Oppenheimer, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★

Below is our preview, giving background information about the show. Click here to read our Oppenheimer review.

Inventor of the atomic bomb, Robert Oppenheimer's life is told in sparkling style by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, having earned a West End transfer.

Robert Oppenheimer: life story on stage

On the cusp of the second world war, Europe's future is on a knife-edge and American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer finds himself enlisted to oversee the making of the first atomic bomb. A race against the enemy. "We could make a star on the surface of the earth," he boasts. The play spans the length of the war, and we are introduced to loved ones in Oppenheimer's life and the malevolent skulking presence of the FBI. It tells the story of how the bomb was made, why it was made and the terrible consequences of its creation.

Tom Morton-Smith: Oppenheimer playwright

John Heffernan returns for the titular role— critics praised his "magnificent" performance— "very much the bright star with a cold core of iron"(The Telegraph). There's a 20-strong cast that really add to this spectacle, which builds an intricate balance between scientific technicality and heartfelt humanity. Oppenheimer is playwright Tom Morton-Smith's first epic undertaking, having produced his early plays on small, fringe stages. He initially trained as an actor before developing projects with companies like Paines Plough, the Finborough and Theatre 503.

Oppenheimer London Transfer

RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran says, "I am so pleased that Tom's wonderful play can be seen by London audiences... Tom took up our challenge to think big, and has tackled a complex subject and some extraordinary personalities, and has woven a compelling narrative around them.”