Need help?Contact us
This production is recommended for ages 12+.
Performance Dates
2 February - 24 April 2027
Run time: 1hr 45mins
No interval
Following a sold-out run at the Royal Court Theatre and critical acclaim on Broadway, the seven-time Tony Award-nominated play John Proctor Is the Villain comes to Wyndham’s Theatre for a strictly limited 12-week season. Directed by Tony Award winner Danya Taymor, this sharp, darkly funny production reimagines a classic story through a bold contemporary lens. Book your official John Proctor Is the Villain tickets today and find out more about the show in our handy guide.
Set in a small town in Georgia, John Proctor Is the Villain follows a group of high-school students studying Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible, set during the Salem witch trials. As they explore the story of John Proctor, often viewed as its tragic hero, the students begin to question whether he deserves that title.
Written by Kimberly Belflower, this critically acclaimed contemporary play follows five young women navigating friendship, relationships and the pressures of growing up. When buried secrets come to light, their classroom discussions take on a more personal meaning, forcing them to confront uncomfortable truths about power, reputation and the people they have been taught to trust.
Taking inspiration from The Crucible, John Proctor Is the Villain re-examines the classic through a modern, #MeToo-era lens, drawing parallels between its themes of accusation and authority and contemporary conversations about consent, accountability and the treatment of women. With sharp humour and emotional intensity, the play asks what happens when a new generation challenges the stories they have been told and takes control of their own narratives.
John Proctor Is the Villain introduces a new group of characters who are not part of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Set in a high-school classroom in rural Georgia, the play follows students and their teacher as they explore the classic text and begin to question its ideas about power, morality and who gets to tell the truth.
This show contains flashing lights, strobe lights, a moment of complete blackout and loud music. The show has sensitive content including depictions of grooming and abusive relationship dynamics, descriptions of sexual assault, the depiction of a forced kiss, and racist and sexist microaggressions.
Although John Proctor Is the Villain is a play rather than a musical, its contemporary pop soundtrack is a distinctive part of the production.
Featuring music from artists such as Lorde and Taylor Swift, the soundtrack brings a modern energy to the story, reflecting the characters’ emotions, friendships and frustrations. The contrast between familiar pop music and the play’s darker themes helps create a fresh, contemporary take on a classic text.
Catch John Proctor Is the Villain at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End from 2 February to 24 April 2027.
Located on Charing Cross Road, Wyndham’s Theatre is a short walk from Leicester Square and Covent Garden, making it easy to plan a theatre trip alongside dinner or drinks in the West End. The theatre is also close to Leicester Square Underground station.
Book your John Proctor Is the Villain London tickets and experience this acclaimed contemporary play for a strictly limited season.
One of John Proctor’s best-known lines in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!” The line reflects his struggle to protect his reputation and sense of integrity.
John Proctor Is the Villain is a contemporary play inspired by The Crucible, rather than a direct retelling. While Miller’s play focuses on the Salem witch trials, Kimberly Belflower’s story follows high-school students studying the classic and questioning its portrayal of John Proctor as a hero. Both explore power, reputation and truth, but Belflower’s play examines these themes through a modern lens, including conversations around gender and accountability.
Yes! John Proctor Is the Villain is being adapted into a feature film by Universal Pictures. The film will be directed by Danya Taymor, who also directed the original stage production, with playwright Kimberly Belflower writing the screenplay. Producers include Tina Fey, Marc Platt, Charlie Bunker and Jack Farrell, with Sadie Sink serving as executive producer.
The film is currently in development, with no official cast or release date announced yet.
John Proctor Is the Villain runs for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no interval.
The production is recommended for ages 12 and over. It contains flashing lights, strobe lights, a moment of complete blackout and loud music. Sensitive content includes depictions of grooming and abusive relationship dynamics, descriptions of sexual assault, a forced kiss, and racist and sexist microaggressions.
John Proctor Is the Villain is playing at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End from 2 February to 24 April 2027.
30 Oct, 2026 | By Sian McBride
Offer
EXCLUSIVE PRICES