Southwark Playhouse to open second theatre

The theatre will open in January 2023.

A second Southwark Playhouse theatre will open in the new year. The current theatre will be renamed Southwark Playhouse Borough, and the new venue will be named Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Southwark Playhouse Elephant will boast two performance spaces: a flexible auditorium that seats up to 310, and a youth and community space, exclusively for the use of Southwark Playhouse’s extensive community and participation work.

“Conceived in 2006, this theatre has been a long time in the making, having survived multiple developers, the 2008 credit crunch and a pandemic. Finally, we’ll be able to firmly plant our roots in this amazing and vibrant borough that we call home; we’ll be able to showcase even more work by the best new and emerging theatre artists and practitioners; and offer further opportunities for local people to discover and participate in theatre and the arts,” said Chris Smyrnios, Artistic Director and CEO.

The first major production to take place at Southwark Playhouse Elephant is Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce. The 2006 play is set on Walworth Road, in Elephant and Castle, and explores how history aids those in power. Nicky Allpress directs and Anisha Field designs The Walworth Farce. Dan Skinner, Emmet Byrne, Killian Coyle and Rachelle Diedericks star in the play. Previews begin on 17 February, with an opening night on 24 February, and performances to 18 Mar. 2023.

Other productions at Southwark Playhouse Elephant include The Wind in the Willows, and Bermondsey Revolution.

Shows at Southwark Playhouse Borough include Who's Holiday and Smoke.

Photo credit: Southwark Playhouse Elephant (Photo courtesy of Southwark Playhouse)