West End Transfer

Nominated for five 2025 Olivier Awards including Best New Play

Five extraordinary actresses portray a woman at various points in her life in this stunning stage adaptation of Annie Ernaux's The Years, which is unlike anything you've ever seen on the West End. A philosophical reflection on life, a rollercoaster ride through the decades - The Years depicts a woman's seemingly normal life in France from the post-war period to the present day. However, as with any story where world events intersect with life, there is more than meets the eye. Don't miss this thrilling look at life, directed and adapted by visionary Eline Arbo, with an English adaptation by Stephanie Bain.

What Is The Story?

Memory is everlasting, connecting the departed with the present and the living, blurring the lines between reality and imagination, and merging dreams with history. In a series of moments frozen by the click of a camera, she assumes various postures: 

A child amidst the aftermath of the Second World War. Click. A student navigating the world of social gatherings and intimacy. Click. An advocate fighting for the right to choose. Click. A spouse selecting the perfect velvet sofa. Click. A mother accompanying her eldest to judo practice. Click. A lover seducing a younger partner. Click. A grandmother proudly presenting her granddaughter to the world. Click.