Lesley, Aidan and Monica talk Les Liaisons Dangereuses | National Theatre Live

Tony and Olivier awards-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new staging of Christopher Hampton’s celebrated adaptation of the classic novel, where among the glittering salons of the super-rich, one misstep can mean ruin. Les Liaisons Dangereuses comes to cinemas from 25 June with National Theatre Live. Get tickets here: ntlive.com/plays/les-liaisons-dangereuses/tickets Marquise de Merteuil is a master in the art of survival. 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. Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) directs this thrilling game of love, lies, and social warfare. The Production Marianne Elliott's sweeping staging of the scandalous French classic is characteristic in its mix of sumptuousness and precision — and when its finely tooled pieces start to fall out of place, it's devastating. From its opening moments, Marianne Elliott's production subtly reconfigures Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses for the MeToo generation — a world where love is a battle of single combat, a hand-to-hand struggle for survival, and women are constantly melding themselves to the shapes and behaviour demanded by the men who still hold all the cards. Aidan Turner endows Valmont with the conspicuous charm that Merteuil ascribes to him — making him puppyish and almost clownish until he reveals the pure power and malice beneath. He is sexy, but the sex almost doesn't matter. It's the pursuit that counts. Monica Barbaro — making her stage debut — plays Madame de Tourvel with tremulous directness: a woman genuinely surprised by the strength of her own feelings, and desperate to escape them. She is overcome by shame after falling for Valmont — a woman tragically conflicted, her moral conviction colliding with something she cannot control. See It in Cinemas Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre's Lyttelton, Les Liaisons Dangereuses comes to cinemas worldwide with National Theatre Live from 25 June 2026. Directed by Marianne Elliott (Angels in America) and featuring Christopher Hampton's celebrated adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos' classic novel — this is your chance to experience one of the most talked-about productions of the year on the big screen. -- We believe that great theatre sparks imagination and brings people together. Every day we strive to make the world a better place through theatre; entertaining and inspiring audiences around the world, using our creativity, expertise and unique reach. You’ll find us in theatres. In cinemas. In schools. And online. -- Discover our work: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Broadcast to cinemas worldwide: https://www.ntlive.com/ Streaming online: https://www.ntathome.com/ Subscribe on YouTube:    / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Facebook:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Instagram:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre TikTok:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Twitter:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Live Facebook:   / ntlive   National Theatre Live Twitter:   / ntlive   -- We believe that great theatre sparks imagination and brings people together. Every day we strive to make the world a better place through theatre; entertaining and inspiring audiences around the world, using our creativity, expertise and unique reach. You’ll find us in theatres. In cinemas. In schools. And online. -- Discover our work: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Broadcast to cinemas worldwide: https://www.ntlive.com/ Streaming online: https://www.ntathome.com/ Subscribe on YouTube:    / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Facebook:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Instagram:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre TikTok:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Twitter:   / nationaltheatre   National Theatre Live Facebook:   / ntlive   National Theatre Live Twitter:   / ntlive   -- #LesLiaisonsDangereuses #AidanTurner #MonicaBarbaro #NTLive #NationalTheatre #LesleyManville #MarianneElliott