Sandra Oh Leads 1666 Molière Revival at London’s National Theatre
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 20
Sandra Oh Leads 1666 Molière Revival at London’s National Theatre
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 20
Summary
Sandra Oh, 54, is rehearsing her first National Theatre role, playing Alice in Martin Crimp’s modern, gender-flipped version of Molière’s Le Misanthrope at the Lyttelton until Aug. 1.
The production keeps the play in verse while updating its language, and Oh said its themes of hypocrisy, honesty and the difficulty of finding truth feel sharply relevant in 2026.
The stage turn extends a deliberate pivot toward live performance after last summer’s Twelfth Night in New York and her Metropolitan Opera debut last autumn.
Oh framed the role as part of a broader midlife phase in which she is choosing collaborative work, speaking more openly about racism and misogyny in the industry, and backing younger artists.
The return to London also reconnects her with the city where Killing Eve transformed her career 8 years ago, though she now says she is focused less on reliving that breakthrough than on the work in front of her.