'This city’s sick. You need me. Arturo Ui.'

A small-time crook with big boss ambitions.

While the Great Depression inflicts hardship across the nation, Chicago’s underworld festers with sex, scandal, violence and corruption. It’s the perfect storm for a schemer like Ui, his reputation as hot as hell.

Feeding on fear, Ui and his ruthless cronies make back-alley deals to protect the workers. So far, so bad. But his helpless targets watch on as Ui's influence gains dangerous momentum and his venom threatens to seep through the markets, politics and the law to seize the city – and beyond. This is a man on a mission for power. Will anyone stop him?

The simmering streets of Chicago come to the Swan Theatre for Seán Linnen’s RSC directorial debut. Double Olivier Award-winner Mark Gatiss debuts as the Notorious Arturo Ui, in Stephen Sharkey’s version of Brecht’s riotous 1941 ‘gangster spectacle’, a blistering satire on Hitler’s ascent to power.

For more information about the themes and content of this play, please see our content advisory page.

New Work at the RSC is generously supported by Hawthornden Foundation and The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust

The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation

BOOKING INFORMATION

PRIORITY BOOKING DATES

Artists Circle/Gold Patrons Monday 22 September
Silver Patrons Tuesday 23 September
Bronze Patrons Wednesday 24 September
Members Tuesday 30 September
Subscribers Tuesday 7 October
Public Booking Wednesday 8 October

Access Priority Booking when you join one of our membership schemes, starting at just £20.

BECOME A MEMBER