4.48 Psychosis: Philip Venables’ visceral operatic expression of Sarah Kane’s final work revived

Veena Akama-Makia (Clare) & Jacquelyn Stucker (Gwen)
© RBO/Marc Brenner

Naomi Woo (Conductor)

Ted Huffman (Director)

Hannah Clark (Designer)

D. M. Wood (Lighting Designer)

Pierre Martin Oriol (Video Designer)

Sound Intermedia (Sound Designer)

Gillian Tan (Revival Video Designer)

Simon Hendry (Revival Sound Designer)

Sarah Fahie (Original Movement Director)

Ruth Cooper-Brown & Rachel Bown-Williams of RC-Annie (Movement Directors)

Chroma (Orchestra)

4.48 Psychosis
© RBO/Marc Brenner

Jacquelyn Stucker (Gwen)

Hannah Edmunds (Jen)

Sophia Burgos (Suzy)

Veena Akama-Makia (Clare)

Lauren Young (Emily)

Marta Fontanals-Simmons (Lucy)

2pm, Sunday 25 October 2026

Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, London

★★★★

Venables, Philip (b.1979): 4. 48 Psychosis (text by Kane, Sarah (1971-1999))

''Visceral’ is an over-used adjective, but for once there is really no other word to describe the impact of 4.48 Psychosis'.

Sophia Burgos (Suzy) & Jacquelyn Stucker (Gwen)
© RBO/Marc Brenner

'(Venables) also makes use of varied styles, so that as well as angular atonal lines and almost violent outbursts, there are moments of minimalist repetition, and even a Purcellian lament, sung here with tenderness by Veena Akama-Maria (Clare)'.

'Naomi Woo conducted Chroma, the 12-piece orchestra, with precision and taut energy, interfacing well with the mix of recorded sound and stage vocals'.

'Jacquelyn Stucker's central performance as Gwen stood out as powerful and physical in all senses'.

'Venables has pulled off a remarkable feat in convincingly bringing it to the operatic stage with such compassion and respect'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.