Upcoming Productions
Understudy No. 5
And beer drinkers: the worst of the whole sorry lot, God help us, for we’re the only fools who know full well what we are and drink to forget it.
It’s five o’clock and rehearsal is over for the day. A silent janitor alone on stage discovers that within the abandoned props and costumes lie the spirits of Shakespearean characters unhappy with their lot in the original plays. Through him, they say all the things they couldn’t say before, leading the janitor to ever so briefly discover his own voice.
Two countrymen side by side
On the wide shore
the wide deserted shore
the wide deserted
the wide desert
On the desert of white bones and sand
Understudy No. 5 is a monologue cycle of possession and inversion. This Work in Progress showing takes you through four distinct Shakespearean stories rendered intimately unfamiliar, using various poetic forms to explore verse and character.
Not one half-turn before the son’s ascent
Our constellation pitches and revolts,
And dawn comes not, and light comes not, and all
The manners of the world are swathed in ash.
Written and performed by Hadrian Conyngham
Directed by Warren Rusher
Movement consultancy by Dan Hardwell
The Tempest
Tuesday 8 September and Tuesday 22 September 2026
6.30pm (doors at 6:15pm) | 8.00pm (doors at 7.45pm)
Location: The Golden Hinde, SE1 9DE
https://www.goldenhinde.co.uk/whats-on/35-theatre/761-shakespeares-the-tempest-aboard-the-golden-hinde
Step aboard The Golden Hinde for a unique, site-specific performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, brought vividly to life within the ship’s atmospheric surroundings.
This intimate, streamlined production distills the heart of Shakespeare’s final play into a dynamic 60-minute experience. As the story unfolds, audiences are immersed in a world of shipwreck, magic and reconciliation - where the boundary between performance and setting begins to blur.
Encounter Prospero, Ariel and Caliban in a setting that echoes the play’s maritime origins, as the ship itself becomes part of the storytelling. With a focus on character, language and atmosphere, this production offers a fresh and engaging way to experience one of Shakespeare’s most enduring works.
Perfect for both seasoned theatre-goers and those new to Shakespeare, this is a rare opportunity to experience The Tempest in an intimate and truly memorable setting.
Part of the Totally Thames Festival 2026!