Farewell Mister Haffmann

Farewell Mister Haffmann description

A smash hit in France, now it's here to delight West End theatre-goers with top class drama with its London premiere. Farewell Mister Haffmann by Jean-Phillipe Daguerre is one of France’s most successful long-running plays, also the winner of four Molière Awards including Best New Play.

Farewell Mister Haffmann the story

The action is set in 1942, in Nazi-occupied Paris, where a Jewish jeweller faces terrible danger. Jews are being rounded up across Paris for deportation, so Joseph asks his trusted employee Pierre Vigneau to help.

The deal the men strike is both risky and unconventional. Pierre gets the jewellery shop and in return he hides Joseph from the Nazis. But there's one more condition: Pierre asks Joseph to enter into a very particular arrangement with his wife, Isabelle, raising the stakes as the threesome battles the danger and moral complexity of their circumstances. Add a precious painting by Matisse and an art-loving Nazi couple to the mix and things get even more complicated. Will their deal survive the pressure?

About Farewell Mister Haffmann

The play, originally written in French, debuted as Adieu Monsieur Haffmann in France, winning four Molieres in 2018. Now one of the country's longest-running plays, it has been adapted into a movie starring Daniel Auteuil. The critically acclaimed English premiere in 2023 at Bath's Ustinov Studio was loved for its compelling blend of humour and suspense.

Revealing human resilience in all its splendour, the tension is cut by moments of pure wit and unexpected comedy. No wonder the English language translation, crafted with love by Jeremy Sams, is critically acclaimed. At the end of the day, the biggest question asked by the play is this: exactly how far would you go to save a life?

Farewell Mister Haffmann cast and creatives

The show stars Michael Fox (The Fear of 13, Othello) as Pierre Vigneau, Nigel Harman (EastEnders, Shrek the Musical) as Otto Abetz, Jennifer Kirby (Untitled F*ck M*ss S**gon Play,The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary) as Isabelle Vigneau, Jemima Rooper (The Inheritance, As If) as Suzanne Abetz, and Alex Waldmann (Arms and the Man, Jews In Their Own Words) as Joseph Haffmann.

Joining director Oscar Toeman is Designer Rebecca Brower, Lighting Designer Christopher Nairne, Sound Designer and Composer Asaf Zohar, Casting Director Amy Blair, Costume Supervisor Mark Jones and Movement and Intimacy Director Christina Fulcher.

Written by Jean-Phillipe Daguerre and Adapted by Jeremy Sams, the play is Presented by Norel Productions and Adam Blanshay Productions in association with Park Theatre, London.

Farewell Mister Haffmann masterfully blends suspense and human resilience, set against the harrowing backdrop of Nazi-occupied Paris. It plays at the Park Theatre for a limited time so don't miss it.

Playing at Park Theatre

Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3JP GB (venue info)

Directions