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A Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh production

Sweat

By Lynn Nottage

02 - 16 May 2026

Event details

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A powerful and deeply human portrait of America’s working class at the dawn of the 21st Century.   

In a small Rust Belt town in Pennsylvania, friendships are forged through sweat and laughter. For decades, Tracey and Cynthia have worked side by side, bound by shared history and hard-earned pride. But when whispers of layoffs grow louder, opportunity turns into betrayal. A community built on solidarity begins to splinter, as bitter resentments and unspoken racial divides rise to the surface.    

Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a raw exploration of fractured industries, economic disparity, and the deep divisions that helped shape modern America. As Tracey and Cynthia’s sons, Jason and Chris, inherit the fallout of a broken system, their anger and desperation erupt. Gripping and profoundly resonant, Sweat is a story of loyalty, loss, and the unrelenting fight for survival in an unforgiving world. 

Citizens Theatre - Main Theatre

02 - 16 May 2026

TBC

£12 - £41.50

Fees
Booking fee: £1.50 per transaction
Find out more about our fees

Discounts
Individual and Joint Theatre Passes apply.
Access, Gorbals, Under 30s and Low Income passes apply.

Age recommendation
14+

Content note
Contains scenes of violence, racial and ableist slurs, and depictions of smoking

Event details

Page Navigation

A powerful and deeply human portrait of America’s working class at the dawn of the 21st Century.   

In a small Rust Belt town in Pennsylvania, friendships are forged through sweat and laughter. For decades, Tracey and Cynthia have worked side by side, bound by shared history and hard-earned pride. But when whispers of layoffs grow louder, opportunity turns into betrayal. A community built on solidarity begins to splinter, as bitter resentments and unspoken racial divides rise to the surface.    

Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play is a raw exploration of fractured industries, economic disparity, and the deep divisions that helped shape modern America. As Tracey and Cynthia’s sons, Jason and Chris, inherit the fallout of a broken system, their anger and desperation erupt. Gripping and profoundly resonant, Sweat is a story of loyalty, loss, and the unrelenting fight for survival in an unforgiving world. 

Citizens Theatre - Main Theatre

02 - 16 May 2026

TBC

£12 - £41.50

Fees
Booking fee: £1.50 per transaction
Find out more about our fees

Discounts
Individual and Joint Theatre Passes apply.
Access, Gorbals, Under 30s and Low Income passes apply.

Age recommendation
14+

Content note
Contains scenes of violence, racial and ableist slurs, and depictions of smoking

Creative Team

Director
Joanna Bowman

Designer
Francis O’Connor

Lighting Designer
Derek Anderson

Composer / Sound Designer
Patricia Panther

Fight Director
EmmaClaire Brightlyn

Dialect Coach
Aundrea Fudge

Movement Director
Jack Webb

Assistant Director
Laurie Bayley-Higgins

Casting Director
Annelie Powell CDG

Assistant Lighting Designer
Shona M’gadzah

 

Cast

Laura Cairns
Debbie Korley
Lewis MacDougall
Lucianne McEvoy
Rudolphe Mdlongwa
Christopher Middleton
Ako Mitchell
Manuel Pacific
Mark Theodore

Go behind the scenes

Accessibility

Auditorium Space

This show takes place in our Main Theatre. We have 6 wheelchair user positions available in the stalls seating area, and 2 wheelchair user positions are available at the Circle level.

Hearing aid induction loops are available.

Venue Information

Level access from the street, through the foyer and into the Main Theatre. The Courtyard Lift provides access to each level of the auditorium, and the Close Lift provides access to the Circle level of the Main Theatre.

At Circle level, there is level access to Row C and the wheelchair spaces. At Upper Circle Level, there are 9 steps up and 4 steps down to the seating.

We have a small car park with four blue badge spaces within the car park.

Accessible Performances

BSL Interpreted
Friday 08 May

Audio Described and Captioned
Saturday 09 May

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Membership
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Becoming a member

A Theatre Pass gives you priority booking, cheaper tickets and discounts in our new café and bar.

Pricing
Newly refurbished Citizens Theatre foyer.

Pricing

Accessibility and affordability are values we care a lot about. We offer ticket prices for all pockets and reward early booking.

Visit
Outside of the Citizens Theatre with all three external lights lit.

Plan your visit

A lot has changed since our doors were last open. Find out more about the building and what to expect from your theatre trip.

Schedule

Citizens Theatre - Main Theatre