In 1930s Germany, a woman puts on her dead husband’s trousers and never takes them off. As the world around her changes, she endures war and dictatorship, hunger and humiliation – always fighting to stay alive.
More than 30 years after she first brought the role to life at both the Traverse Theatre and Royal Court Theatre, and the last time she performed live in a theatre, Tilda Swinton returns to the stage in the lead role as Ella/Max. Translated from German by Anthony Vivis and revised by Stephen Unwin (2026); the play reunites members of the original creative team, including director Stephen Unwin, designer Bunny Christie and lighting designer Ben Ormerod. The production continues performances at the Royal Court Theatre, running to 24 October 2026.
The full creative team includes sound designer Elena Peña, projection designer Matt Powell, movement director Kane Husbands, design associate Verity Sadler, props supervisor Lily Mollgaard, associate director Eleanor Burke and voice by Hazel Holder.
Man to Man is performed as part of the Royal Court Theatre’s 70th anniversary season, the production will subsequently transfer to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, which originally produced the UK premiere before it transferred to the Royal Court Theatre in 1987.
The production runs at the Royal Court Theatre to Saturday 24 October 2026, and then runs at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh from Thursday 29 October – Saturday 7 November 2026. In 2027, Man to Man transfers to the Berliner Ensemble with a premiere on 9 February 2027 and will run in New York in Spring 2027, with further details to be announced.
Images (c) Ruediger Glatz
