Leopoldstadt

Why Watch Leopoldstadt

Written by Tom Stoppard, regarded as the greatest British playwright of the 20th and 21st century, Leopoldstadt follows the story of a family that goes from very humble roots to become part of the social elite of their country. Leopoldstadt is a district in Vienna and was a haven for numerous Jewish families in the early 1900s when antisemitism was at its peak.

Stoppard has won numerous Tony Awards, an Academy Award and also an Olivier Award. His plays are often based on political or philosophical themes. The play reunites Sonia Friedman Productions, who created hit productions such as The Book of Mormon and Mean Girls with director Patrick Marber, known for The Room, Travesties and Venus in Fur. Patrick Marber, a long-time collaborator of Tom Stoppard is in charge of the direction and he brings out the raw emotion of the play. A spectacular tale centred around love, family, religion and grit awaits you!

The Story

In the early 1900s, Vienna was one of the most affluent and vibrant cities in all of Europe. It was humming with artistic genius and was a hub for intellectuals, inventors, painters and composers from across the world.

The Emperor of Austria, Franz Josef has granted full civil rights to the hundreds of thousands of Jews who had fled from the other regions of Europe for shelter and protection against the growing antisemitic community. Most of them found sanctuary in the bustling and ancient Jewish quarters of Vienna, Leopoldstadt.

Follow the story of a family, as they attempt to discover what it means to be Jewish in the early part of the 20th century, as they hope to make the best of what they have.

Good For

Tom Stoppard Fans | Fans of Historical Dramas

Reviews

“A new play by Stoppard, who has written more than 30, from his debut Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The Real Thing and Jumpers, is always a big deal.”
– The Guardian