Cast your mind back to 2008 and images of staff pouring out the Lehman Brothers, the American bank which collapsed in 2008 during the global financial crisis. The collapse marked the moment when the full impact of the financial crisis hit home, it shook Wall Street to the core, and panic seized the markets, leading to the Great Recession.
Fifteen years later, the story of the Lehman Brothers collapse is well documented and yet, I was drawn to watch The Lehman Trilogy, a theatrical production in London’s West End. Written by Stefano Massini and directed by Sam Mendes (an Oscar-winning major player on stage and screen), this theatrical epic chronicles a family’s tale of rags to riches and then ruin.
The Lehman Trilogy was first produced in 2018 to mark the 10th anniversary of the collapse of the Lehman Brothers. After conquering Broadway and winning five Tonys, it returned to London in 2023 for a four-month run. The Lehman Trilogy stars Nigel Lindsay, Michael Balogun, and Hadley Fraser as the three German Jewish brothers from Bavaria who came to America. A brilliant example of integrated casting with Michael Balogun whose inspiring story from prison to stage you can read HERE, and listen to HERE.
The 3 hours 20 minutes play in three Acts spans 164 years of American history and three generations of Lehman brothers. Yet despite its length, the monochrome set, and just three main cast members, I found myself gripped by the epic. I thought I knew the story of the Lehman Brothers but never imagined it had such a rich backstory, as Sam Mendes hones in on the family story at its core.
This powerful production is a masterful blend of storytelling, music and stagecraft, with the three actors seamlessly transitioning between characters and scenes as they bring to life the various triumphs and tragedies of the Lehman family. At the heart of it is an insightful and well-researched script, offering a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the financial industry and the events that led to one of the most significant economic crises in modern history. You will leave the play being informed, educated and entertained all at once.
If you are interested in finance, history or human drama, then I urge you to experience this captivating and thought-provoking theatrical production. I am reminded of an African proverb: “You must know your past to inform your future”. The signs of the looming collapse were there if only the Lehman brothers had not forgotten their past.
For more information about The Lehman Trilogy, visit HERE.