Jordan Stephens is set to lead a new revival of Joe Orton’s pitch-black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Young Vic,in a production already drawing notable attention from London theatregoers. Best known as one half of Rizzle Kicks and for his growing body of screen work, Stephens will take on the title role in Orton’s landmark 1964 play, a subversive exploration of desire, power and morality in suburban England. With a limited run at one of the capital’s most influential theatres, the production is poised to be a major event in the London theater calendar, prompting brisk demand for tickets.
Jordan Stephens takes on the darkly comic challenge of Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Young Vic
With his razor-sharp wit and disarming charisma, Jordan Stephens steps into Joe Orton’s twisted world, bringing a fresh and unsettling edge to one of British theatre’s most provocative plays. Known for his work as one half of Rizzle Kicks and for his candid explorations of masculinity and mental health, Stephens feels like an inspired choice to inhabit a character who is by turns charming, perilous, and morally ambiguous. Under incisive direction and on the Young Vic’s intimate stage, his performance is set to amplify the play’s queasy blend of humour and menace, drawing audiences into a 1960s living room where power games, desire, and deception simmer just beneath the surface.
- Venue: Young Vic Theatre, London
- Genre: Dark comedy / Classic revival
- Star: Jordan Stephens in the title role
- Mood: Unsettling, witty, and sharply satirical
| Highlight | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bold casting | Reframes a 1960s classic for a new generation |
| Young Vic setting | Intimacy heightens the tension and black humour |
| Darkly comic tone | Invites laughter while exposing moral decay |
As Stephens navigates the shifting alliances and barbed dialog of Orton’s script, audiences can expect a performance that presses on the boundaries of taste while interrogating class, sexuality, and the casual cruelty of suburban respectability. This revival promises not just nostalgia for a notorious play, but a pointed, contemporary reading of its themes-delivered with a swaggering central turn that turns discomfort into gripping theatre.
Why the Young Vic is the perfect home for Joe Orton’s provocative modern classic
The South Bank powerhouse has always been a playground for writers who rattle the cage, and Orton’s razor-edged comedy slots seamlessly into that legacy. With its flexible performance spaces, the venue can lean into the play’s claustrophobic living-room setting one moment and its explosive, darkly comic outbursts the next. Directors and designers are free to push form and staging without losing the script’s 1960s bite,allowing audiences to experience Orton’s world as both period-piece and mirror to contemporary Britain. In this building, taboo isn’t tiptoed around – it’s examined under a spotlight, with the audience seated almost uncomfortably close to the action.
The theatre’s audience is primed for exactly this kind of theatrical tightrope walk: morally murky, ethically knotty, yet irresistibly entertaining. That makes it an ideal environment to rediscover a play that still shocks with its themes of exploitation, desire and social hypocrisy. Here, Orton’s work can converse with current debates on power, identity and consent, while still landing every barbed punchline. It helps that the creative teams gathered on this stage are known for approaching classics like new writing,giving the production a living,breathing urgency.
- Bold programming: A track record of staging disruptive, politically charged work.
- Intimate staging: Spaces that heighten the play’s psychological tension and dark humour.
- Engaged audiences: Regular theatregoers eager for challenging, conversation-starting stories.
| Element | Young Vic Advantage |
|---|---|
| Space | Adaptable stages for up-close intensity |
| Reputation | Home of bold reinterpretations |
| Audience | Open to risk, ready for provocation |
What to expect from this new production direction design and cast chemistry
The Young Vic’s fresh take leans into Orton’s jet-black humour while sharpening the psychological edges that modern audiences crave. Expect a staging that feels both retro and unsettlingly current,with design elements that play up the clash between 1960s domestic respectability and the raw,disruptive energy of the title character. A meticulous blend of lighting, sound and costume will highlight shifting power dynamics inside the cramped home, turning the living room into a pressure cooker where every glance lands like a punchline with teeth. Visual motifs – from carefully curated period props to bold colour contrasts – are set to chart the characters’ moral decay in real time.
- Visceral intimacy in a close-quarters set
- Stylised realism that nods to the era without feeling museum-like
- Darkly comic beats heightened by sharp sound and lighting cues
- Choreographed tension where silence is as loaded as dialogue
| Element | Audience Experience |
|---|---|
| Set Design | Claustrophobic, voyeuristic |
| Costume | Period-accurate with subversive twists |
| Lighting | From sitcom glow to noir shadow |
At the center of it all is Jordan Stephens, whose presence promises a volatile mix of charm, danger and wounded vulnerability, turning Sloane into less a caricature and more a live wire you can’t quite pin down. His interplay with the rest of the company should ignite the text: the sibling rivalry, sexual bargaining and simmering resentments gain momentum from rhythms more akin to a band in tight formation than a conventional period drama. Expect:
- Rapid-fire exchanges that blur seduction and manipulation
- Physical storytelling that reveals who holds the upper hand
- Micro-reactions – eye flickers, half-smiles – doing heavy narrative lifting
- Ensemble precision that keeps the play’s moral ambiguity thrillingly unresolved
How to get the best London theatre tickets dates prices and booking tips for Entertaining Mr Sloane
Securing a prime seat for this Young Vic revival means moving fast and thinking tactically. The most in-demand dates are usually press night week, Saturday evenings, and post-review performances, so if you’re flexible, opt for midweek shows or late performances to sidestep the rush. Sign up to the Young Vic’s mailing list and keep an eye on priority booking windows, especially if you’re chasing tickets as soon as Jordan Stephens’ dates are confirmed. For those under 25 or on a tighter budget, look for concession schemes, last-minute rush offers and occasional day seats released online or at the box office on the morning of the performance.
Prices at the Young Vic are structured to keep theatre accessible while rewarding those who plan ahead. The cheapest seats frequently enough go first, so booking early gives you the best balance of value and view.To help compare your options, use this rapid reference and then refine your search by checking view notes and seat maps on the booking page:
| Ticket Type | Typical Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Stalls | £55-£70 | Closest view of the cast |
| Standard Seats | £35-£50 | Balanced comfort and price |
| Restricted View / Side | £20-£30 | Budget-conscious theatre fans |
- Book direct through the Young Vic website to avoid hidden fees.
- Aim for previews if you want the lowest prices before word-of-mouth surges.
- Check returns on the day for sold-out dates, especially for evening shows.
- Sign up for alerts from reputable ticketing partners for flash sales and limited offers.
Illustrative ranges only; final prices are set by the theatre and may vary by date and demand.
Key Takeaways
As rehearsals get underway and anticipation builds, Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Young Vic is already shaping up to be one of the talking points of the season. With Jordan Stephens leading the cast and a fresh creative team revisiting Orton’s darkly comic text, audiences can expect a production that probes the play’s enduring questions about morality, desire and power. For theatregoers keen to see a modern talent take on a cult classic, securing tickets early may be the only way to guarantee a front-row seat to this latest chapter in the Young Vic’s bold programming.
