Triumph ★★★ Almeida Theatre | October 16 - 23, 2026


Written in the early second century AD, Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars chronicles the lives of Julius Caesar, who never held the title of emperor, and the first eleven emperors of Rome. Their personalities, private lives, ambitions and scandals are all on display, and although scholars may debate the accuracy of some of the accounts, they certainly make for interesting reading. In her 15-minute play Triumph, Caryl Churchill draws on many of Suetonius’ more outrageous stories about the emperors’ conduct, putting them in the mouth of a blonde press secretary who delivers her pronouncements in the now familiar style of the White House. The audience is left to draw the parallels with the behaviour of the current occupant of that landmark and his imperial pretensions. It is a clever and amusing device, but the play amounts to little more than a short skit of the kind more commonly associated with the Fringe. The principal attraction is Churchill’s name and the strength of her previous work. Whether Triumph warrants a visit depends largely on the appeal of those credentials, particularly when the journey will probably take longer than the performance itself.

Rated: ★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Marc Brenner

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Almeida St, London N1 1TA, UK

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