About the Show

A revival of David Hare’s rock-fueled play directed by Daniel Raggett.

Set in the aftermath of the 1960s counterculture, Teeth 'N' Smiles follows Maggie Frisby, a once-celebrated rock singer whose rebellious energy has curdled into desperation. Performing at a Cambridge college ball in 1972, Maggie and her band face the collapse of their ideals and the decay of their musical dreams. As the night spirals into chaos, the play explores the tension between youthful rebellion and disillusioned adulthood, all underscored by live music that captures the fading roar of a revolutionary generation.

Originally premiered in 1975, Teeth 'N' Smiles is written by David Hare (Plenty, Skylight, The Power of Yes). Original score elements are by Nick Bicât with lyrics by Tony Bicât, blending vintage rock textures with new compositions created specifically for this production.

Directed by Daniel Raggett (Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Anna X), this new staging marks the return of one of Hare’s most ferocious works to the West End. Produced by ATG Entertainment, the production honors the play’s legacy as a landmark fusion of theatre and live music while reintroducing its themes of rebellion and loss to a new generation.

Critic Reviews (8)

“It’s still a well-paced play running on a whip-smart script that’s very entertaining in all its salty sarcasm.”
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"I’m still puzzling over the Why of this revival."
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"Come for the play and stay for the astounding music.”
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"As a complete production, it just doesn’t work, and was probably never going to work."
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"...Teeth ‘n’ Smiles now functions as a history play, giving context to the state we are in."
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“Daniel Raggett's staging makes the most of Hare's witty one-liners without sacrificing the essential bleakness of this story.”
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"In a portrayal to which she has so obviously given her heart and soul, and in which she spares herself nothing, Taylor undeniably delivers."
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"In this production, Taylor’s Maggie simply smashes it, often literally. As a singer she is compelling, and her acting perfectly conveys the singer’s troubled, but irrepressible character."
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