The following edition of the text was used in the creation of this study guide: Stoppard, Tom. Leopoldstadt. Faber and Faber, 2020.

In Scene 1, set in 1899, at the Merz family apartment in Vienna, 12 family members (Jewish and non-Jewish) and staff interact in overlapping conversations, making the scene chaotic. Hermann (who converted to Christianity) lives with his wife Gretl and their son. Family guests include Hermann's sister Eva, her husband Ludwig, and others. The children decorate a Christmas tree, and discussions include psychoanalysis, a Jewish state, and Hermann's conversion. Gretl leaves for a portrait sitting, and Hanna asks her to chaperone a meeting with Fritz, a soldier she has just met. Ludwig tests Jacob's math, revealing he's no mathematician, disappointing Hermann. After most characters leave, Grandma Emilia and Wilma reflect on how quickly family members can be forgotten while looking at a photo album. Hermann and Ludwig debate the need for a Jewish state, with Hermann believing life has improved for Austrian Jews. In Scene 2, Hanna, distraught over not hearing from Fritz, writes him a love letter. Gretl persuades her to send a more casual note instead. In Scene 3, Fritz and Gretl are in bed together. Fritz teases Gretl for "stealing" him from Hanna. Gretl regrets hurting both Hanna and her husband Hermann. In Scene 4 at 3 a.m. in the Merz apartment, Hermann tells Ernst about a soldier who made antisemitic remarks while they were drinking. Hermann decides to challenge the soldier to a duel and asks Ernst to arrange it. In Scene 5, in Fritz’s apartment, Hermann confronts him for a duel, but Fritz refuses because his regiment won’t allow him to fight a Jew. After a tense exchange, Fritz slaps Hermann but then offers to apologize in writing. Hermann discovers that Fritz knows Ludwig's sister Hanna and that Gretl had visited Fritz’s apartment. Scene 6 is set during Seder at the Merz apartment. Grandma Emilia explains the traditions to Gretl and Ernst, who aren’t Jewish. Rosa, the youngest, hides the afikomen.

Scene 7 jumps forward in time to 1924, as the Merz apartment hosts a small celebration for the circumcision of Sally’s son Nathan. Hermine (daughter of Hanna), Jacob (son of Hermann and Gretl), Nellie (daughter of Eva and Ludwig), and their families gather, with a Klimt-style painting of Gretl hanging on the wall. Sally is nervous about circumcising her baby, and Rosa reassures her. Jacob jokes about his mixed heritage, having been both circumcised and baptized. Hermine reveals Hanna is absent, practicing for a recital under her maiden name to avoid attention due to her husband Kurt’s radical politics. Jacob argues for a Jewish state in Palestine, upsetting Rosa. Hermine asks Rosa to take her to New York, but Rosa laughs off the suggestion. As Sally and Zac argue about circumcision, Hermine reminisces with Nellie about their brother Pauli’s death in WWI. A misunderstanding arises when a man named Otto arrives for a business meeting with Hermann and is mistaken for the circumcision doctor. Hermine tries to charm Otto after learning he works at a bank. Hermann arrives, and discusses wanting to leave his family business to Jacob with Otto. Gretl briefly explains circumcision to Otto, and Otto and Hermann discuss the potential unification of Austria and Germany. The scene ends with Gretl announcing the baby’s name as Nathan, as sounds of bombs and falling swastika-covered leaflets introduce the next scene, with the now 14-year-old Nathan catching one.

Scene 8 jumps forward in time again to 1938. The Merz apartment is crowded, with bags and suitcases indicating that the extended family now live under the same roof. Sally, Hermine, Nellie, and others discuss worsening conditions for Jews under Nazi rule. British journalist Percy explains the failure of the Evian conference to help Jewish refugees and urges Nellie to marry him to escape to Britain, but she hesitates, not wanting to abandon her family. Ernst, now training to be a butler since he can no longer work as a doctor because his wife Wilma is Jewish (although Ernst himself is a Christian), demonstrates folding an overcoat. Hanna reveals that her husband Kurt is in Dachau. Tensions rise as a Civilian enters, demanding they vacate the apartment by the next day, allowing them to take only one suitcase each. Hermann is forced to sign over his business to the Reich, and Wilma is to be sent to a hospital despite Ernst’s protests. During the encounter, Gretl arrives in a confused state, and Leo injures his hand. Percy arranges to marry Nellie the next day at the British consulate. After the Civilian leaves, Hermann reveals that he previously transferred ownership of his business to his son Jacob, who is no longer considered Jewish due to Hermann paying an officer (it is assumed by not explicitly stated that this is Fritz) to allege that he fathered Jacob during an affair with Gretl, meaning that Jacob is no longer classified as Jewish. Fearing for her welfare without him, Ernst administers a fatal injection to the seriously ill Wilma as sounds of glass breaking and antisemitic chants fill the air.

Scene 9 jumps forward in time to 1955. Nathan (31, son of Sally, a baby in Scene 7) recounts his family’s deportation to Auschwitz, where his mother Sally, father Zac, and sisters Mimi and Bella were killed. Rosa (60s), Leo (24), and Nathan discuss the stolen painting and their family history. Leo (son of Nellie, adopted by Percy) is now known as Leonard Chamberlain, was raised in England. Rosa explains the factory belonging to Hermann and transferred to Jacob was destroyed by bombs during the war. Tensions rise when Leo admits his mother wanted to hide their Jewish identity, sparking an argument about Leo’s lack of connection to his Jewish heritage. Nathan reveals the suicides of Hermann and Jacob. Nathan reminds Leo about him injuring his hand after breaking a teacup during Kristallnacht, causing Leo to break down in tears and recall things he had not previously remembered. Rosa gives Leo the family tree and shares that her attempt to get visas for the whole family to leave Austria was too late. Nathan reacts emotionally to the missed chance. The scene concludes with a memory from Seder in 1899 replaying on stage, as Leo, Nathan, and Rosa recount the tragic fates of their family members.