Theatre review: Les Liaisons Dangereuses, National Theatre

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a novel that’s probably best known for the 1988 film version Dangerous Liaisons. The new National Theatre production uses a Christopher Hampton adaptation of the book that was also used as the basis for that film. And it’s a fabulously stylish version, with an excellent cast expertly led by Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner.

The pair play the two main protagonists of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Machiavellian widow, Marquise de Merteuil and the sexy rake, Vicomte de Valmont. And what a pair they are. Even from the Lyttleton Theatre’s circle, Manville was a commanding presence as soon as she walked on stage. Her stunning red dress was perfect for the part, as were the rest of the cast’s gorgeous costumes designed by Natalie Roar.

If you’re a fan of Aidan Turner, you won’t be disappointed, as he’s on stage a lot. He initially comes across more louche than Machiavellian, but he’s happy enough to take a nasty wager from the Marquise. She wants him to seduce young and innocent Cécile de Volanges, played by Hannah van der Westhuysen. Cécile is destined to marry an ex-lover of the Marquise who dropped her in favour of the younger woman. Valmont’s reward will be a night with the Marquise herself, not for the first time, as this mean-spirited duo were lovers in the past.

Also in the mix is the pious Madame de Tourvel, a married woman dressed in white who wouldn’t dream of cheating on her husband. Or would she? Valmont is determined to entice her into an affair. For him, she’s more of a challenge than sweet Cécile. And then there’s Chevalier Danceny, a young music tutor who is the object of Cécile’s affections, but also in the sights of the Marquise.

So the stage is set for Les Liaisons Dangereuses, with the audience increasingly drawn into its web of moving parts. And movement is a significant part of the production. The scenes of seduction are choreographed and supported by an ensemble cast of dancers who regularly whirl onto the stage. For example, when Monica Barbaro, as Madame de Tourvel, is tortured by an increasing desire for Valmont while she prays, a group of male dancers appear. They stretch towards her, perhaps symbolising the pull towards Valmont that she is wrestling with.

I won’t say too much more about the plot, in case it’s a story you’re not familiar with. Suffice it to say that whether you know the story or not, it’s a production that’s well worth seeing. And that people as unpleasant as the Marquise and Vitcomte invariably get their just desserts!

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is playing at the National Theatre until 6 June 2026. But it will also be shown in cinemas as part of the NT Live programme, starting on 25 June 2026.

For more reviews of theatre, art, comedy and music, check the Arts section of my blog.