The Rose Playhouse

Join us for a walking tour all about the extraordinary life of Edward Alleyn, the principal actor at The Rose Playhouse in the 16th Century. Amble along the streets of London with our knowledgable volunteer, visiting Alleyn's playhouses and learning about Tudor theatre practice. The 2-hour tour will start at Moorgate Underground station and end at Farringdon Underground station, via theatre sites in the Barbican and Clerkenwell, and also the office of the Master of the Revels.

Come and explore the streets of Bankside with our expert guide, who will take you to visit important historic sites in the area. Learn about Bankside's vibrant locality during the heyday of The Rose Playhouse; in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Beginning outside The Rose Playhouse on Park Street, the group will walk to Borough Market, the remains of Winchester Palace, and the environs of Southwark Cathedral, before returning along the riverside and down Bear Gardens.

Shakespeare meets Postmodern Jukebox in a musical version of one of his best loved comedies, set on a cruise liner at the height of the roaring twenties. Featuring a live jazz band performing music by Rihanna, Britney Spears, Radiohead, Michael Jackson and many more… Performed by OVO.

The latest show from acclaimed musicians, Chris Green and Sophie Matthews, takes in 600 years of musical history in just 90 minutes! Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending up in the 20th century (and incorporating everything in between!) this fun and fast-moving show is a whistle-top tour of Western musical history, complete with a bewildering array of instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, rauschpfeife and vihuela!

Back by popular demand, 2019 is the fifth year The Rose Playhouse is hosting the Readathon. This is your chance to perform at the first Tudor theatre on Bankside, reading the famous roles of the venue's contemporary playwrights such as Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare. Each performer selects their role from a hat then will have an hour to act out a play, before we rotate and move on to the next title. If you'd rather just watch, then take a seat!

Join us at Southwark Cathedral for our Gala celebration featuring dramatic readings from celebrity patrons including Janet Suzman, and music. Stay on for the Drinks Reception and a Silent Auction with items donated by Judi Dench, Ian McKellen and Tony Robinson, amongst others.

Anərkē Shakespeare, a new innovative theatre company, creates raw and fast-paced Shakespeare, bringing you the multifaceted text by a diverse, gender-blind, actor-led ensemble without a director, inspired by the working conditions in which Shakespeare conceived his plays. The audience, together with the cast, will work imagination to bring to life the sceptred isle of England, in this film noir, naked-framed perspective of Richard II – Shakespeare’s poetic masterpiece.

Do you like stories that make the hairs stand up at the back of your neck? Join us for SPRING SHIVERS – an evening of readings of three classic spine- chilling tales accompanied by unnerving live sound, in the exquisitely ominous surroundings of The Rose Playhouse.

This talk delivered Chairman of the Marlowe Society, Ken Pickering, explores how Marlowe’s plays reveal an awareness of the performance possibilities of a Tudor playhouse. Ken is also the former Professor of Theatre and Visiting Scholar in Communication and Leadership at Gonzaga University, Washington State. He is currently Honorary Professor of Drama at the University of Kent in Marlowe's home town of Canterbury.

Combining cinematic film from award-winning Alisdair Livingstone (Director of Photography of BBC’s Blue Planet: Plastic Special) with bold theatricality, evocative music and a dynamic glowing set, two performers play out Shakespeare’s most famous tale as you’ve never seen it before!

Hamlet needs your help to take on the roles of his friends and family and resolve the great questions of life. Journey through the play together and become immersed in the story like never before. Hamlet has the questions. Do you have the answers? London premiere fresh from sold out shows and rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe. “It’s an extraordinary feat, a tour de force. Shakespeare doesn’t get more up close and personal than this” ***** UK Theatre Network Running time - 1 hr

The Rose Theatre was born into a community on the south bank, ‘the wrong side of the river’, which was colourful, bawdy and illegal. Guy Rowston looks at Southwark in Tudor and Stuart times with stories of corrupt officials, secret agents, celebrity bears, religious persecution, plague, fire, brothels and beer.