Twenty Thousand Streets, Southwark Playhouse: to 17 October

A new stage adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s London trilogy is running at Southwark Playhouse Borough until Saturday 17 October. The theatre is at 77-85 Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD, about three and a half miles north of Dulwich Village.

Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky opened on 10 September. The theatre bills it as a world premiere of a new adaptation by Simon Reade. Ashley Cook for Troupe is the producer.

Hamilton’s trilogy was published in the 1930s and is set in London in 1929. The theatre’s own synopsis places it in a pub called the Midnight Bell. Bob is a barman who wants to be a writer. Ella is a barmaid who wants to be with Bob. Bob becomes obsessed with Jenny Maple and spends his savings trying to rescue her.

Hamilton also wrote Gaslight, Rope and Hangover Square. The theatre notes that a television adaptation of this trilogy was broadcast on BBC Four in 2005, starring Sally Hawkins.

Dates, times and prices

Everything below is taken from the theatre’s own production page.

• Run: 10 September to 17 October 2026, in the Borough building’s Large theatre
• Evenings: Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm
• Matinees: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 2.30pm
• Running time: 2 hours 5 minutes including an interval
• Tickets: standard from £35, concessions from £28, subject to availability on matinees
• Booking fee: none

The theatre operates a no latecomers policy and there is no re-entry once the performance has started. It advises arriving early and taking your seat before the start time.

Groups get one free ticket for every 10 booked at the same time, and the theatre says that discount can be combined with concessions where they apply. Group bookings go through the box office on 020 7407 0234 or the theatre’s group booking form.

Access and content guidance

There is one captioned performance: Wednesday 30 September at 7pm.

The theatre recommends the production for ages 12 and over. Its published content guidance says the production contains depictions of alcoholism, sexism, coercion and sexual abuse, and suicidal ideation. Its technical guidance flags strobe lighting, flashing lights and haze.

The theatre’s access and support page covers the rest, including how to book access seats.

Who is in it

The cast, as listed by the theatre:

• Jordan Scowen as Bob
• Rosalind Lailey as Ella Dawson
• Yanexi Enriquez as Jenny Maple
• Michael Maloney as Ernest Eccles
• Alex Bhat as George Perry
• Lucy Gray as Prunella, Landlady and Waitress
• Emily Beck, understudy

Matthew Iliffe directs. Ellie Wintour is set and costume designer, Alex Musgrave lighting designer, and Elizabeth Purnell sound designer and composer. Sam Spencer-Lane is movement director and Jess Tucker Boyd intimacy director.

The rest of the autumn at both buildings

Southwark Playhouse runs two buildings. Borough is on Newington Causeway, SE1 6BD, a few minutes from Elephant and Castle station. Southwark Playhouse Elephant is at 1 Dante Place, SE11 4RX, about half a mile south west of the Borough building. Dates below are from the theatre’s home page listings.

What it means for you

If you want to see this one, you have four weeks. The run ends on Saturday 17 October, and the theatre sells through its own box office with no booking fee.

• Going with a group? Ten tickets booked together get an eleventh free, and the theatre says concessions can still apply on top.
• Need captions? There is only one captioned performance, on 30 September.
• Bringing a teenager? The age guidance is 12 and over, and the content guidance above is worth reading first.
• Cheaper seats? Concessions start at £28 and the theatre flags matinees as the performances where availability is limited.

Getting there from Dulwich is straightforward. The theatre gives Elephant and Castle, on the Northern and Bakerloo lines, as its nearest station, and tells visitors to use the London South Bank University exit. Our Dulwich train times to London page covers the rail options from this side of the borough, and there is more to do locally on our things to do in Dulwich page.

Driving is the harder option. The theatre’s directions give a station and a walking route, and list no car park. If you are going by car, check the address on TfL’s charging zone checker before you set off. If you would rather leave the car at this end, our parking in Dulwich page has the local rules.

Sources: Southwark Playhouse, Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky production page and what is on listings, both accessed 19 September 2026.