Arcadia – Duke of York’s Theatre

Arcadia is a time-shifting play set across two centuries, where we see teenage prodigy Thomasina Coverly living in the early nineteenth century, rapidly thinking beyond her time as she explores mathematics and the natural world. In contrast, the present-day storyline follows Hannah Jarvis as she investigates the life of Lord Byron while staying in the same country house, Sidley Park.

The play is highly thought-provoking, raising complex questions about knowledge, history, and certainty. At times, it can be puzzling to follow how the two timelines interlink, but this is also what makes it engaging, as the audience is encouraged to actively piece together meaning across centuries.

One of the central ideas is the contrast between the two approaches to history and knowledge. Bernard Nightingale assumes history is driven by famous figures and dramatic events, and he becomes fixated on proving that Lord Byron was involved in a duel. However, the audience gradually realises that the more significant story is Thomasina’s overlooked mathematical genius.

This contrast highlight’s key themes: historians can pursue the wrong questions; surviving evidence is incomplete and open to misinterpretation; and important discoveries are often ignored because they do not fit what researchers expect to find. By the end of the play, Bernard’s Byron theory collapses, while Thomasina’s ideas are recognised as intellectually revolutionary. This shifts the focus from celebrity history to hidden intellectual achievement.

The play also suggests that reconstructing the past is always uncertain. We assemble history from fragments such as letters, notebooks, and journals, meaning interpretation is unavoidable. As a result, we may become trapped in misleading theories, “falling down rabbit holes” while overlooking more significant truths.

Nikki Amuka-Bird was exceptional as Hannah Jarvis, portraying a gradual journey of self-discovery as she begins to question her own assumptions about historical research. Isis Hainsworth was also compelling as Thomasina, capturing both her intelligence and youthful innocence. The knowledge that Thomasina is destined to die young adds a haunting sense of inevitability for the audience watching, making the final scenes especially powerful.

The production design was striking, particularly the circular revolving stage, which evoked cycles of time and the intertwining timelines of the play. Above the stage, spherical structures resembled planets or an orrery, creating a cosmic aesthetic that reinforced the themes of mathematics, physics, and universal order.

Overall, this was a beautiful production exploring themes of history and the pursuit of knowledge. However, at times it could be tricky to follow both timelines and to piece together the connections between the past and present investigations. Despite this, it remained engaging and rewarding as the ideas gradually came together.

Arcadia runs until 12^th September 2026 at Duke of Yorks Theatre with tickets available at What’s On At The Duke of York’s Theatre – Official Website

Reviewer: Zain Russell

Reviewed: 1st July 2026

North West End UK Rating: