Book The Tempest tickets & experience Shakespeare by candlelight at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in 2026
This winter, award‑winning theatre maker Tim Crouch brings his distinctive, imaginative approach to Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the intimate, candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Stripped back, atmospheric and haunting, this production invites audiences deep into a world where storytelling itself becomes a form of survival.
- Dates: 27 January - 12 April 2026
- Age Restrictions: 12+
- Duration: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Venue: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1 9DT
About The Tempest at Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel: four lost souls stranded on an island with no hope of escape. As years pass, they tell themselves the same story again and again — a story of betrayal, desire and revenge, of a storm that might finally rescue and redeem them.
In this bold reimagining, the island becomes a place shaped by memory and imagination. Characters are conjured out of thin air, magic is created through language, and the line between truth and illusion blurs. But as the story repeats itself, one question lingers: will salvation ever truly come?
Directed by Tim Crouch, known for his innovative theatrical language and radical re‑examinations of classic texts, this production explores Shakespeare’s play as a meditation on power, freedom and the human need to believe in stories.
Candlelit intimacy, powerful storytelling & a fresh perspective on Shakespeare
Staged in the atmospheric Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, lit entirely by candlelight, The Tempest becomes an immersive and intensely personal experience. The space draws audiences closer to the performers, heightening the emotional weight of Shakespeare’s final play.
With Crouch’s signature clarity and theatrical invention, the production places imagination at its heart — reminding us that stories can both trap and liberate those who tell them.
Book The Tempest tickets now and experience Shakespeare’s tale of power, freedom and enchantment as you’ve never seen it before, in the spellbinding setting of Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Tickets delivered instantly via email & SMS.