Here We Are by Stephen Sondheim

Here We Are by Stephen Sondheim

It's a perfect day for brunch.

Leo and Marianne Brink have found the ideal spot to take their friends. With great reviews, impeccable service and an extensive menu, it seems like nothing could go wrong.

But as their meal is interrupted by a series of increasingly strange events, they come to realise they've bitten off more than they can chew.

Here We Are is the last work by Stephen Sondheim, written shortly before his death in 2021, with a book by playwright David Ives and inspired by the films of Luis Buñuel.

It was first performed in 2023 at The Shed in New York City, directed by Joe Mantello, and received its UK premiere at London's National Theatre in 2025. This first publication of the complete book and lyrics of Here We Are is accompanied by a substantial and revelatory essay by David Ives on 'Writing with Sondheim'.

'Sondheim not only dared to change musical theatre, but succeeded, forever' Guardian

'The last Sondheim, cool and impossibly chic’

* New York Times *

'The perfect Sondheim epitaph.. Sondheim's poignant last gesture [is to] ask whether the sound of no-music can contribute to the form, too... it is like being reunited with an old friend, with lashings of the old wit and wordplay we'd expect... demands to be seen'

* Telegraph *

'Works brilliantly – deft, funny and perceptive... Sondheim's lyrics are delightfully flip and spiky... startlingly fresh... pretty bloody spectacular'

* Time Out *

'Exquisitely unpredictable... Sondheim's songs, which nod to his back catalogue while always staying spry, still delight'

* Sunday Times *

'Utterly absorbing... quite simply extraordinary... very, very funny... contains some of Sondheim's wittiest lyrics since A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. David Ives's book is ultra-sharp... An astonishingly deft piece of musical theatre'

* The Times *

'Bonkers and sometimes brilliant... uniquely Sondheim: witty, wry and suddenly wise'

* Financial Times *

'A parting gift from Sondheim... full of adventurous imagination, with some signature Sondheim sparks'

* Guardian *

'Sondheim's sensational swan song... Wacky and wonderful... quintessential Sondheim... a treat'

* The Arts Desk *

'An acerbic, absurdist take on late-stage capitalism... As a last hurrah, Stephen Sondheim's Here We Are is quite something... full of love and affection for a great composer, who even after death, still seems to have his finger on the pulse of where and who we are'

* WhatsOnStage *

'Surrealism at its finest, unashamedly finding the absurdity of the situation with Sondheim's familiar charm and wit... thoroughly enjoyable... a timely reminder of his unmatched talents in the world of theatre'

* All That Dazzles *

'A very enjoyable piece of modern theatre... Musically, it's instantly recognisable as Sondheim... You can hear all of Sondheim here. It's loaded with motifs and easter eggs that the nerdiest of Sondheimites will be falling over themselves to catch... Sondheim has turned out a remarkable score that bears (or maybe begs) plenty of repeat plays'

* Musical Theatre Review *

Stephen Sondheim is the lyricist of West Side Story and Gypsy, and the composer/ lyricist of Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Follies and Sunday in the Park with George, amongst others. David Ives' plays include All in the Timing and Venus in Fur.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781839044731
ISBN 10	183904473X
Title	Here We Are
Author	Stephen Sondheim
Series	Nhb Modern Plays
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Nick Hern Books
Year published	2025-05-22
Number of pages	160
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.