SPECULATIONS World Premiere at Marylebone Theatre Stars Janie Dee, Directed by Trevor Nunn

Breaking news to your phone. US mobile only. No password required.

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

West End / UK

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

The production features Jolyon Coy, Natalie Dunn, Gloria Obianyo, Joseph Potter, and Ferdy Roberts in a new play about the mysterious deaths of Marilyn Monroe, JFK.

Most Popular

Get all the top news & discounts for UK & beyond. No password required.

Following Wild Yak and Marylebone Theatre 's announcement of the world premiere of Speculations by Torben Betts (Murder in the Dark), directed by multi-award-winning, legendary theatre and film director Trevor Nunn and starring Olivier Award-winner Janie Dee (Comic Potential, Carousel, Me and Orson Welles ) as Dorothy Kilgallen , the remaining cast is today announced: Jolyon Coy plays Bobby, Natalie Dunn will play Norma Jean, Gloria Obianyo is Flo, Joseph Potter plays Lee and Ferdy Roberts is Carlos. See the notes at the end of this release for full biographies.

Get all the top news & discounts for UK & beyond.

Speculations is a new political thriller about one of America's most celebrated journalists, Dorothy Kilgallen , who sets out on a mission to discover the truth behind three of the most infamous deaths of the 20th century.

Marilyn Monroe , John F. Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald. Three deaths that shook America. One woman refused to stop asking questions.

New York, 1965. Dorothy Kilgallen is on the trail of the biggest story of her career, but the closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous the questions become. And when the threats reach inside her own home, she must decide how far she is prepared to go to tell a story some very powerful people would rather remain untold.

Designed by Lee Newby with Lighting Design by Johanna Town and Sound by Gregory Clarke , Speculations receives its World Premiere at the Marylebone Theatre , running from Friday 30 October - Sunday 3 January with press night on Wednesday 4 November.

Trevor Nunn said: 'For my entire professional career, I have been intrigued by contradictions concerning the assassination of President Kennedy and the death of Marilyn Monroe . Now, excitingly, I have the opportunity to investigate those shocking events by directing a new play by Torben Betts called Speculations. An important American journalist, Dorothy Kilgallen , became fascinated by those contradictions and it is her speculations (as played by Janie Dee ) that we follow in this gripping new play.'

Torben Betts said: 'I've never believed that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of JFK, and I've always found the circumstances surrounding Marilyn Monroe 's death deeply suspicious. But since discovering Dorothy Kilgallen and how her investigation began to uncover possible connections between these seemingly separate deaths, I've become convinced that hers is a story that needs to be told, and I'd like to do my small part as a playwright to give a voice back to a courageous woman I believe was silenced.'

Alexander Gifford , Artistic Director of Marylebone Theatre said: 'The Marylebone Theatre is becoming widely known as London's new home for high-quality drama. Speculations by Torben Betts is another major new play by a great playwright at the peak of his powers, which I am sure will startle and entertain audiences. It is being brought to the stage by a stellar creative team, led by the legendary Trevor Nunn , starring one of our best-loved stage actresses, Janie Dee . I am confident it will be a worthy successor to our recent hit productions and another exciting offering for London.'

New York, 1965. Celebrated journalist and television star Dorothy Kilgallen is on the trail of the biggest story of her career. ree years earlier, Marilyn Monroe was found dead in Los Angeles. A year after that President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Then his suspected killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was himself shot dead — live on television.

America's questions were answered. Dorothy was not convinced.

Following a trail from Hollywood to the White House, from the Kennedy dynasty to the New Orleans underworld, Dorothy begins to see connections others have missed — connections involving Robert Kennedy , Jack Ruby, organised crime boss Carlos Marcello, Marilyn Monroe , Oswald and JFK.

Blending Hollywood glamour, political intrigue and true-crime mystery, Speculations plunges into the shadows behind some of the twentieth century's most infamous deaths — and asks a tantalising question: 'how far would you go for the truth?'

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: The Andrew Lloyd Webber Mix Will Be Released in November

Anna Lapwood, Take That, and More Set For Royal Albert Hall Christmas Season

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Will Celebrate 40th Anniversary With Special Performance

Review: THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, Salisbury Playhouse

Also text me

When are you seeing ?

Get an Alert Each Time Stephi Wild Writes

BroadwayWorld TV

Breaking Broadway news & show discounts. No password required.

Also text me

POPULAR

Sign up for announcements and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 — Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Episode

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/SPECULATIONS-to-Premiere-at-Marylebone-Theatre-with-Janie-Dee-20260925)._