Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp will be joined by Janette Manrara, Rupert Young, Juliet Cowan and Wallis Currie-Wood in the world premiere of Affluenza at Riverside Studios.
Written and directed by Andy Sandberg, Affluenza opens the venue’s Mainstage Season 26/27 and runs from 26 September to 21 November 2026, with press night scheduled for 5 October.
Manrara, best known for Strictly Come Dancing, joins a cast that also includes Olivier Award nominee Rupert Young (Bridgerton, Dear Evan Hansen), Juliet Cowan (Broken Glass, Young Vic) and Wallis Currie-Wood (Madam Secretary, Elektra).
Inspired by true events surrounding a controversial legal defence, Affluenza examines the consequences of wealth and privilege after a teenager’s drunken car ride ends in tragedy.
Set in the Hamptons, the play explores questions of moral accountability, family legacy and the impact of extreme affluence on individual responsibility.
The production is the first of five plays that will form Riverside Studios’ Mainstage Season 26/27, a programme curated and directed by Sandberg featuring contemporary stories largely set in America and dealing with globally relevant themes.
The creative team for Affluenza includes set designer Charlie Corcoran, costume designer Hannah Schmidt, lighting designer Jack Weir and sound designer Emily Drohan. Nicholas Hockaday serves as casting director, with Cecilie Fray as associate director.
Sandberg said, “This cast is absolutely extraordinary, and I’m beyond grateful to be working with such a gifted company. To see how each of these brilliant actors has responded to the ‘Affluenza’ script and story is inspiring, and I could not be more excited that they are joining our exceptional creative team to debut this play at Riverside Studios.”
Following Affluenza, the Mainstage Season will continue with Sacrilegious by Oscar-winning writer Tom Schulman and Expecting by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola, with further productions and casting to be announced.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
