By Anthony McCarten
Royal & Derngate Northampton and Rose Theatre Kingston
in association with Oxford Playhouse

Directed by James Dacre

Nine years ago Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world by resigning, the first Pope in 700 years to do so. What drove this arch-conservative to break with sacred tradition and cede the way for Cardinal Bergoglio – a one time tango club bouncer, football-loving reformer with the common touch – to become Pope Francis, one of most powerful men on earth?

Pope Benedict is played by Anton Lesser (Game Of Thrones, The Crown, Endeavour) and Pope Francis is played by Nicholas Woodeson (Baptiste, The Death Of Stalin, The Danish Girl) in this new play from Anthony McCarten, which premiered at Royal & Derngate in 2019 and was subsequently adapted into the award winning film for which McCarten was nominated for “Best Adapted Screenplay” at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs.

Director James Dacre (2020 Oliver Award nominated Our Lady of Kibeho) collaborates with UK Theatre Award-winning designer Jonathan Fensom and BRIT and Grammy-winning composer Anne Dudley (Elle, American History X, The Full Monty) on this fascinating, gripping and often funny story of two very different men grappling with their complex pasts and uncertain futures.

From coming of age under dictatorships in Germany and Argentina, to the scandal of sexual abuse by the clergy, The Two Popes shines a light into one of the world’s most secretive institutions. At its heart lies a timeless question: in moments of crisis, should we follow the rules or our conscience?