Kyoto The Play tickets London

Don’t miss Kyoto, a new political thriller by the Royal Shakespeare Company and Good Chance, making its way to London’s West End. Following a successful first run in Stratford-upon-Avon, this production transfers to the West End’s Soho Place Theatre for a limited 16-week run starting from January 2025.

Set during the historic 1997 climate conference in Kyoto, Japan, the play takes you to the heart of high-stakes negotiations as world leaders grapple for over 11 hours to establish what would become the first landmark climate agreement.

What is Kyoto The Play about?

Saving the earth is a filthy business.

Step into the heart of the high-stakes 1997 Kyoto climate conference, where global representatives face a tense deadlock, struggling to finalise an agreement long after the United Nations summit was meant to end. As time slips away, world leaders are pressed to put aside their differences and push through the first climate treaty committing countries to reduce CO₂ emissions. 

Standing in their way is oil lobbyist, lawyer and master strategist Don Pearlman, who plans on stalling the negotiations to protect major oil companies’ interests. He views the summit as little more than scientists debating theories – an inconvenience to his clients’ trading interests and his own principles. Yet, as nations like Kiribati and other island states form determined alliances, their resolute unity shows Pearlman what is really at stake: survival.

This fascinating drama brings you behind the scenes of the landmark Kyoto Protocol, showing the delicate balancing act between non-negotiable demands and hard-won compromises. Kyoto places you in the heart of these intense discussions, where officials and UN delegates work tirelessly to shape the key principles of what would become the Kyoto Protocol, a foundational treaty that paved the way for future climate action. 

Who is in the cast of Kyoto?

Award-winning playwrights Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson (The Jungle) have united again to tell another powerful story with Kyoto. The team hopes the play will spark interest with a story that demonstrates how collective action can lead to significant change.

The cast of Kyoto at Soho Place in London features Tony Award-nominated Stephen Kunken (The Handmaid's Tale), coming back as American oil lobbyist Don Pearlman. Joining him are original cast members Jenna Augen (The Comedy About a Bank Robbery) as Shirley Pearlman, Olivia Barrowclough (Bridgerton) as the Secretariat, and Jorge Bosch as Argentine ambassador Raul Estrada Oyuela.

Nancy Crane (A View from the Bridge, The Crown) is the US representative, with Andrea Gatchalian portraying the Kiribati representative, Togo Igawa as Japan’s Hiroshi Ohki, and Kwong Loke as China’s Shukong Zhong.

How to get tickets for Kyoto?

Book tickets to see the play Kyoto with Visit London. View a seating plan to pick where to sit and watch this groundbreaking play. 

Ticket prices can be seen when viewing the seating map.

What are the best seats to book for Kyoto?

Conference seats are available to book, designed to put you in the middle of the action. Positioned very close to the stage, these seats let you experience the negotiations at stake as if you are seated at the table.

How long is Kyoto The Play in London?

The play is two hours and 45 minutes long, including a 20-minute interval.

Are there any matinees performances to see Kyoto?

Kyoto matinees are on Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm.

When are Kyoto's evening performances showing?

Evening performances of Kyoto are set to be showing Mondays to Saturdays at 7.30pm.

Where is Kyoto playing in London?

The play Kyoto is showing in London at @Sohoplace Theatre on Charing Cross Road.

How to get there: 

• Tube – Tottenham Court Road is the closest Tube station (Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines), just a few minutes away from the theatre.
• Bus – You can catch the following buses which stop on Denmark Street: 14, 24, 29, 176, N5, N19, N29, N38, N41 and N279).
• Cycling – Rent a Santander Cycles bike and head towards Soho Square where bike docks can be found. 

What age is Kyoto suitable for?

The play is recommended for anyone aged 12 and over. Please note that the show contains explicit language, as well as special effects including haze, smoke and flashing lights. 

What other shows can I see in London's West End?

Experience a gripping courtroom drama in classic Agatha Christie style with Witness for the Prosecution, now showing at the London County Hall. Or catch Dr Strangelove at the Noel Coward Theatre – a stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick's acclaimed Cold War satire.