The Story of Shadowlands
Set in 1950s Oxford, Shadowlands tells the true story of renowned author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis, whose orderly academic life is upended by the arrival of Joy Davidman, a spirited American poet. What begins as an intellectual friendship between two writers evolves into an unexpected and profound love that challenges everything Lewis thought he knew about life, faith, and the human heart.
C.S. Lewis: The Scholar
C.S. Lewis is a confirmed bachelor, a respected Oxford don, and the beloved author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Content in his structured world of academic debates, pipe tobacco, and theological discussions with his brother Warren, Lewis has built his life around intellectual certainty and Christian faith. He lectures on love and loss with academic detachment, never imagining he'll soon experience both with devastating intensity.
Joy Davidman: The Catalyst
Enter Joy Davidman - a Jewish-American writer, former communist, and Christian convert who is everything Lewis is not: brash, direct, passionate, and unafraid to challenge his ideas. Her sharp wit and intellectual fearlessness intrigue Lewis, while her warmth and vulnerability begin to penetrate his carefully constructed emotional defences.
Love Against the Odds
As their friendship deepens into love, Lewis must confront uncomfortable truths about his own emotional life. Their marriage begins as a practical arrangement but evolves into something far more profound. Just as Lewis learns to embrace love fully, Joy is diagnosed with terminal cancer, forcing him to face the very suffering and loss he'd long discussed in theory but never truly understood.
The Journey of Faith
Through Joy's illness and eventual death, Lewis confronts a crisis of faith that challenges everything he's taught about suffering, divine love, and the purpose of pain. The play explores how the experience of loving and losing Joy transformed Lewis, eventually leading him to write A Grief Observed, his raw and honest account of wrestling with loss and faith.
The True Story Behind Shadowlands
The Real C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman
Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the twentieth century's most influential Christian writers and scholars. Author of The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters, Lewis was a confirmed bachelor who seemed destined to spend his life in academic solitude. Joy Davidman (1915-1960) was an accomplished American poet and writer who corresponded with Lewis for years before they met in person in 1952.
Their Relationship
What began as a correspondence between fellow writers blossomed into friendship during Joy's visits to England. They married in a civil ceremony in 1956, initially as a practical arrangement to allow Joy to remain in England. When Joy was diagnosed with bone cancer and given months to live, Lewis married her in a Christian ceremony at her hospital bedside. Miraculously, Joy's cancer went into remission, giving them three unexpected years of happiness before the cancer returned and she died in 1960.
The Play's Journey
William Nicholson first told this story in his 1985 television film for the BBC, which won a BAFTA Award. He adapted it for the stage in 1989, where it became a West End and Broadway hit, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play and earning two Tony nominations. The 1993 film adaptation, directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger, won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Film and introduced the story to a global audience.
This Production
Following a critically acclaimed run at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2019, this production transfers to the West End with Hugh Bonneville reprising his celebrated performance as C.S. Lewis. Director Rachel Kavanaugh brings sensitivity and insight to this deeply personal story, creating a production that honours both the historical figures and the universal emotions at the play's heart.
Practical Information
Show Times
- Monday: 7:30pm
- Tuesday: 7:30pm
- Wednesday: 2:30pm & 7:30pm
- Thursday: 7:30pm
- Friday: 7:30pm
- Saturday: 2:30pm & 7:30pm
- Sunday: No performances
Getting There
- Underground: Covent Garden (5 mins walk), Holborn (5 mins walk)
- Train: Charing Cross (10 mins walk)
- Buses: Multiple routes to Aldwych and Strand
- Parking: Q-Park Covent Garden, NCP Drury Lane
Theatre Information
- Historic West End theatre opened in 1905
- Capacity: 1,200 seats across 3 levels
- Recently refurbished with modern facilities
- Wheelchair accessible seating available
- Assistive listening devices available
- Bars on multiple levels
Running Dates
Shadowlands runs at the Aldwych Theatre from 5 February 2026 to 9 May 2026. This is a strictly limited engagement - book early to avoid disappointment.
Age Guidance
Recommended for ages 12+. Under 5s cannot be admitted to the theatre. Children aged 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult (at least one adult per 10 children). The play deals with mature themes including serious illness and death, handled with sensitivity and emotional depth that will resonate with teenagers and adults.
