The Guilty with London Theatre Breaks
This is tense. If you would rather spend your theatre break on the edge of your seat than humming along to a feelgood musical, make sure you see Russell Tovey in The Guilty this winter. After a sold-out run at the Donmar Warehouse last summer, it comes to the Harold Pinter Theatre from 18 January 2027 for just 11 weeks, closing on 3 April, and theatre breaks are on sale now.
Theatre: Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street (Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square Tube)
Dates: 18 January to 3 April 2027
Running time: about 65 minutes, no interval
Age guidance: 14+
Theatre breaks: Book your Guilty break
What’s it about?
A police officer, taken off the streets and put on desk duty is answering emergency calls. When a 999 call comes in from a woman called Emily. All he has is his headset, a phone line and his own judgement. What follows is an hour of white-knuckle theatre that will leave you breathless.
You may know the story from the 2018 Danish film, Den skyldige, or from the 2021 remake starring Jake Gyllenhaal. The stage version is focused solely on Tovey – the only actor on stage. If you don’t mind knowing a little of the plot (that is what trailers are for), the original film’s trailer is here.
The team behind it
The stage version is written by the award-winning playwright Chloë Moss and directed by Felix Barrett, the artistic director of Punchdrunk, the company that reinvented immersive theatre. The Standard called it a “thrilling shot of theatrical adrenaline”, and having seen what Tovey has to carry alone on that stage, I can see why the run is only 11 weeks: could anyone do that night after night for much longer? What a performance.
Planning your break
Evening performances are at 19:30, Monday to Saturday, with matinees at 14:30 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are no Sunday performances. With no interval and a running time of about 65 minutes, the evening show is over by about 20:35, so you can relax over dinner afterwards instead of rushing one beforehand.
The Harold Pinter stands on Panton Street, between Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, so restaurants and a wide choice of Theatreland hotels are within a few minutes’ walk. The two Thistle hotels, the Piccadily and the Trafalgar Square are close by and in January feature some good deals. Also have a look at the 4 star Club Quarters Trafalgar Square.
January to March is a popular time for a London break, and with a run this short the best dates will go first, so book early if you have a particular weekend in mind.
Before you book
Is The Guilty suitable for teenagers?
It is recommended for ages 14 and over. Under 16s must sit next to an adult aged 18 or over, and children under three are not admitted. The play deals with adult themes and includes strong language, flashing lights, haze and loud noise.
Do I need to have seen the film?
No. The play tells the whole story in its own right, and coming to it fresh may make it even more gripping.
How do I get there by train?
From Euston, take the Northern line (Charing Cross branch) to Leicester Square, about five minutes’ walk from the theatre. From King’s Cross St Pancras, the Piccadilly line runs direct to Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus, both a few minutes’ walk away.
