The Holy Rosenbergs at the Menier Chocolate Factory: Tickets, Cast & Reviews (2026)

The Holy Rosenbergs at the Menier Chocolate Factory: A Timely Revival

Ryan Craig's powerful 2011 play The Holy Rosenbergs returns to the London stage in a revival that feels more relevant than ever. Running at the Menier Chocolate Factory from 27 February to 2 May 2026, this production directed by Lindsay Posner brings a domestic drama that embraces wider international conflict, exploring themes of Jewish identity, family loyalty, and the moral complexities of war.

Synopsis: A Family in Crisis

Set over one fraught evening in 2009 during the First Gaza War, The Holy Rosenbergs follows the Rosenberg family of Edgware as they prepare for a memorial service for their eldest son Danny, an Israeli Air Force pilot killed in action. The family finds itself torn apart by conflicting loyalties and beliefs. David Rosenberg (Nicholas Woodeson) is desperately trying to save his failing kosher catering business after a diner died from eating his salmon mousse. To make ends meet, he's taken up minicabbing—armed with an axe for protection. His wife Lesley (Tracy-Ann Oberman) is the quintessential Jewish mother, attempting to hold the family together with cups of tea and slices of cake while navigating her own emotional turmoil. Their daughter Ruth (Dorothea Myer-Bennett), a human rights lawyer working in Geneva, returns home to face public vilification. She's been involved in a controversial UN report investigating war crimes in both Gaza and Israel, and her work has made her a pariah in her own community. The local synagogue president, Saul Morganstern (Dan Fredenburgh), warns that protests may erupt at Danny's memorial if Ruth attends. The youngest son, Jonny (Nitai Levi), seeks to escape his father's expectations and remains detached from the family drama. When Ruth's boss, Sir Stephen Crossley (Adrian Lukis), arrives at the Rosenberg home, tensions explode into a passionate debate about Israeli-Palestinian relations, the ethics of international law, and the right to exist versus the obligation to protect human rights.

Cast and Creative Team

The production features an exceptional cast led by:

• Nicholas Woodeson as David Rosenberg
• Tracy-Ann Oberman as Lesley Rosenberg
• Dorothea Myer-Bennett as Ruth Rosenberg
• Nitai Levi as Jonny Rosenberg
• Dan Fredenburgh as Saul Morganstern
• Adrian Lukis as Sir Stephen Crossley
• Alex Zur as Rabbi Simon

The creative team includes:

• Writer: Ryan Craig
• Director: Lindsay Posner
• Set and Costume Designer: Tim Shortall
• Lighting Designer: Charles Balfour
• Sound Designer: Yvonne Gilbert
• Fight Director: Bret Yount

Critical Reviews: Mixed but Thought-Provoking

The revival has received mixed reviews, with an average rating of 3.6 stars, though critics universally acknowledge its timeliness and relevance. The Guardian (4 stars) praises it as "a gripping play that has the vital ability to use a domestic drama as a means of embracing the wider international conflict," calling it "absorbing and timely." The Times (4 stars) highlights Tracy-Ann Oberman's performance: "Oberman always holds your attention as the indomitable Lesley, the kind of matriarch who thinks a cup of tea and a slice of cake can bring peace in our time." The Arts Desk (4 stars) calls it a "brilliantly provocative play" that is "more relevant than ever," praising "the clarity of its construction, the tension of its climax and the slow unveiling of its emotional core." What's On Stage (4 stars) notes that "watching Lindsay Posner's powerful revival at the Menier Chocolate Factory, slightly tightened and focused but still set in 2009, its resonance... seems almost deafening." However, some critics found the play overstuffed. BroadwayWorld (3 stars) writes: "Oy vey: this play about Jewish identity ironically lacks its own... In trying to say everything at once, this revival ends up diluting its strongest ideas." The Standard (3 stars) describes it as "a serious but clumsy bid to show how Gaza impacts Jews," though praising Oberman as "both very funny and then suddenly deeply moving." TimeOut (3 stars) notes that it "seeks to empathise rather than condemn," while The Stage (3 stars) acknowledges that "strong performances hold together this knotty, overstuffed drama." Plays International's Neil Dowden awards it 4/5 stars, stating: "Lindsay Posner's taut revival brings home the urgency... The cast is excellent."

Performance Schedule and Venue Information

Run Dates: 27 February – 2 May 2026 Preview Performances (27 Feb – 7 Mar 2026):

• Monday – Saturday at 7:30PM
• Saturday matinee at 3PM

Main Run (From 10 Mar 2026):

• Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30PM
• Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3PM (excluding Sunday 15 March)

Venue: Menier Chocolate Factory, 4 O'Meara Street, London SE1 1TE Nearest Tube: London Bridge Box Office: 020 7378 1713 / ¹ Runtime: 2 hours 20 minutes (including one interval) Age Restriction: 15+ (contains adult language)

Ticket Pricing

The Menier Chocolate Factory offers a range of ticket prices to accommodate different budgets:

• All Previews: £30
• Post-Opening Week (excluding Saturday matinee): £35
• Standard: £44.50
• Premier: £49.50
• Access, Restricted View & Concessions: £35
• Group Rate 1 (Valid 27 Feb - 7 Mar): £35 for 10+ Standard tickets
• Group Rate 2 (Valid from 10 Mar): £40 for 10+ Standard tickets

Note: All bookings are subject to a 75p per ticket fee. Daily rush seats are available on the TodayTix app.

Accessibility and Theatre Policies

The Menier Chocolate Factory provides step-free access to the auditorium and has accessible toilet facilities available. However, patrons should be aware of the theatre's strict policies:

• No late admission and no readmission once a performance has begun
• Bag searches and security checks are required for entry
• Enhanced CCTV and security procedures are in place
• Tickets are non-refundable unless KXtickets Refund Protection is purchased

Why See The Holy Rosenbergs?

Despite mixed critical reception, The Holy Rosenbergs offers a powerful exploration of timely themes that resonate deeply in 2026. The play examines the consequences of tribalism, the conflict between personal conscience and community loyalty, and the moral complexities of international conflict—all within the framework of a compelling family drama. Tim Shortall's design has been praised for its detailed recreation of a suburban north London Jewish home, complete with "Nineties by way of the Seventies" aesthetic featuring a midi hifi system and Italian furniture. The production creates an authentic domestic setting that allows the international political stakes to land with visceral impact. The performances, particularly from Tracy-Ann Oberman and Dorothea Myer-Bennett, have been singled out for praise. Oberman's portrayal of the Jewish mother attempting to hold her fractured family together provides both comic relief and genuine emotional depth, while Myer-Bennett's Ruth embodies the principled professional caught between her commitment to human rights and her family's expectations.

Historical Context

The Holy Rosenbergs originally premiered at the National Theatre's Cottesloe Theatre in 2011, following Craig's earlier play about Jewish identity, What We Did to Weinstein. This revival features a text that has been "tightened and focused" while maintaining its 2009 setting, allowing audiences to reflect on how little—and how much—has changed in the intervening years. The play draws inspiration from Arthur Miller and Henrik Ibsen, using the intimate scale of domestic drama to illuminate broader social and political issues. Its exploration of the Goldstone Report on Human Rights during the 2008-09 Gaza War remains painfully relevant as conflicts in the region continue.

Final Verdict

The Holy Rosenbergs at the Menier Chocolate Factory is a thought-provoking, emotionally charged production that tackles difficult questions without easy answers. While some critics find it overstuffed with ideas, others praise its ambition and relevance. The excellent cast and intimate setting of the Menier Chocolate Factory create a theatrical experience that invites audiences to grapple with questions of identity, loyalty, and morality that extend far beyond the Rosenberg family's living room. For those seeking theatre that engages with contemporary issues through the lens of personal drama, this revival offers a compelling—if sometimes uncomfortable—evening that will provoke discussion long after the curtain falls.