Cast announced for Alexander Zeldin's CARE - Young Vic (UK)
Multi-generational cast led by BAFTA nominated Best Actress Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife), Rosie Cavaliero (Bookish), Hayley Carmichael (Rhinoceros), Richard Durden (Bridgerton), Aoife Gaston (Doctor Who), Llewella Gideon (Mr Loverman), William Lawlor (Arcadia), Ethan Mahony and Charlie Webb (both in their stage debuts), and including participants from Young Vic’s Taking Part Neighbourhood Theatre programme.
Internationally-acclaimed writer and director Alexander Zeldin makes his Young Vic debut with this life-affirming family drama, immediately following the New York transfer of the National Theatre production of The Other Place.
CARE runs in the Young Vic Main House from 11 May to 11 July with opening night on 19 May. Tickets available now at www.youngvic.org
The Young Vic Theatre is delighted to announce the casting for CARE, written and directed by internationally-acclaimed writer and director Alexander Zeldin (LOVE, The Confessions, The Other Place - National Theatre) in his Young Vic debut. Following a single mum, two young siblings, and their gran, CARE is a revealing, tender, joyful and moving examination of the realities of family life. It runs in the Main House from 11 May to 11 July with press night on 19 May 2026.
BAFTA nominee Linda Bassett (Call the Midwife, East is East) plays grandmother Joan, Hayley Carmichael (Rhinoceros, Richard III) plays resident Simone, Rosie Cavaliero (Bookish, The Power of Parker) plays mother Lynn, Richard Durden (Bridgerton, Ghosts) plays resident John, Aoife Gaston (Doctor Who, The Tempest) plays nurse Fanta, Llewella Gideon (Mr Loverman, Faith, Hope and Charity) plays nurse Hazel, William Lawlor (Arcadia, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) plays teenager Laurie, Ethan Mahony and Charlie Webb, both making their professional stage debuts, will share the role of youngest son Robbie.
Alexander Zeldin is a multi-award-winning writer and director whose work has been performed in over 16 countries. His production of The Other Place seen at the National Theatre in 2024, is currently playing at The Shed in New York.
Alexander Zeldin, Writer and Director, said: “Theatre is uniquely able to bring us closer to our lives, to the reality that we are in but don’t always want to see. CARE is about how, when confronted with the end of life, we come to see life with a new intensity, a new feeling and ultimately a new energy. This subject, of an elderly parent, spouse, sister, brother reaching the end of their life is at the heart of all of our lives. We will, we have, or we are experiencing it. The Young Vic’s space has been an inspiration to me for years, I spent my twenties in awe of the work I discovered there, it is uniquely democratic, open, warm. It is a place we can go to be transformed. To collaborate with Linda Bassett, a true great of British theatre, and be part of Nadia Fall’s ambitious inaugural season, alongside our wonderful group of creatives and actors and co-produced by A Zeldin Company is very exciting.”
Nadia Fall, Young Vic Artistic Director, said: “Alexander Zeldin is one of our finest directors and a true auteur. I’m delighted to welcome him to the Young Vic with CARE, which looks at ageing and life in a delicately affecting, yet uplifting way. It’s a finely drawn and disarmingly recognisable family portrait that reveals how three different generations of one family interact; grappling with change and conflict but where love is ever present. Whatever stage of life we’re in, I think we can all find something of ourselves in this play. It brings together a brilliant cast which includes our Neighbourhood Theatre and promises to be a truly special and intimate production.”
I never saw any of that before. All that the birds do… I see it now
Will they be gone too?
A single mum, two feuding siblings? and their gran. When Grandmother takes a fall, she is hastily moved to a care home she doesn’t want to be in, surrounded by other elderly people longing for comfort and missing home. But as time passes, she comes to see what really matters in life and, between loss and loneliness, we glimpse the unexpected joy in life’s everyday moments.
CARE is a life affirming examination of the realities of ageing and the elusive connection between loss and rebirth.
The Creative Team brings together Set Designer Rosanna Vize, Costume Designer Natasha Jenkins, Lighting Designer James Farncombe, Sound Designer Josh Anio Grigg, Movement Director Marcin Rudy, Casting Director Jacob Sparrow, Intimacy Director Katharine Hardman for EK Intimacy, Fight Director Sam Lyon-Behan, Voice Coach Carol Fairlamb, Dramatherapist Patricia Ojehonmon, Costume Supervisor Caroline McCall, Props Supervisor Laura Flowers and Associate Director Kaleya Baxe.
CARE is the final Main House production in Nadia Fall’s inaugural season which will conclude with the world premiere of Sting by Sophie Swithinbank directed by Nancy Medina in the Maria Studio (18 Jun – 18 Jul).
CARE is co-produced with A Zeldin Company.
CARE is translated and adapted from Zeldin's play Une Mort dans la Famille, which premiered in Paris at Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe in 2022.
-ENDS-
Listings:
A Young Vic and A Zeldin Company co-production
CARE
Written and Directed by Alexander Zeldin
Young Vic, Main House
11 May - 11 July 2026
Press night: 19 May 2026
Access performances:
BSL Performance (BSL interpreter Lixi Chivas): Thu 11 Jun 7.30pm, Wed 1 Jul 2.30pm
Captioned Performances (captioned by Suzanne Walkers): Wed 10 Jun 7.30, Sar 4 Jul, 2.30 (also Relaxed)
Relaxed Performances: Wed 27 May 2.30, Sat 4 Jul 2.30 (also Captioned)
Audio Described Performances (audio described by Ruth James and William Elliot): Thu 4 Jun 7.30 (touch tour 6.30pm), Sat 13 Jun 2.30 (touch tour 1.30pm)
Young Vic Press Contacts:
Kate Hassell, Bread and Butter PR | kate@breadandbutterpr.uk
Siobhan Waterhouse, Bread and Butter PR | siobhan@siobhanwaterhouse.nz
About the Young Vic Theatre
Founded in 1970 as a space for world-premiere productions and unexpected takes on classic plays, the Young Vic has been one of London’s leading theatres for more than fifty years.
Welcoming 100,000 visitors a year, the Young Vic stands out in the nation’s cultural landscape for balancing daring commercial drive and artistic flair with genuine grassroots social impact work within our community. This success is seen most vividly in the audience group for which we are famous; the most diverse, lively and engaged in London. This is the fruit of years of building involvement among local young people. We forge deep connections in our neighbourhood through our Taking Part programme, where we engage with over 15,000 people every year via a wide range of projects, from skills-based workshops to on-stage performances.
We believe great art belongs to everyone. Ticket prices are kept low and 10% of tickets are given free within the local community; enabling a unique, no-risk taste of great theatre for thousands of people.
Our unique, fully-flexible auditoria allows us to present great plays by and with the next generation of theatre artists alongside work by some of the world’s great directors, actors and designers. We are proud to be a directors’ theatre known for launching careers and a combination of youth and genius which makes us one of the most vibrant theatres in the UK.
Built upon the principles of access, innovation, and community, the Young Vic is deepening its roots nationally and internationally. Recent transfers include Punch, Best of Enemies and Oklahoma! in the West End and Death of a Salesman and The Collaboration on Broadway.
Some theatres present great plays. Some give young artists opportunities to grow. Some build strong and lasting relationships with their community. The Young Vic does all three.
Artistic Director: Nadia Fall
Executive Director: Lucy Pattison
www.youngvic.org
The Young Vic is grateful to be a beneficiary of public funding from Arts Council England.
CARE is generously supported by the Young Vic Season Circle.
Thank you to the additional generosity of our donors, partners and members whose support each year makes our work on stage and in our local communities possible.
We thank Lambeth Council and Southwark Council for their continued support.