One of the twentieth century’s greatest composers. One wrong note could cost him everything.

At the height of Stalin’s reign of terror, celebrated composer Dmitri Shostakovich walks a perilous tightrope. One wrong note could topple him; one perfectly judged crescendo might save his life. Under the constant threat of torture and death, he must appease a brutal despot – while quietly resisting him.

Park Theatre and Wild Yak, together with co-producer Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, are delighted to announce the world premiere of Holy Fool, a gripping new play by Rosalind Adler and Lea Sellers inspired by the extraordinary true story of legendary Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his battle to preserve his artistic voice under Stalin’s brutal regime which runs until 10th October.

Benjamin O’Mahony (Stu Hale in the BAFTA nominated Kajaki; Hollyoaks; Ripper Street) stars as Dmitri “Mitya” Shostakovich. He is joined by Jenna Augen (Kyoto – RSC and West End; Leopoldstadt – West End and Broadway) as ‘Nina’, Phoebe Pryce (The Merchant of Venice – Shakespeare’s Globe; The Importance of Being Earnest – Royal Exchange), as ‘Katya’ and Fergus O’Donnell (RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe, I May Destroy You) as ‘Izaak’.

Inspired by remarkable real events, Holy Fool is a tense, darkly witty and moving portrait of an artist who fought oppression not with weapons, but with music. Directed by Kate Fahy, the production reunites her with a creative team including Will Fricker (Design) alongside lighting designer Oliver Fenwick and sound designer Julian Starr.

Director Kate Fahy said: “This is a play for today. We know that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, artists and intellectuals have been sanctioned for their criticism of the war. They walk the same tightrope that Shostakovich walked, trying to get their message out subversively without losing their life or that of their loved ones. Holy Fool is a funny and humane play which examines one man’s challenge, when to express his authentic self and when to comply with a brutal regime in order to stay alive and put food on the table. And keep writing his sublime music so we can marvel at it nearly a hundred years later.”

Drawing on one of the most remarkable artistic lives of the twentieth century, Holy Fool combines sharp humour, psychological suspense and the electrifying music of Dmitri Shostakovich to tell the story of a composer whose greatest acts of defiance were hidden in plain sight. They play runs at Park Theatre until Saturday 10th October, for tickets and more information please go to the Park Theatre website.