Following last year’s transatlantic transfer of Kunstler, acclaimed American playwright Jeffrey Sweet returns to London’s White Bear Theatre with another UK premiere, The Value of Names, which he also directs.
Hollywood, 1983. Up-and-coming actress Norma is staying with her father, Benny, as she begins rehearsing a project. Benny was a blacklisted actor, and they discover the new director assigned to Norma’s show is Leo, the man who gave Benny’s name to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and derailed his career.
Norma is faced with the choice of giving up a career-making role or hurting her father. Benny is faced with the knowledge his daughter is working closely with the man who betrayed him, and Leo comes face to face for the first time with the consequences of his actions so many years ago. The three of them have things to settle, you bet. Funny and confrontational.
“The Value of Names is almost perfect” – Variety
“It’s not often you will encounter a play as rich in depth” – Chicago Magazine
“Very moving, beautifully written” – Chicago Tribune
Hint of Lime Productions returns to the White Bear Theatre to present another UK premiere of a Jeffrey Sweet play,The Value of Names, following the five-star reviewed and Offie Award-nominated Kunstler in May 2024.
Hint of Lime also produced the five-star reviewed and Standing Ovation Award finalist, The Trials of Galileo, which ran at the White Bear in October 2024 and starred Tim Hardy, who now stars in The Value of Names alongside Americans Jeremy Kareken and Katherine Lyle.
Following the 90-minute performance at 7.30pm on Thursday 13 February 2025, I’ll talk to The Value of Names author and director Jeffrey Sweet and his company. Any questions? Join us!