The Children at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

About The Children

The Children is a play at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London, written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Lucy Kirkwood. Set in a remote coastal cottage, the drama follows two retired nuclear physicists whose quiet existence is upended when an old friend arrives unannounced. The play has had celebrated runs in London and on Broadway, earning wide critical recognition for its sharp dialogue and the precision of its character writing.

Kirkwood's script moves between dark wit and mounting tension as three scientists confront questions of sacrifice, duty, and what one generation owes the next. The production is compact and character-driven, with the weight of the drama carried almost entirely through conversation and the slow revelation of what each character knows and has chosen to conceal.

What to expect

Audiences follow three figures navigating the aftermath of a catastrophic event, with the action confined to a single domestic setting. The restraint of the staging places full focus on the performances and the ethical arguments at the heart of the story. The play does not resolve its central dilemma neatly, and the questions it raises about responsibility and legacy tend to stay with audiences well beyond the final scene. Tickets cover a single performance at the Lyric Hammersmith, with seating options available across the auditorium depending on the booking tier selected.

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and getting there

The Lyric Hammersmith Theatre is one of London's oldest producing theatres, with a history on King Street in Hammersmith stretching back to 1895. The current building seats around 550 in its main house and is served directly by Hammersmith Underground station, accessible via the District, Piccadilly, and Circle lines. For more theatre and cultural options across the capital, the London listings page covers a broad range of productions and attractions.