“To be free is very sweet”
When one woman tells of her extraordinary journey to overcome the brutality of slavery, she becomes a beacon for the British anti-slavery movement. Born into slavery in the British colony of Bermuda, Mary Prince went on to become an auto-biographer and champion of freedom. Her book had an electrifying effect on the abolitionist movement helping to free many Africans in bondage. Through theatre, song, music, drumming and dance, this masterpiece of Black British theatre is inspired by the storytelling traditions of the West African griot.
Amantha is luminous, agile, multi-faceted, witty and resplendent.” – Leys News
Black British theatre
“To be free is very sweet” When one woman tells of her extraordinary journey to overcome the brutality of slavery, she becomes a beacon for the British anti-slavery movement. Born into slavery in the British colony of Bermuda, Mary Prince went on to become an auto-biographer and champion of freedom. Her book had an electrifying effect on the abolitionist movement helping to free many Africans in bondage. Through theatre, song, music, drumming and dance, this masterpiece of Black British theatre is inspired by the storytelling traditions of the West African griot. Amantha is luminous, agile, multi-faceted, witty and resplendent.” – Leys News
The world we once knew is becoming one we have yet to understand… Rooted in African and contemporary culture, ACE dance and music collaborate with two internationally acclaimed Black male choreographers Serge Aimé Coulibaly and Vincent Mantsoe. UNKNOWN REALMS evocatively shows us a picture of the world and what is happening NOW… Performed against dynamic multidimensional soundscapes by Andy Garbi and Yvan Talbot, two stunning contrasting works examine the past and present with consciousness and contemporary sensibility, six dancers rise from the ashes with powerful explosive dance that uncovers the rich history of lives lived; memories, human struggle and people letting go… An all-embracing, multi layered production that celebrates sheer mortality, perseverance and hope overcoming adversity.
An Underwater Musical Adventure! It’s time to make a splash and join Ariel; her father, King of the Seven Seas; Ursula, the evil sea witch, and a whole host of fabulous characters in this brand-new adaptation. Expect lots of fun, singing and dancing, all brought to you by a fantastic and energetic company of wonderful performers. Sparkling scenery, beautiful costumes and an exciting opportunity to meet the characters after the show, this is sure to be the family show of the year that you don’t want to miss! SCOTT RITCHIE PRODUCTIONS proudly presents this vibrant take on a classic and much-loved story.
“People will believe the most fabulous tale you can tell. It’s the one they secretly long for. It must be unprovable, impossible, fantastical.” Two young women arrive in a nameless British town. Their names are not their own. They have come from some trouble somewhere. They don’t declare their ages. Are they sisters, or are they mother and daughter? This dazzling play shifts from today to 1822, and then to both periods at once as fantasy reveals truths that we all recognise.
With razor sharp wit and humanity, Rock ‘n’ Roll catapults us into the wild months of the Prague uprising of 1968. It races through the years that follow, as future generations fight over what it means to be free, confronting sickness and death, while defending their dreams and love for the Rock music that shaped their lives. Running time including interval: 2 hours 30 minutes Content warnings: Strong language, sexual references, depiction of cancer Age rating: 16+
A former rock star inherits a derelict factory in Sheffield and wants to turn it into a thriving music venue. No, wait: her niece has inherited it, and has plans for luxury apartments. Hang on – it’s not derelict: it’s a working scissors factory with a big order from China. But why is its young workforce so skint? Part of a triptych of plays by award-winning playwright Chris Bush (Rock/Paper/Scissors), audiences are invited to experience Scissors uniquely blended with extracts from Rock and Paper, performed in this way for the very first time. This vibrant play asks searching questions about our cities and the future generations that will live in them.
Anita flees her home, haunted by grief and shame. Davey has witnessed something he can never forget. Tonight their paths will collide and their lives will change forever. Thrilling, heart-breaking, and at times darkly humorous, Philip Ridley’s powerful play examines the things we broadcast about ourselves and the things we strive to hide. Hate crime, prejudice and the redemptive power of storytelling come together in Ridley’s tense game of cat and mouse set in London’s East End. This modern classic proved to be a huge success when it premiered in 2000 and was a West End smash hit in 2007 & 2018. The multi award-winning playwright, Philip Ridley’s plays have become synonymous with some of the greatest pieces of contemporary theatre in the last century. Vincent River is now seen as one of the most powerful explorations of hate crime ever written. Directed by James Haddrell, Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre Age recommendation 15+
Both The Dumb Waiter and A Slight Ache were written by Harold Pinter in the late 1950s; two dark, unmissable comedies that explore the political machinations of those in power and those who are powerless. If you love Pinter at his influential, poetic, dramatic and provocative best, you’ll love this duo of brilliant one-act plays. The Dumb Waiter “We’ve proved ourselves before now, haven’t we? We’ve always done our job. What’s he doing all this for? What’s the idea? What’s he playing these games for?” Hitmen Ben and Gus have a job to do. But as they await instructions in a derelict building, they start to receive strange messages via a dumb waiter… A Slight Ache Flora and Edward invite the match-seller into their home. The match-seller is silent – a silence which slowly but surely brings about a terrible destruction and an unexpected exchange of power. A virtuoso mind game of perspective and reality, A Slight Ache examines a middle-aged married couple’s dreams and desires, thrown into sharp relief and shaken to the core when a mysterious man is welcomed into their private space… Directed by James Haddrell, Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre Age recommendation 12+
In a totalitarian state a writer is questioned by the authorities about a spate of murders that bear similarities to her short stories. Is this life imitating art or something more sinister? This black comedy widely regarded as one of the greatest plays of the past 25 years, examines the role of the artist in society and asks what price do we pay for freedom of expression. With an all-star cast including Lily Allen and Steve Pemberton, Matthew Dunster directs the first major revival of Martin McDonagh’s electrifying and savagely funny Olivier award-winning play, The Pillowman at the intimate Duke of York’s Theatre for a strictly limited season.
Sheridan Smith is Shirley Valentine. Shirley Valentine is the joyous, life-affirming story of the woman who got lost in marriage and motherhood, the woman who wound up talking to the kitchen wall whilst cooking her husband's chips and egg. But Shirley still has a secret dream. And in her bag, an airline ticket. One day she may just leave a note saying: 'Gone! Gone to Greece.' Shirley Valentine is the celebrated one-woman play written by Willy Russell, winning him his third Olivier Award. Sheridan Smith is a multi-award-winning actress with two Olivier Awards and a BAFTA. Matthew Dunster is a three-time Olivier Award nominated director whose work most recently has been seen on Broadway with Martin McDonagh's Hangmen and in the West End with 2:22 by Danny Robins.
Join us for Guys & Dolls as The Bridge transforms for one of the greatest musicals of all time. It has more hit songs, more laughs and more romance than any show ever written. The seating is wrapped around the action while the immersive tickets transport you to the streets of Manhattan and the bars of Havana in the unlikeliest of love stories. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you celebrated with us in the forest. In Julius Caesar, you filled the streets of Rome. Now join us on Broadway for the biggest event yet.
A game of cricket. Two of the greatest playwrights. And maybe even time for some tea. Before Samuel Beckett became the playwright universally known for Waiting for Godot, he was a cricketer. He is still the only Nobel prize-winner to feature in the pages of Wisden as a first-class player. His friend and fellow Nobel prize-winner, Harold Pinter, whose best known works include The Birthday Party and Betrayal, described cricket as ‘the greatest thing that God created on earth’. This brilliantly witty new play stars Stephen Tompkinson as Samuel Beckett (Brassed Off, Drop the Dead Donkey, DCI Banks, Wild at Heart) and Andrew Lancel (The Bill, Coronation Street) as Harold Pinter. Stumped gives a wonderful insight into what the friendship between these two great men may have looked like. As well as being a beautiful tribute to their writing, the theatre of the absurd, and of course their love for the game of cricket. Shomit Dutta is a writer, translator and teacher of Latin and Greek who also reviews books on cricket and the classics. He has been a member of Harold Pinter’s cricket team Gaieties CC for over twenty years and was captain during Pinter’s final years. Guy Unsworth directs. His credits include The System and Being Mr Wickham. He was also Associate Director on Much Ado About Nothing and Love’s Labour’s Lost (RSC and West End); Spamalot (West End & UK Tour). “A real treat... see it if you can" The Spectator “Perfect pitch for lovers of drama and cricket" The Guardian, Mark Lawson “A delightful play” British Theatre Guide