CAROLINE, OR CHANGE tickets

Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s celebrated musical makes a highly anticipated transfer to Hampstead following its critically acclaimed sell-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre earlier this summer.

What is Caroline, or Change About? 

1963. In quiet Lake Charles, Louisiana, the destruction of a Confederate statue might just signal that change is in the air… But, whatever the progress of the civil rights movement, in the Gellman household things seem just the same – for now at least. Eight year old Noah, heartbroken by the death of his mother and his father’s remarriage, sneaks down to the basement to spend time with the black maid he idolises, Caroline Thibodeaux: Caroline who runs everything. Whilst the basement may seem a fantastical place - even the appliances have a voice of their own - Caroline’s work there is repetitive and badly paid. But when Mrs Gellman comes up with a way for her to take a little more money home, the consequences for Caroline and Noah’s relationship are not what anybody might have expected…

An Olivier Award winning musical with a hugely original, highly eclectic and uniquely American score, Caroline, or Change creates an uplifting and profound portrait of America at a time of momentous social upheaval.

Tony Kushner returns to Hampstead following The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures or iHo last autumn. Author of the ground-breaking Angels in America (recently revived at the National Theatre), Kushner’s book and lyrics for Caroline, or Change were inspired by his own boyhood.
The score is by Jeanine Tesori, whose musical Fun Home won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Original Score.

Michael Longhurst returns to Hampstead to direct following the critically acclaimed sell-out hit, Gloria this summer. His other productions include Amadeus (National Theatre), Bad Jews (Theatre Royal Bath/West End) and Constellations (Royal Court/West End/Broadway).

Sharon D. Clarke reprises her ‘virtuoso performance’ (The Times) as Caroline Thibodeaux. Her Olivier Award winning stage work stretches from August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and James Baldwin’s The Amen Corner (National Theatre) to Ghost The Musical, Hairspray and We Will Rock You in the West End. 

★★★★★ "Superb" - Sunday Times

★★★★★ "Moving and magical" - Mail on Sunday 

★★★★★ "Exceptional" - The Telegraph 

★★★★"Profound and powerful" - Evening Standard