The Collaboration London Reviews and Tickets

85%

(11 Ratings)

Positive

91%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Absorbing, Great acting, Clever, Thought-provoking, Intelligent

About the Show

Paul Bettany & Jeremy Pope star in this new play about Andy Warhol & Jean-Michel Basquiat's infamous exhibition.

It's 1984 in New York City and Andy Warhol’s star is falling. The wonderkind of the modern art scene, Jean-Michel Basquiat, agrees to collaborate with Warhol on a new exhibition, which soon becomes the talk of the city. The two artists embark on an artistic and personal journey that redefines both of their worlds.

Anthony McCarten’s new drama is directed by Young Vic Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah.

Show-Score Member Reviews (11)

Interesting, Intense, Intelligent, Clever, Absorbing

See it if you want to experience great actors explore art

Don't see it if you prefer action over dialogue

When i tell you i’d watch jeremy pope put up wallpaper, Slow, Interesting, Great acting, Ambitious

See it if you don’t mind a low-key, introspective play examining the relationship between Warhol & Basquiat. Jeremy Pope is fire in everything.

Don't see it if you need more excitement than a interesting character study of a play.

Confusing, Ambitious, Absorbing

See it if you want to learn about the relationship and rivalry bw/ Basquiat and Warhol or you are keen to see Pope or Bettany on stage.

Don't see it if you don't like loud music or you prefer productions that don't want you to suspend disbelief throughout the play. Read more

Fluffy, Disappointing, Banal

See it if You know nothing of art.

Don't see it if You know ANYTHING about 20th Century art, and you think that Warhol literally killed art..like totally... like.. he killed it.

100

Masterful, Must see, Thought-provoking, Absorbing, Clever

See it if Great direction, mesmerising performances and a DJ set that was awesome! Saw it twice and enjoyed both times.

Don't see it if You don't want to!

Resonant, Absorbing, Intense, Great acting, Entertaining

See it if You like great acting from renowned movie stars

Don't see it if You don't like artist-focused dramas

Masterful, Intelligent, Great acting, Clever, Absorbing

See it if you adore intelligent discussions about how we can perceive art, what it is and what it can be

Don't see it if you can't engage with deep discussions

100

Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if Amazing

Don't see it if Sadness and alot of tears

Critic Reviews (7)

It is, as I say, terrific entertainment. But there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s wildly contrived...It is fanfic, even at one point bordering on slash fiction, and pretty difficult to take entirely seriously.
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An ebullient production under Kwame Kwei-Armah’s direction (there is even a live DJ though, oddly, the music is only cranked up in between scenes), it has two star turns in the central performances and a spectacular set from Anna Fleischle...
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It’s refreshing to eavesdrop on the notoriously understated icon in relatively garrulous private mode...the casual detail and commitment of the central performances keeps you watching.
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[Anthony] cleverly weaves his arguments about the nature of art, the origin of inspiration and the corruption of the art world into a story that hangs roughly on the lineaments of the two men's lives.
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For a play about mould-breakers, it’s structurally and dramatically formulaic, but McCarten has a real knack for humanising icons – for digging beneath the image to reveal the flaws, the contradictions and emotional complexity.
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The leads are excellent, in challenging roles...As a whole, it’s entertaining when it might have been electrifying.
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The dialogue between an aphoristic Warhol and a sullen Basquiat takes ages to spark. After a gluey first half it finally does so in response to an off-stage calamity.
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Trailer

Creative team