What's On, Bristol at Home, Theatre
Lanny
Published on
When: 16 October 2026 – 7 November 2026
Where: Bristol Old Vic, Bristol
Tickets: From £11
Max Porter's haunting, wildly imaginative novel comes to the stage, conjuring an ancient English village, a mysterious child and a watchful presence.
The flagship production of Bristol Old Vic's landmark 260th year, Lanny is a world premiere stage adaptation of Max Porter's Booker Prize-nominated novel, running from 16 October to 7 November 2026 with a press night on 22 October. It is adapted by award-winning West Country playwright Bea Roberts and directed by Bristol Old Vic Artistic Director Nancy Medina.
The story
Set in a village not far from Bristol, Lanny follows a family newly arrived from the city whose young son captures the attention of Dead Papa Toothwort, a mythic figure stirring in the woods. Reality and imagination collide in this dark, dazzling tale of folklore and belonging, with the title role shared by young actors Atlas Johnson-Dutfield and Lucian Thomas in their professional stage debuts.
Access and booking
Tickets start from £11, with £5 tickets available for club BOV members (ages 16–30) on selected preview nights. The production is recommended for ages 13+ due to complex themes including the disappearance of a child, and offers Captioned, Audio Described and BSL-interpreted performances.