In a major new commission for 2026, the National Theatre presents The Authenticator, a gripping gothic thriller by the award-winning playwright Winsome Pinnock. Known for her seminal works Leave Taking and Rockets and Blue Lights, Pinnock reunites with director Miranda Cromwell to tell a dark and twisting story about art, ownership, and the ghosts of history that refuse to stay buried.
The play centers on Abi, a meticulous art authenticator who is summoned to verify a rare collection of colonial-era portraits. As she delves deeper into the provenance of the paintings, she uncovers disturbing secrets that link the artwork to a history of exploitation and her own family’s past. The narrative blurs the lines between the present day and the 19th century, using the conventions of the ghost story to explore how the legacy of empire continues to haunt British institutions.
Featuring a stellar cast including Rakie Ayola and Cherrelle Skeete, the production promises to be visually stunning, utilizing the intimate Dorfman space to create an atmosphere of mounting dread and intrigue. It is a sophisticated examination of who gets to tell the stories of the past and the price of keeping the truth hidden.
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