Watch our 'mesmerising' ★★★★ (WhatsOnStage) 2025 production of Shakespeare’s late tale of love, loss and legacy, filmed live in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Cymbeline is queen of ancient Britain. When her daughter, Innogen, secretly marries against her mother’s will, her wife Posthumus is banished to Rome. In exile, Posthumus places a bet on Innogen’s innocence, a gamble they will soon regret.

As Rome readies for war, can Innogen bridge her two worlds to bring peace and reconciliation?

For this performance, due to the cast indisposition of Martina Laird, the role of Cymbeline was read by Gloria Onitiri.

Content guidance: The play contains references to sexual violence, child abduction and poisoning, and depictions of sexual assault, decapitation, death and war.

Cymbeline, the first queen of Britain, has a daughter, Innogen, and two twins who were stolen as infants.

Innogen has married Posthumus, but the queen wishes Innogen to marry Cloten, so Posthumus is banished. Before they leave, Posthumus and Innogen exchange love tokens.

In Italy, Posthumus meets Iachimo who bets that he can prove Innogen to be unfaithful. Iachimo fails to seduce Innogen, but while she sleeps Iachimo steals the love token as proof of infidelity. He takes it back to a heartbroken Posthumus.

Posthumus orders her servant Pisania to kill Innogen. Pisania cannot do it, so Innogen escapes and disguises herself as a man. In Wales, by chance she meets her siblings, not knowing who they are.

Cloten pursues Innogen to Wales disguised as Posthumus, but is killed by one of Innogen’s siblings. On seeing him dead, Innogen believes him to be Posthumus.

Tensions between Britain and Rome have heightened and war has broken out. Back in the British court, disguises and plots are revealed, debts and disagreements forgiven, and lovers and families reunited.