Arcadia was first performed at the Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre, on 13 April 1993. The cast was as follows:
Thomasina Coverly Emma Fielding
Septimus Hodge Rufus Sewell
Jellaby Allan Mitchell
Ezra Chater Derek Hutchinson
Richard Noakes Sidney Livingstone
Lady Croom Harriet Walter
Captain Brice, RN Graham Sinclair
Hannah Jarvis Felicity Kendal
Chloë Coverly Harriet Harrison
Bernard Nightingale Bill Nighy
Valentine Coverly Samuel West
Gus Coverly, Augustus Coverly Timothy Matthews