West London’s iconic Riverside Studios is celebrating its golden jubilee in style. To mark 50 years since its 1976 opening, the venue has announced a vibrant spring theatre programme that honors its legacy of innovation while championing the next generation of adventurous storytellers.
A Season of Ethical Dilemmas and Unlikely Friendships
The curated selection kicks off with Panacea (16 – 21 March), a gripping exploration of the moral complexities behind scientific discovery. Centering on Professor Augustus ‘Gus’ Jamieson—a researcher with ASD developing a revolutionary vaccine—the play asks urgent questions about the cost of progress. It is the result of a unique collaboration between microbiologist Andrew Singer and psychoanalysis-trained theatre-maker Christina James.
Following this is Squidge (24 – 29 March), the debut one-woman show from award-winning screenwriter Tiggy Bayley. This nuanced comedy-drama follows Daisy, a cynical teaching assistant whose life is transformed through a redemptive friendship with a young Irish Traveller, proving that children often have the most to teach us about hope.
Medical Wit and Queer Identity
April brings Heartsink (21 April – 10 May), a bittersweet medical comedy written by a former GP. The story follows Dr. Jeffrey Longford, whose own cancer diagnosis forces him to view the healthcare system from the other side of the stethoscope. It is a work of "insightful empathy," tackling heavy themes with sharp wit and compassion.
Running concurrently is An Adequate Abridgment of Boarding School Life as a Homo (27 April – 10 May). Written by Ned Blackburn, this Bobby Award-winning 60-minute comedy sidesteps traditional "coming-out" tropes to offer a searingly honest look at a young queer man navigating hyper-masculinity and desire within the confines of an all-boys boarding school.
A Legacy of Excellence
"This season brings together experimental theatre, storytelling, and moments of humour to celebrate 50 years of Riverside," says Rhys Williamson, Head of Programming. By blending Edinburgh Fringe gems with bold new writing, Riverside Studios continues to solidify its reputation as a home for eclectic and daring art.
