The Authenticator at the National Theatre

A show about authenticating historical documents that, at the same time, manages to be gloriously entertaining and thought-provoking.

In The Authenticator, academics Marva and Abi visit the stately home Harford House after a number of old journals are discovered. Inside are clues to the Harford family’s links to the slave trade. After securing the job of authenticating the documents, Abi and Marva discover something bigger than they expected. Meanwhile, the owner of the house and the documents, Fenella Harford, grapples with her family’s past as Marva tries to discover her own.

Billed as a psychological thriller, it is better described as a drama. While there is a more thriller-esque subplot, the production leans more heavily on the emotional themes and relationships between the characters.

The writing is beautifully crafted. Winsome Pinnock has created a wonderful play that is paced to perfection. Deep character exploration, tense moments and historical interest are balanced with eccentricity and humour. The piece is clever in how it addresses themes of slavery, guilt and intergenerational trauma, but it also knows how to entertain, knowing just when to build tension, when to lighten the mood and when to hit the audience with a twist.

All three performers are stellar. Sylvestra Le Touzel is perfect as the aggressively posh Fen, Cherrelle Skeete is captivating as the young and feisty Marva, and Rakie Ayola is a powerhouse as her academic mentor, Abi.

The fourth character of the production is Harford House itself. Set designer Jon Bausor has done something very special. An intricate ceiling raises and lowers while doors and walls twist and turn to create different rooms of the house. Rather than being carried on, all the props rise from the floor as part of the house’s expertly crafted choreography. This is a stunning set.

The Authenticator is a brilliant piece of theatre. It explores challenging themes but does so in a smart and gripping way.

Jim Compton-Hall
Photos: Marc Brenner

The Authenticator is at the National Theatre until 9^th May 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.

Watch the trailer for The Authenticator at the National Theatre here: