As this performance takes place in our Foyer it is unaffected by the current auditorium closure.

‘What is honour? A word.’

dEFAULT THEATRE presents… Shakespeare in the Pub: HENRY IV

The curtain has fallen on a touring Shakespeare company's final performance, but the night isn't over. In the theatre bar, champagne flows as the crew celebrates – and inspiration strikes. Together, they transform their after-hours revelry into an impromptu production of ‘Henry IV’, fashioning a stage from their surroundings and bringing it to life using whatever (and whoever) is around them.

Drawing from both parts of William Shakespeare’s ‘Henry IV’, what unfolds is a story of power, rebellion, and redemption. At its heart is an ailing king struggling to maintain order in his realm while grappling with an even greater challenge: his own son’s rebellion. Prince Hal, more at home in taverns than court, has found a questionable mentor in the charismatic rogue John Falstaff. But when the ambitious Hotspur threatens the kingdom with civil war, Hal must finally confront his responsibilities to crown, country, and father.

As contemporary relationships mirror Shakespeare's historic power struggles, the lines between performer and character begin to blur, and a dialogue forms between past and present.

By integrating innovative staging with Shakespeare’s original text, Shakespeare in the Pub offers a fresh perspective on timeless tales. Filled with humour and heart, this intimate performance reveals the enduring power of the Bard’s storytelling.

Directed & Adapted by: … Luke Martin

Starring: … Adele Bachmann

… Ellie Councell

… Caleb O’Brien

… Luke Martin

… Benedict Williams

With Original Music by: … Benedict Williams

Contenting Warnings: Violence, Acted Alcohol Abuse, Light Crude Humour

(prices include £1.50 Theatre Maintenance Levy)