Adrien Brody’s wrenching portrait of death row injustice is unmissable. TELEGRAPH ★★★★★

When you combine Justin Martin, director of the esteemed Prima Facie, with Hollywood’s Adrien Brody and add in a well-received true crime documentary as source material, you know you’re in for something special. THEATRE WEEKLY ★★★★★

Tim Sheader’s tenure as the Donmar’s new artistic director has got off to an exemplary start. THE TIMES ★★★★★

This will go down as one of the best new plays of the year. WHATSONSTAGE ★★★★★

“Justin Martin … shares a gift for deceptive simplicity melded with bold theatricality, and an almost alchemical ability to seamlessly fuse text with sophisticated technical elements. Martin also has form for coaxing remarkable stage performances out of screen actors, having steered Jodie Comer through the internationally acclaimed Prima Facie”. AJHLovesTheatre ★★★★★

“The first thing you should know is that this is true. It’s what actually happened.
I know it seems like it’s a story – inside of a story – inside of a story.
–but that’s how it is for most people. At least the ones in here.”

Nick’s got a story to tell you. About how a routine traffic stop turned into a conviction for murder. About how he spent the next 22 years on Death Row. About how he finally petitioned the court to ask not for an appeal, but for his execution date. And about what happened next…

Based on the extraordinary true story of Nick Yarris, Academy Award winner Adrien Brody makes his London theatre debut in the world premiere of The Fear of 13; a new play by Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone) directed by Justin Martin (Prima Facie). 

Based on the documentary film by David Sington.

REVIEWS —

  • WhatsOnStage - ★★★★★ “Martin also directs his company with incredible finesse”.

  • The Times - ★★★★★ “This one belongs in a league of its own”.

  • Telegraph - ★★★★★ “Justin Martin’s faultless production”

  • Theatre Weekly - ★★★★★ “Thanks to Martin’s direction, we are never permitted to simply gaze. Instead, we are yanked straight into the centre of the drama and forced to confront it head on”.

  • INews - ★★★★★ “Adrien Brody is mesmerically good – it’s a privilege to watch him”.

  • Love London Love Culture - ★★★★★ “a powerful piece of theatre and pitch perfect”.

  • West End Best Friend - ★★★★★ “Tender, lyrical and tenacious – don’t give up hope of trying to get a ticket to this sold-out run”

  • London Theatre - ★★★★★ “Justin Martin’s superb production is always in service to the rending story it wants to tell”.

  • Fairy Powered Productions - ★★★★★ “a heart wrenching exploration of bad decisions and a seemingly endless wait for justice that has you hanging on until the end”.

  • Theatre And Tonic - ★★★★★ “This is theatre at its’ finest – all encompassing in the most exquisite sense”.

  • Reviews Hub - ★★★★★ “there is something so engaging about Justin Martin’s direction”.

  • All That Dazzles - ★★★★★ “Justin Martin’s direction, ambitious and perhaps unconventional in its approach but faultless in its execution”.

  • AJHLovesTheatre - ★★★★★ “The Fear of 13 is a tremendous piece of total theatre, haunting, stirring and vital”.

  • Gay Times - ★★★★★ “Adrien Brody is completely captivating in gripping new play The Fear of 13”.

  • Curtain Call Reviews - ★★★★★ “so compelling that it must be seen to be believed”.

  • British Theatre Guide ★★★★★ - “Justin Martin’s production grabs you in a police headlock and doesn't let you go. Brody grabs your heart and doesn't let it go”.

  • Medium - ★★★★★ “This is glorious theatre”.

  • LondonTheatreNow - ★★★★★ “gripping”.

  • The Arts Desk - ★★★★★ “A magnificent Adrien Brody leads a moving production by Justin Martin”.

  • The Upcoming - ★★★★★ “a bitter critique of the American justice system, a poignant tale of star-crossed lovers and a surprisingly life-affirming journey of self-discovery”.

  • London Theatre Doc - ★★★★★ “a masterpiece of modern theatre'“.

  • Observer ★★★★ “Justin Martin’s production of The Fear of 13 has something of the same crackle as his 2022 staging of Prima Facie… It hits with a fury”.

  • Financial Times - ★★★★ “Adrien Brody is spellbinding”.

  • Metro - ★★★★ “In Justin Martin’s superbly paced production, Mensah and Brody deliver two beautifully complimentary performances”.

  • London Living Large - ★★★★ “The strength of this work is the masterful direction of Justin Martin”.

  • DailyMail - ★★★★ “Caged Brody shines in true story of justice gone wrong”.

  • London Theatre 1 - ★★★★ “an intense but nonetheless highly engaging production”.

  • Lost In Theatreland - ★★★★ “a tour-de-force”.

  • The Strand Magazine - ★★★★“an emotive and narratively-driven account of Yarris’ life story, told with extraordinary candour and humanity”. 

  • Mail On Sunday ★★★★ “Incredible”.

  • Daily Express - ★★★★ “Compelling”

  • Time Out - ★★★★ “a cracking piece of storytelling”.

  • The American - “Justin Martin's direction is wonderfully detailed and taut throughout”.

  • The Stage - “Martin’s staging is once again remarkable… It has an undeniable emotional force, and Brody is mesmerising”.

  • Theatre Vibe - “This production is sold out, rightfully so”.

  • Islington Tribune - “Justin Martin’s staging and the performances are breathtaking”.

  • Camden New Journal - “Justin Martin’s staging and the performances are breathtaking”.

  • Financial Times - “Six theatre shows to see in London”.

  • The Times - “the best productions reviewed by our critics in London and nationwide”.

  • Esquire - “an Adrien Brody masterclass”.