24 Nov 2025
National Theatre Live, Neal Street Productions, Playful Productions and National Theatre of Scotland present, in association with Nica Burns, The Fifth Step
Written by David Ireland
Directed by Finn den Hertog
Featuring Jack Lowden and Martin Freeman
Filmed at @sohoplace in the West End during a sold-out run in summer 2025
In cinemas from November 27
Nearest screening available at www.ntlive.com
After many years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James agrees to become the sponsor of newcomer Luka.
On the journey to sobriety, the pair bond over black coffee, trade stories, and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences.
On the cusp of Step 5, their conversations must turn to confessionals, with progress hinging on Luka revealing secrets that could lead back to alcohol. But it’s clear that James also has dangerous truths in his past, truths that threaten the trust on which both their recoveries depend.
“an exceptionally well made, highly addictive drama” ★★★★★, Broadway World
“a tight, thought-provoking, 85-minute vehicle for two actors at the top of their game” ★★★★, The Standard
“an absorbing, laughter filled 90 minutes of ‘captured’ theatre that deserves the extended life it has been given.” ★★★★, Must See Theatre on the NT Live capture
Directed by rising directorial talent, Finn den Hertog, The Fifth Step is a rare chance to see two of the UK’s most exciting acting talents going toe to toe in David Ireland’s funny and unflinchingly honest drama about addiction, masculinity and faith. Olivier Award-winner Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) is joined by Emmy and BAFTA-winner Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Responder) in this ‘raw, excruciating and often alarmingly funny’ (★★★★★ Daily Mail) play.
After originally premiering at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2024, following previews in Dundee and subsequently a run in Glasgow, The Fifth Step was further developed and restaged for the intimate in-the-round space @sohoplace, making its West End premiere, where it played a sold-out 11-week run across summer 2025 and was captured for National Theatre Live.
The live capture will broadcast to over 900 venues across the UK and Ireland, and to over 50 countries worldwide from November 27. The live capture premiered at the Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh, a venue which actor Jack Lowden campaigned to reopen and he is now a patron of.
Speaking at a post-screening Q+A at the premiere screening of the NT Live capture at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Jackie Wylie, Artistic Director of National Theatre of Scotland, said
“There’s something about the capture that just shows that the play itself is almost like a document of two actors at the absolute top of their game. It’s extraordinary seeing these two performances of precision and depth and warmth and it’s like you’re watching a masterclass. It’s completely wonderful.
The Fifth Step is a rare combination of something that articulates its ideas so well and is a brilliant night out. It’s an extraordinarily entertaining night out and it’s reached so many people. With NT Live, it’s going to reach hundreds of thousands more, which is amazing.
It’s been fantastic collaborating with NT Live and we’re absolutely delighted that because of that collaboration, the show itself is gonna go all across the world and reach so many more people.”
The Fifth Step will release to cinemas from 27 November, presented by Neal Street Productions, Playful Productions and National Theatre of Scotland in association with Nica Burns. Screenings available at thefifthstep.ntlive.com.
Jack Lowden is an acclaimed Scottish actor who trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He first worked with National Theatre of Scotland early in his career, when he took on the lead role of Cammy in the 2010-11 revival tour of the Olivier-award winning play Black Watch.
He has won numerous awards including BAFTA Scotland awards for Best Actor in British film Calibre and for his role as Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction, and an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor in Ghosts at The Almeida. He has appeared in many films including Fighting With My Family, Mary Queen of Scots and Dunkirk.
TV shows include his breakout role in BBC’s War and Peace, and most recently BBC’s The Gold and Apple TV’s Slow Horses.
He previously worked with National Theatre of Scotland in 2020, in Janey Godley’s short film Alone II, part of the Scenes for Survival series created in lockdown. His other stage work includes Chariots of Fire (Hampstead and Gielgud Theatres), Electra (Old Vic) and most recently Measure for Measure at the Donmar Warehouse.
Martin Freeman is an Emmy and BAFTA award-winning actor with an illustrious career spanning film, television and stage. His versatility and ability to excel in his craft, regardless of the genre, have led him to be considered as one of the industry’s most revered talents.
Martin recently reprised his BAFTA TV 'Leading Actor' nominated role as police officer Chris in the critically acclaimed BBC drama The Responder for BBC, for which he won an International Emmy for Best Actor in 2024.
Other television credits include upcoming The Seven Dials Mystery for Netflix, four seasons of Breeders for FX/Sky, ITV 6 part drama A Confession, Start Up for Crackle and most notably BBC's Sherlock, for which Martin won Best Supporting Actor at both BAFTA TV and Emmy awards; the award-winning Coen brothers’ television adaptation of Fargo, garnering nominations for Best Actor at the Golden Globe, Emmy and Critics Choice Awards for his role as ‘Lester Nygaard’; and British cult hit show The Office, for which he was BAFTA nominated for Best Comedy Performance.
Martin’s film credits are extensive and he has appeared in many blockbuster hits such as Marvel's Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Captain America: Civil War as agent 'Everett Ross'; Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy playing 'Bilbo Baggins' and and as lead ‘Arthur Dent’ in The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy. Recent film projects include director Jamie Adams' independent film Let's Love, fantasy novel adaptation Momo from RatPack/Constantin Film and family film Flavia for Sky.
Martin’s stage credits include: Dumb Waiter as part of the 'Pinter at the Pinter' season, presented by The Jamie Lloyd Company, James Graham’s comedy Labour of Love at the Noel Coward Theatre, Jamie Lloyd's Richard III at Trafalgar Studios, Clybourne Park and Kosher Harry at the Royal Court Theatre and Blue Eyes & Heels at the Soho Theatre.
David Ireland was born in Belfast and trained as an actor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His first play, What the Animals Say, was produced at Oran Mor, Glasgow in 2011. He was Playwright-in-Residence at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast in 2012. He went on to win the Meyer Whitworth Award in 2012 for his second play, Everything Between Us, produced by Tinderbox Theatre Company in Belfast. In 2016 Cyprus Avenue, featuring Stephen Rea, opened at the Royal Court Theatre, London and the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, before transferring to the Public Theatre, New York. It won the Irish Times Award for Best New Play and the James Tait Black Award in 2017. In 2018, Ulster American was produced at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. It won a Scotsman Fringe First and the Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play. Ulster American was revived by Second Half Productions at the Riverside Studios, London in 2023 featuring Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland. His other plays include Not Now (Oran Mor), Sadie (Lyric, Belfast) Yes So I Said Yes (Ransom Productions, Belfast), The End of Hope (Oran Mor) and Can’t Forget About You (Lyric, Belfast). His TV series, The Lovers, was broadcast on Sky Atlantic in 2023. His latest TV series, Cold Water, featuring Andrew Lincoln, was broadcast on ITV this year. As an actor, he is best known for playing Clare’s Dad in Derry Girls.
Finn den Hertog is a director, writer and actor, and an Associate Artist with the National Theatre of Scotland. Most recently he directed The Enemy, which marked NTS’ return to live touring theatre in 2021 and the short film Wednesday as part of the Scenes for Survival series. Based in Glasgow, den Hertog runs the theatre company groupwork, alongside choreographer Vicki Manderson and video designer Lewis den Hertog. Other directing credits include Wings Around Dundee (Dundee Rep Theatre), Earwig (Tron Theatre), The Afflicted (groupwork), Square Go (Francesca Moody Productions) and Ten New Messages (Young Vic). He directed Sunset Song for Dundee Rep in spring 2024.
Pictured: National Theatre of Scotland Artistic Director Jackie Wylie, director Finn den Hertog, writer David Ireland and actor Jack Lowden at the premiere of The Fifth Step NT Live at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh
Image courtesy of Kat Gollock.
