The Authenticator

'We believe it is important to confront the reality of history. We are trying to bring hidden histories into the light. No more secrets.' Soon after inheriting her family's stately home, eccentric artist Fenella Harford discovers a stash of hidden diaries, and she enlists a young academic, Marva, to confirm their identity. Joined by Marva's brilliant but overlooked mentor, Abi, the three women come together to seek the truth, soon realising that the secrets at the heart of Harford Hall are darker than they could have imagined. Winsome Pinnock's play The Authenticator is a gripping psychological thriller and a searing exploration of the haunting history of colonialism. It opened at the National Theatre, London, in 2026, directed by Miranda Cromwell.