The Children

by LUCY KIRKWOOD
directed by SARAH ELIZABETH WANSLEY

MARCH 25 - APRIL 12, 2026

In a remote cottage on the lonely British coast, two retired nuclear scientists have settled into a peaceful existence. Outside, the world is unraveling in the aftermath of a devastating nuclear disaster. When an old friend arrives with an unsettling proposal, they must confront the choices of their past and the moral dilemmas of their future. A gripping, suspenseful drama that The New York Times calls “bristling with chills,” The Children is an urgent and haunting exploration of environmental responsibility, legacy, and the price of survival.

Photo illustration by Emily Cooper.

THE CHILDREN is made possible in part through the generous support of Bill Schults & Betsy Maislen.

  • Regular Tickets $37 - $80

    Prices vary based on seat location

  • Youth Tickets $28

    25 and under

  • Student Tickets $28

    For students of all ages

  • Pay-What-You-Can Preview (Mar. 25) $10+
Running time is approximately 110 minutes. There is no intermission. This show is recommended for teens and up.
OR Call the Box Office at 802-296-7000

Special Events

Click on the events to learn more

FRIDAY, APR. 3
6:30 PM – 7:20 PM
Lemal Community Room

Join fellow subscribers for complimentary drinks and snacks prior to the show!

RSVP recommended but not required. Admission is Free to all 2025/26 season subscribers.

SATURDAY, APR. 4
Following the 2:00 PM Matinee Performance

What is our responsibility to our planet and future generations? What can we do to promote sustainable practices and be good stewards of our environment? Join us for a conversation with director Sarah Elizabeth Wansley and Ecologist Dr. Bala Chaudhary from Dartmouth College’s Environmental Studies Department after the performance.

About Dr. Bala Chaudhary:
Dr. Bala Chaudhary is an Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College. She is a National Science Foundation CAREER Awardee and a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Continent Scale Biology. Research in her lab focuses on mycorrhizas, underground networks between plants and fungi, and how they can be incorporated into nature-based environmental solutions. Her work spans dozens of ecosystems, from cities to deserts to rainforests, and has applications in climate change mitigation and adaptation, soil conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable agriculture. Prior to academia, Dr. Chaudhary worked as an environmental consultant in Los Angeles restoring drastically disturbed urban areas to create habitat for endangered species. She is an award-winning advocate for antiracist strategies in STEM and the founder of WOCinEEB, an international organization for racial and gender minorities in ecology and evolutionary biology.

Admission is Free to the Public. Click HERE for tickets to the matinee performance.

SATURDAY, APR. 4
Following the 7:30 PM Performance

Join us after the 7:30 PM show for a conversation with the The Children company.

Admission is Free to the Public. Click HERE for tickets to the evening performance.

Meet the Creatives

Lucy Kirkwood

Playwright

Sarah Elizabeth Wansley

Director

Scenic Designer
Costume Designer

Lexi Spanier

Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Production Stage Manager

Julia Egizio

Dialect Coach

Thom Miller

Community Partners

Click on the logos to learn more about our community partners!

Bread used in the performances provided by King Arthur Baking Company.

Production
Sponsors

The Children is sponsored in part by AARP of Vermont and Vermont Public.

The Children is made possible in part through the generous support of Bill Schults & Betsy Maislen.

Series
Sponsors


Access For All performances are sponsored by Bar Harbor Bank.