WHAT'S ON UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE
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23 Apr - 10 May 2026
Musical
Production by:
Lambco Productions
Love, lies, lust… and murder.
This murder mystery musical is inspired by the true story of Edith Thompson and her young lover Freddy Bywaters. Their Old Bailey murder trial of 1922 became a cause célèbre. People queued for days to get tickets to see whether they were found innocent or guilty.
What did the jury decide? Did Edith really collude with her lover to kill her husband? How did Edith’s sixty-four love letters serve to condemn her in the eyes of the world?
After successful sell-out public readings in 2024 we return with a full-scale production for 2026, with new songs and a great new retro 1920s design.
12 - 24 May 2026
Play With Songs
Production by:
Forever Marilyn Productions
Marking the centenary of her birth, this world premiere imagines Marilyn Monroe at 100, looking back on the girl she was and the legend she became. From wartime factory floors and nude calendars to the glare of Hollywood; from Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller to her final days in Brentwood, the show follows Norma Jeane’s journey through love, fame, mental illness, and survival in a system built to consume her.
Blending original songs with powerful drama, this intimate new work brings us face to face with three generations of women: grandmother, mother, and daughter. In their lives, and in Marilyn’s, one question lingers: what does it cost to become a dream for everyone but yourself?
“Powerful, haunting and deeply humane”
“An unflinching, moving portrait of the woman behind the myth”
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Andrea Milton-Furlotti
Directors: Andrea Milton-Furlotti & Laura Shipler Chico
25 May 2026
Magic
Production by:
Just Like That Productions
MAGIC AT THE GATEHOUSE
Join us, once a season, for an evening of Magic at the Gatehouse presented by an exciting line-up of top magicians. Witness miracles manifest before your eyes in an intimate theatre that puts you at the heart of the magic.
Line up to be announced!
27 - 30 May 2026
Play - Comedy
Production by:
Giggle Riot
NIGHT LIGHT
A Comedy Play by Tom Chandler and Maeve O'Haire
Giggle Riot are back alongside Poynter Productions for their second run at Upstairs at the Gatehouse with the comedy play Night Light by OFFIE-nominated writers Tom Chandler and Maeve O'Haire.
A 1-hour, three-act, fast-paced conversational comedy. Three children in their mid-20s are putting off growing up — until they're forced to let go of each other's hands and pass on the night light.
Our Irish duo Robyn and Rian take on the harsh realities of living in central London, Randy attempts to write his way out of his situation, and Laura tries to teach them all that there is more to life than
4 - 28 Jun 2026
Musical
Production by:
Tanya Truman Productions & Chromolume
HOW TO MAKE A MESS
A Mouth-Watering New Musical by Emily Rose Simons
When Anna’s estranged mother dies, she skips sitting shiva and immerses herself in NIGELLA LAWSON’s seminal cookbook How To Eat, somehow summoning an imagined Nigella as her guide.
Folding together heartache and humour, Anna rediscovers the joys of living, learning, and - most importantly - eating, one recipe at a time.
HOW TO MAKE A MESS is a delicious celebration of feeding yourself in every sense, through the exploration of recipes and the stories they hold. With a score that blends classic Broadway warmth with quirky, contemporary storytelling, this freshly-baked new musical serves up a bittersweet helping of grief, joy, and the question of what we leave behind.
Book, Music, & Lyrics: Emily Rose Simons
Director: Grace Taylor
Running Time: 2 hours (including interval) | Age Guidance: 12+
14 Jun 2026
Talk
Production by:
Highgate Festival
AN ACTOR'S LAMENT
Well-known local actor, Harry Meacher, entertains with tales from his life and long career - from being nearly thrown out of RADA, and then winning their top prize, through working with Laurence Olivier, to probably the most hilariously bad production of Hamlet ever! This show will be a rare insight into the highs and lows of an actor's life, with many unexpected anecdotes on its merry way.
Starring: Harry Meacher
Director: Judi Bowker
