‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ Comes to National Theatre at Home
The buzzy adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel stars Lesley Manville and Aiden Turner.
One of the National Theatre’s buzziest 2026 productions will soon stream worldwide: Les Liaisons Dangereuses. A tale of scheming, betrayal, and bored rich people in 18th-century France, Lesley Manville (Marble Hall Murders) and Aidan Turner (Rivals) star as the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont.
A generational pair of toxic ex-lovers and viciously cunning manipulators who deceive and control their aristocratic peers for sport, the two make a wager about whether Valmont can seduce a notoriously pious woman. Things don’t go as planned (in multiple ways), and the fallout leads to everything from social ruin to death.
Though the story is based on Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s classic novel, most are probably familiar with its basic plot beats thanks to the 1988 Academy Award-winning film starring John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Glenn Close (in a role she 100% should have won Best Actress for). But the stage version is considerably longer, which, of course, benefits us, who get to watch Turner and Manville engage in extended scenes of face-to-face verbal sparring.
Here’s the synopsis:
Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.
Alongside Manville and Turner, the production stars Gabrielle Drake (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) as Cecile de Volanges and Monica Barbaro (A Complete Unknown) as Madame de Tourvel.
The ensemble also includes Ishmail Aaron, Sharif Afifi, Curtis Angus, Charlotte Avery, Nandi Bhebhe, Lucia Chocarro, Liz Ewing, Ali Goldsmith, Darragh Hand, Georges Hann, Dianté Lodge, Katie Lusby, Amy Macken, Aisha Naamani, Bryony Pennington, Cat Simmons, and Hannah van der Westhuysen.
Christopher Hampton has refreshed the script of his stage adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ novel, with Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directing. This production marked the first time Hampton’s play has been staged at the National Theatre.
Les Liaisons Dangereuses will be available to stream via National Theatre at Home starting Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
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