WHAT'S ON at THE LION AND UNICORN
Concise and Easy to use
At Last (2025)
2 - 13 September
The Lion & Unicorn Theatre
The old world has fallen and something brave and new has taken its place.
Out of the fire and rubble and the ashes something new is born. A chance to learn about the past and to discover who we were to save the future. A chance to find hope anew, or to tear open wounds which will never close again.
This is the story of ten years of hate. Ten years of oppression and anger when we gave ourselves up to the dark.
A story of the mother who fought for her broken sons, and the father that stood in judgement. The daughter willing to pay the ultimate price for freedom, the man who stood by and watched and the woman that listened.
This is the story of when the world went mad.
It is time to tell the truth.
At Last.
Proforca Theatre Company returns this September with "At Last" - a brand new piece of writing which returns to the Lion & Unicorn Theatre after 5 years away and is more potent and relevant than ever. "At Last" is a dark, brutal, almost verbatim-style selection of interconnected monologues which tell the "what if" story of the aftermath of 10 years of a totalitarian right wing regime in the UK. It is a searing search for redemption and reconciliation in the rubble of a broken society, whilst questioning who we are when everything that makes us human is stripped away with a story that is more pertinent, incendiary and hard hitting than it's ever been.
CONTENT ADVISORY
Contains Strong language, Adult Themes, depictions and descriptions of torture and physical abuse
POST SHOW Q&A
Join cast and creatives for a Post Show Q&A discussing "At Last" and Proforca Theatre Company's Tenth Anniversary with Terri Paddock on Wednesday 3rd September. https://www.terripaddock.com/event/atlastqa/
PRAISE FOR "AT LAST"
★★★★★ - "…a stunning piece. Seek this out, find it, watch it, and don’t stop thinking about it" - Everything Theatre
★★★★★ - "At Last is a powerfully moving play. It is also a terrifying parable for the age we live in." - View from the Cheap Seat
★★★★★ - "Directed with incredible pace, precision and heartbreaking realism…At Last is played by a company at the top of their game" - The Review Chap
★★★★☆ - "At Last is provocative, emotional, gritty and thought-provoking - the qualities you wish for from every play you ever watch" - London Theatre Reviews
★★★★ - "With an explosive story line and a first-rate cast, At Last cements itself as a modern classic.” Theatre Weekly
★★★★ - "‘Uniformly excellent performances and good directing make it a great watch’.” London Pub Theatres
★★★★ - "The high energy cast is excellent…Under David Brady’s direction (with Jess Barton) - its a great watch” My Theatre Mates
★★★★ - "James Lewis and Alexander Knott’s new play allows a terrifying glimpse into the way an event…could become a reality” Elaine Chapman (Theatre & Art Reviews)
WORKSHOP: ACTING SHAKESPEARE
15 September
Facilitated by James Haddrell – Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre
Organised by Northern Spirit Theatre Company
Does Shakespeare leave you feeling a bit lost?
Do the words feel like a foreign language, or do you find yourself second-guessing every beat and breath in a verse?
You're not alone — and this workshop is here to help.
Join us for a full-day intensive at the Lion and Unicorn Theatre, led by the brilliant James Haddrell, one of the most respected voices in UK theatre and long-time Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre.
Bring a Shakespeare monologue of your choice – perform it, receive honest, constructive feedback, and sharpen your performance skills.
Then dive into Shakespeare’s text – unpick it, unlock it, understand it. We’ll explore rhythm, thought, intention, and everything that makes Shakespeare not just make sense, but sing.
Whether you’re auditioning, rehearsing, or just want to build your confidence with classical text – this is the workshop you didn’t know you needed.
Spaces are limited and just £25 for the day.
This isn’t just another acting class – it’s a chance to stretch, grow, and fall back in love with Shakespeare.
A Funny Thing Happened
28 September
A Funny Thing Happened…
A night of bold, brilliant new comedy for the stage.
Join us for an evening of original short plays, monologues, and sketches, all written to make you laugh, cringe, or quietly nod in painful recognition. From awkward first dates and dodgy landlords to disastrous job interviews and chaotic family dinners, this is a celebration of the funny side of everyday life.
All pieces are ten minutes or less, performed by a cast of brilliant actors, and chosen for their sharp writing, strong characters, and comic edge. Whether it’s dry wit, dark humour, or full-blown farce, this night is about smart, story-driven comedy that knows exactly where to hit.
Just new writing with guts, heart, and bite.
Come for the laughs. Stay for the chaos.
1816: The Year Without A Summer
30 September - 4 October
Trapped indoors by torrential rain, legendary writers Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley and their friends, Polidori and Claire search for inspiration by the gloomy Lake Geneva. Driven by a culmination of boredom and desire for escapism, they undertake the challenge of creating the best ghost story. Weeks of writer's block is overcome, as writing begins in a fervour.
But things fall apart the longer they are stuck together, with tensions slowly beginning to fester. Tormented by their drive and isolation, the group finally splinters, leaving each character to reflect on the heavy cost of their creative ambitions. Polidori’s diary is brought to life in the 1816: The Year Without A Summer musical.
It’s Byron and Shelley, as you've never seen them before in this Friends meets Frankenstein comedy-drama musical, brought to you by the same company that launched SIX: ‘1816’ is the ultimate origin story of the first modern vampire novel and Frankenstein, where a group of five Romantics get trapped for a summer they'd rather forget in their storm-swept villa by Lake Geneva...
TO PURCHASE TICKETS CLICK HERE
