The pen is mightier than the sword

Among the glittering salons of the super-rich, patriarchy equals power, reputation is everything – and for women, one misstep can mean ruin.

Marquise de Merteuil, master in the art of survival, wields her influence with intelligence and control. Alongside the magnetic Vicomte de Valmont, they turn seduction into strategy and weaponise desire. But when their alliance collapses into rivalry, the battle between them threatens to destroy everyone in their path.

Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) and Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s (The Father) celebrated adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’ classic novel – a thrilling game of love, lies and social warfare.

(taken from The National Theatre website)