About the Show

British and American leaders navigate culture and diplomacy during a historic 1939 visit.

Set in 1939, Springwood follows a weekend at a country house where King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the First Lady in the United States. As the two couples interact, the play examines both personal and political tensions, revealing secrets, doubts, and the challenges of diplomacy on the eve of global conflict. The story highlights the delicate balance between public expectation and private reality during a pivotal historical moment.

The play is written by Richard Nelson, an Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright known for works such as Farewell to the Theatre and Goodnight Children Everywhere. London stage director Stanley Tucci makes his debut with this production; he is an award-winning actor, presenter, author, and screen director, with previous stage credits including the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Lend Me a Tenor.

Critic Reviews (5)

"Nelson has a knack for timely historical exhumation…it's certainly an interesting behind-the-scenes look at both the machinations of state visits, and a particular moment when the future really did feel in flux."
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"Solid, understated performances by Robert Lindsay and Jemma Redgrave as Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor fail to lift it above the level of the humdrum."
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"Robert Lindsay and Jemma Redgrave star in a slow-moving historical drama — detailed, thoughtful performances."
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"It's a masterclass of humorous restraint and dignity which marks such a seismic contrast with today's crass, steamrolling presidential style, it makes you want to weep."
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"The performances and Nelson's direction crystallise the difference — with two heads of state on stage — between raw political power and symbolic significance."
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