and the relationship between performer and audience, themes that still resonate strongly in this new West End iteration.
How the show works: format and experience
The defining feature of White Rabbit Red Rabbit is its refusal of rehearsal and direction: each invited actor receives the script only moments before they appear and must improvise a response within the piece’s framework. This experimental theatrical structure turns every performance into an unrepeatable moment. Producers describe it as a kind of theatrical high wire, anchored by presence and immediate decision-making rather than by prearranged staging. For audiences, this means that no two nights are the same—each performer brings personal instincts, timing and choices that shape the evening.
Why the format endures
The show’s continued appeal rests on its dramatic unpredictability and the spotlight it puts on actor-audience dynamics. The absence of rehearsal amplifies vulnerability and spontaneity, making the work feel urgent and alive. For a West End run, that tension is also commercially attractive: the lineup of guest performers generates interest while the format preserves the work’s original experimental spirit.
Confirmed cast and schedule
The Monday-night residency will feature a rotating cast across the run. Confirmed performers and dates include David Harewood on 8 June, David Tennant on 15 June, Jo Joyner on 22 June, Asim Chaudhry on 29 June, Luke Thompson on 6 July, Jodie Whittaker on 13 July, Kathryn Hunter on 20 July, Kunal Nayyar on 27 July, Archie Madekwe on 21 September and Riz Ahmed on 28 September. Additional casting will be announced, and the producers have hinted at further high-profile guests across the season.
What to expect from the guest nights
Each guest brings distinct public associations—television series, film credits, or stage work—that will influence audience expectations. Yet the show’s structure deliberately strips away preparation, forcing performers to respond in the moment. The result is a blend of celebrity appeal and raw theatrical engagement that has previously led to sold-out runs and critical attention, including a notable season at @sohoplace in 2026.
Production team and final notes
The production is led creatively by Nassim Soleimanpour and Omar Elerian, with production backing from Nica Burns and Nimax, and executive producing oversight from Roz Coleman. The company’s stated mission is to keep producing work that values immediacy, risk and storytelling as transformative acts. Having already proven popular at previous runs, this West End staging seeks to introduce that sensibility to a broader London audience while inaugurating There & Then as a new home for adventurous live theatre.