Opening on Jan 17, 2026
The Tempest arrives in London under the direction of Tim Crouch, whose award-winning productions reinterpret Shakespeare with wit and precision. This candlelit staging at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse brings together Naomi Wirthner, Tim Crouch, and a creative team known for inventive, text-driven work. Crouch’s past projects, including I, Malvolio and An Oak Tree, earned critical acclaim for their sharp insight and fresh theatricality. Composer Orlando Gough, designer Rachana Jadhav, and associate director Justina Kehinde shape a world where magic, memory, and authority collide.
Exiled sorcerer Prospero lives on an isolated island with Miranda, Ariel, and Caliban. Years of displacement fuel a cycle of reimagined memories, rehearsed grievances, and stories retold until they blur with truth. When a shipwreck brings old rivals within reach, past betrayals surface, and questions of power, justice, and forgiveness take center stage. As illusions multiply and loyalties shift, the characters must confront the narratives they have shaped about themselves. Whether renewal awaits them remains uncertain, leaving audiences to wonder what freedom might cost.
Show timings for The Tempest may vary every week. You can check the show timings for your preferred date at the next stage of booking.
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is an indoor, candlelit jewel-box theater inspired by 17th-century playhouses. Its timber structure, intimate balconies, and warm glow bring audiences close to the action, making it ideal for works driven by text and atmosphere. Part of Shakespeare’s Globe complex, the venue has hosted acclaimed productions of classics and contemporary reimaginings, earning a reputation for sensory, tightly focused storytelling.
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse seating plan will help you find the best seats in the theater.
Available facilities: Bar, restrooms, cloakroom, foyer seating, merchandise kiosk
Accessibility: Step-free access to the foyer, accessible toilets, limited wheelchair spaces, companion seating, induction loops, and accessible routes to designated seating areas
I was worth going to Stratford!! I liked the way it ends.
A dream came true: the Globe Theater was amazingly beautiful and the play was incredibly great!
The cost of the tickets starts from £6.25 and will vary depending on the type of seats you choose.
The show is playing at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare's Globe.
It centers on how Prospero, Miranda, Ariel, and Caliban retell their shared past, revealing shifting power and memory.
No. It respects the original text while using modern direction and staging to highlight contemporary themes.
He emphasizes psychological detail, direct address, and the act of storytelling itself, creating an intimate London play experience.
It is performed without major cuts, though pacing and focus are shaped by Crouch’s direction.
Special events vary by performance date. You can keep an eye out on the Globe’s official page for such announcements.