Review Roundup: What Are the Critics Saying About Arcadia at the Duke of York’s Theatre?

Published on 2 July 2026

Summary

Arcadia has now opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre and the reviews are in.
Carrie Cracknell directs one of Tom Stoppard’s most famous play
Find out what the critics thought of the show in our review roundup

Arcadia has now opened at the Duke of York’s Theatre (soon to be the Tom Stoppard Theatre) after transferring from the Old Vic. But what did the critics think about Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece directed by Carrie Cracknell?

What is Arcadia about?

Set in a country house that bridges centuries, the play weaves together two timelines. In 1809, a teenage mathematical prodigy pushes the boundaries of knowledge, exploring nature, love, and the unpredictable forces that shape both the universe and human behaviour. In the present day, a group of academics returns to the same house, attempting to reconstruct its past while searching for truth, certainty, and something more elusive…

As past and present overlap, Stoppard’s clever, playful writing reveals how easily history is misread and how patterns in life may never fully resolve into clarity. The result is a rich exploration of intellect, desire and uncertainty across time.

First performed to critical acclaim, Arcadia won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1993, alongside the Drama Desk Award and the Tony Award for Best Play, cementing its status as a modern classic.

Isis Hainsworth stars in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia in London's West End

What are the critics saying about Arcadia?

⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A magnificent monument to Tom Stoppard.” - Evening Standard

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Remains a unique and dazzling work.” - Time Out

⭐⭐⭐⭐“The production emerges as one of the many wonderful tributes that will no doubt guarantee Stoppard’s place as the greatest playwright of the last century." - WhatsOnStage

⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Thought-provoking, funny and deeply moving.” - Theatre Weekly

⭐⭐⭐ “Funny, melancholy and thought-provoking.” - The Stage

And what did the critics say when it played at the Old Vic?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This wonderful meditation on love, death and mathematics dances through the mind and the heart.” - Evening Standard

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Animated by a strong cast, this sprawling, elegiac revival lets Tom Stoppard’s warm, erudite wit shine through.” – The Stage

⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Glows with historical, intellectual and sexual intrigue.” - Financial Times

⭐⭐⭐⭐“Carrie Cracknell’s revival of the intellectually thrilling and romantically stirring Arcadia is a must-see.” - The Telegraph

⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A truly marvellous play, full of wit, wisdom and a rare warmth.” - WhatsOnStage

⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Tom Stoppard’s masterpiece gets a stellar, lust-filled revival.” - The Independent

How to book tickets to Arcadia

Tickets for Arcadia are available now. Secure your seats this summer before the show ends on Saturday 12 Sep 2026.

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By Hay Brunsdon

I've over 15 years of writing and editorial experience, and starting working in the West End theatre industry in 2012. When not watching or writing about theatre I'm usually swimming, hiking, running, or training for triathlons in the Stroud valleys.