The Young Vic Theatre will host the 20th-anniversary run of An Oak Tree, Tim Crouch’s groundbreaking play, from May 6–17, 2025. Written, performed, and co-directed by Crouch, this production continues its tradition of featuring a different guest artist each night—a performer who has neither read nor rehearsed the play prior to stepping on stage. The guest artists, kept secret until their live debut, include Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Gangs of London), Michelle Terry (Tribes), Luke Thompson (Bridgerton), Russell Tovey (Being Human), and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), with more names to be announced.

First staged in 2005, An Oak Tree pioneered the “theatrical cold-read,” influencing countless artists with its unique format. Over the past two decades, the play has traveled to 19 countries and featured over 350 guest performers, including Frances McDormand, Geoffrey Rush, and Peter Dinklage. A bold mix of humor, loss, and hypnotic suggestion, the story follows a grieving father who confronts the stage hypnotist responsible for a tragic accident.

This special anniversary production is presented by Francesca Moody Productions, known for hits like Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, in association with the Young Vic. Tim Crouch reflected on the play’s legacy, stating, “Exactly 20 years ago, An Oak Tree began as an experiment in a small South London pub. Each performance is a one-time-only event—an exhilarating, unpredictable encounter between actor and audience.”

Tickets for An Oak Tree are now on sale for Young Vic members and will be available to the public starting January 27, 2025. Accessible performances, including BSL, captioned, and relaxed shows, are scheduled throughout the run. For more details and booking, visit www.youngvic.org.