Play · Off-West End
Cloud 9
Cloud 9 is a play by Caryl Churchill. In Victorian Africa, Clive is a colonial administrator and patriarch, and his wife, son and servant struggle to be what is expected of them. The family then turn up in 1970s London, where they have to work out what they can make of themselves in a world where empire lingers and freedom calls.
Dominic Cooke directs this new production in the Lyttelton Theatre, with Sam Troughton as Clive and Cathy, Charlotte Ritchie as Maud and Victoria, Tom Mothersdale as Harry Bagley and Martin, and Eloka Ivo as Joshua and Gerry. The theatre notes explicit sexual content, strong language, and themes of violence, racism and homophobia.
The play features a cast of seven actors, including Sam Troughton, Stuart Thompson, Ellen Robertson, Charlotte Ritchie, Tom Mothersdale, Eloka Ivo, and Rebecca Humphries, who play multiple roles across gender and a century. The first act is set in colonial Africa in Victorian times, and the second act moves the family to London a hundred years later in the 1970s.
Buying advice
How to book
Cloud 9 is at the National Theatre's Lyttelton. An off-peak date saves roughly 14%, with mid-range seats at £51–£72 against £62–£82 at peak.
Ways to pay less
The easiest saving is an off-peak date, where mid-range seats are £51–£72 against £62–£82 on peak dates. The cheapest way in is a day ticket, available in person an hour before the performance, saving up to £20, but these are not guaranteed. If you don't mind standing, the £25 budget seats are available on off-peak dates. For a guaranteed seat, book ahead for an off-peak date. Groups of 10 or more get the biggest reduction, and 16–25-year-olds pay from £5.
Deals9
Best deals across LondonEvery current deal we track for Cloud 9, checked daily. Last checked 13 November.
Save up to £20 on selected tickets, in person at the Box Office 60 minutes before the performance. Not on sold-out performances.
Every Friday at 1pm the National releases £10 tickets for the following week's performances. The booking link appears on the Friday Rush page between 12.45pm and 1pm; join the waiting room before 1pm and you get a random queue number. Orders of only Friday Rush tickets have no £4 booking fee.
- Young
Tickets are £5 for ages 16-18 and £10 for ages 19-25 when released in batches on some dates. Maximum two per production (one for you, one for another 16-25-year-old). Proof of age required.
All over-60s save £20 on £72 and £51 tickets for midweek matinees. Max 2 per customer, per performance. Discount available when selecting seats.
- Family
Under 18s get £20 off tickets priced £40 and above for Monday to Friday evenings and all matinees, two per customer per performance.
Reduced standby tickets at £30, £25 or £20 are sold in person at the Box Office 60 minutes before the performance, for students, Stage Pass holders, SOLT and theatre union members, and the unemployed. Valid ID required, one ticket per ID. Not on sold-out performances.
- Group
Groups of 10-19 adults get £6 off per ticket, and groups of 20+ get £10 off and one free ticket for the group leader. It applies to selected seat prices for each show, listed on the page. Not for reduced-price previews or Saturday performances. Book on 020 7452 3010, 11am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
State schools and SEND groups pay £10 and independent schools £12, with one teacher at the same price per nine pupils, in term time. Olivier and Lyttelton Monday to Thursday, Dorfman Monday and Tuesday.
- Other
Across the year, 25% of tickets at the National Theatre are priced at £30 or under. These are in high demand, may be limited to two per customer and may offer a restricted view.
Pricing
+14% peak surcharge (mid-range seats)Peak
Weekends & holidays| Area | Top | Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | £105 | £105 |
| Mid-range | £82 | £62 |
| Budget | £41 | £25 |
Off-peak
Mid-week| Area | Top | Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | £93 | £93 |
| Mid-range | £72 | £51 |
| Budget | £36 | £25 |
Prices are taken from the show's official website and are a guide only — they change without notice.
Where to sit
In the Lyttelton, the mid-Stalls have the best views; avoid the front rows for a long show, and the rear if the set is tall. Seats run from £25 to £105.
The National Theatre (Lyttelton)'s own seating guide, level by level, is below.
Critics
What the critics said
Reviews of this production at National Theatre (Lyttelton) · Opened 10 November 2026
8 reviews, 4 with star ratings · an average appears once five outlets have given stars
Evening Standard
Nick Curtis · Read the review at Evening Standard“Slightly dated work by greatest living playwright Caryl Churchill”
The Stage
Sam Marlowe · Read the review at The Stage“All of which might sound like hard work, yet is actually anything but, in a production that is gloriously entertaining.”
WhatsOnStage
Sarah Crompton · Read the review at WhatsOnStageLondon Theatre
Anya Ryan · Read the review at London Theatre“Caryl Churchill's topsy-turvy satire challenges gender roles and theatrical convention”
The Reviews Hub
Maryam Philpott · Read the review at The Reviews Hub
Also reviewed by The Times, The Telegraph and British Theatre Guide
Quotes are brief extracts, each with a link to the full review. Star ratings are the outlets’ own; we never work one out from a review’s words. If you publish one of these reviews and would like it removed, email us and we will take it down promptly.
Thinking of going with a group?
There’s a group rate for this show (see the group deal). Register your interest and we’ll try to organise a trip at that rate once enough people are in.
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