A Little Life

A theatre recording of Ivo van Hove's staging. It tells the story of four college friends in New York across many years. At the centre is Jude, a lawyer. His friends do not know his past; the play opens it piece by piece and the narrative does not soften what follows from abuse. It is adapted from a novel. James Norton takes the lead. The staging rests on a single space and the actors do not leave it. It runs long. Who it's for: viewers of filmed theatre and readers of the novel. Who it's not for: viewers for whom child abuse, self-harm and suicide would be difficult; the play shows them in detail.