WHAT'S ON UPSTAIRS AT THE GATEHOUSE
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Dates
1 Oct 2026
until
—
4 Oct 2026
Categories:
Musical
Production by:
Chromolume
The Musical Medea
A new folk musical retelling of the Ancient Greek myth. This time, Medea’s holding the mic.
You will hear her. Leaving behind the safety of her homeland, Medea places her trust in Jason and his promise of a glittering future together. But is her faith misguided? With an original folk score, an ensemble of actor-musicians brings a new dimension to the story you thought you knew of sacrifice, betrayal, and the cataclysmic power of love.
“A beguiling update to a grisly classic”
★★★★
Dates
8 Oct 2026
until
—
11 Oct 2026
Categories:
Play - Comedy
Production by:
Garden Suburb Theatre
LOVE'S LABOURS LOST
An amateur production from Garden Suburb Theatre
Four of the King’s entourage wake up in the garden to find they have made a terrible drunken decision: no food, no fun, and, most disastrously, absolutely NO women. For three whole years. What could possibly go wrong?
Enter the Princess and her dazzling retinue, and… well, you can guess. Cue love at first sight, love notes gone rogue, disguises that fool nobody, and four men falling head-over-heels faster than you can say "so much for that vow."
Think of it as the rom-com the genre was born from; all the fumbling, the pining and the grand romantic gesture
Dates
13 Oct 2026
Categories:
Play
Production by:
Brother Wolf
DRACULA'S GUEST
Dracula.
An ancient creature, embittered by the burden of immortality and the intolerance of those who would decry him monster. Alone in his keep, but for the memories of centuries past. A living death that only a vampire could understand. Or perhaps a special guest or two. Providing they can live long enough to survive their host's unique hospitality and his deliberate attempts to drive them insane.
Dates
16 Oct 2026
Categories:
Play
Production by:
Gerard Logan
Night Terrors
The Ghost Stories of E F Benson
Directed by Gareth Armstrong | Music by Simon Slater
Night Terrors is a spine-tingling evening of three tales of the supernatural from E.F. Benson’s brilliant collection of ghost stories. Masterful storytelling from the award-winning actor Gerard Logan will transport you to a dark, sinister world of the unexpected and the unexplainable. The three stories (The Dance, In The Tube, and The Confession of Charles Linkworth), are dramatic, haunting and hugely memorable.
"“Logan is astounding....He takes a strong script and flies it to the stars”"
Dates
17 Oct 2026
Categories:
Play
Production by:
Slackline Productions
BURN BABY BURN
LA INFERNO
LA is burning. When two old Angelenos lose everything, they must navigate overwhelming grief, toxic ash and paperwork purgatory, surrounded by clueless celebs, posturing politicians and frazzled firefighters. 6000 miles away, their (very) anxious daughter clings to composure.
Award nominated Burn Baby Burn is a searing tragicomedy exploring the human cost of climate change and the humans fanning the flames. A sharp-witted blend of storytelling, songs and comic characterization. It asks questions nobody wants to answer like: Why was LA’s biggest reservoir empty? What the hell is a ‘firenado’? And how did 80s film star Steve Guttenberg become a low-key hero?
With a childhood shaped by wildfires and her parents home destroyed in January 2025's blaze, Hunter's done what any good performer would do...transformed personal tragedy into hilarious and heartbreaking theatre. Following her acclaimed debut solo show, in partnership with Slackline Productions, champion of women 35+.
"An excellent play."
Chris Neville Smith on Theatre
"Great jokes, surprisingly catchy songs and a powerful message."
★★★★
The Obscurity
"A retelling of an environmental and social catastrophe, with a dash of Californian whimsy."
Reviews Hub
"A dark topic, but one empathically conveyed...carefully directed by Kristin Duffy, giving space to Hunter’s charming and assured performance. Hunter describes the episode with adept storytelling, humour and music accompanied by a ukulele."
★★★★
-Rialto Arts
Dates
18 Oct 2026
Categories:
Play
Production by:
On A Role
EMMELINE PANKHURST
ANGEL or ANARCHIST?
A powerful onewoman show, starring acclaimed actress Liz Grand, brings to life the extraordinary story of Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the most influential and iconic British women in history.
A tireless champion of women’s rights, Pankhurst led the fight for women to gain the vote, enduring multiple imprisonments and undertaking numerous hunger strikes in the name of equality.
After nearly thirty years of being ignored by Parliament, she famously turned to Direct Action. Under her leadership, the Suffragettes escalated their campaignthrowing stones at politicians, setting fire to letter boxes, damaging property, and chaining themselves to railings - to make their voices impossible to ignore.
Although their determination ultimately succeeded, the path to victory came at a great personal cost to many brave women. And despite her pivotal role, Emmeline herself was not universally admired. Some argued that the more confrontational methods delayed, rather than accelerated, progress.
Dates
20 Oct 2026
Categories:
Talk
Production by:
Chromolume & Nikki Newman Productions
An Audience with Celebrated British Artist Cindy Lass
Champagne & Canapés
Riverstone, 1 Hampstead Lane
20th October | 6.30pm - 8:30pm | Tickets £35
Tickets Strictly Limited
Please note that this event takes place at Riverstone Community Hub, next door to the Gatehouse.
Cindy's vibrant, life-affirming paintings have captivated collectors and art lovers for over three decades.
Today her work hangs in collections around the world and has been admired by collectors including Sir Elton John, George Michael, and Sting.
In this intimate evening, Cindy will share the remarkable story behind her artistic journey and the philosophy that underpins her work including her commission for Queen Elizabeth II and the inspiration for her painting of the Anne Frank tree which now hangs proudly in The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
The evening will begin with Cindy inviting guests to slow down, reconnect, and experience the creative process from a place of calm and inspiration.
Guests will enjoy champagne and canapés while enjoying an exclusive exhibition of Cindy's artwork which will remain on display at Riverstone throughout the run of Long After the Labyrinth: an epic new play inspired by the Minotaur and the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete. The exhibition of Cindy's work will conclude on the production's closing night.
Supporting New Theatre:
This special evening has been created in support of Upstairs at the Gatehouse. All proceeds from this event will help fund the development of new plays and the theatre's ongoing restoration programme, ensuring this much-loved independent venue continues to nurture new writing and create accessible theatre for future generations.
We hope you will join us for this very special evening of art, conversation, mindfulness and philanthropy set within one of London's most elegant retirement communities.
Dates
21 Oct 2026
until
—
8 Nov 2026
Categories:
Play
Production by:
NMT Automatics, Chromolume, and the Ancient Peace Studies Network
Long After the Labyrinth
Crete 1944. A young girl hides in the hollow of an ancient olive tree, watching helplessly, as her family are rounded up and loaded onto trucks. A horned shadow looms and she finds herself falling… falling…
This epic new play is inspired by the Minotaur and the true tale of the lost Jews of Crete. A gripping narrative told via text, movement and shadow-play, we follow the life of Rena Depas on her labyrinthine quest to find peace in the wake of violence.
For this production, NMT Automatics have brought together a team of creatives, who have worked with some of the most internationally renowned contemporary theatre companies, including: 1927, Gecko, Theatre Re, Ephemeral Ensemble, and Les Enfants Terribles.
Praise for previous productions:
“This is a kill shot. A gripping, bold and exciting new work.”
★★★★★
Broadway Baby
“… a must-see piece of theatre”
★★★★★
Theatre Weekly
“A visual statement.”
★★★★
The Stage
Produced by
NMT Automatics, Chromolume, and the Ancient Peace Studies Network
Supported by
Arts Council England, The Society for Classical Studies, St Andrews University, East London & Essex Liberal Synagogue, JW3, and Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Crete.
Running time: 2 hours including an interval · Age guidance: 12+
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Voila! Festival - Musical
Production by:
Out of This Crow Productions
11 - 15 Nov
A girl. A lost sister. A monster. A duel. And Rats – the only ones who remember. And they finally squeak up.
A teenage girl descends into the dungeons beneath Warsaw's Old Town to find her sister and face a petrifying monster. Above ground, her mother fights a different battle: bringing a divided community together before fear tears it apart. Both race against time to save their family and their city.
Come join the Rat Squad – sharp-eyed storytellers with impeccable timing, questionable manners and rock-solid jokes. Through their commentary, watch rumours spread, stories shift, and fear hardens into history.
Basilitrix reimagines the age-old legend of the basilisk through a contemporary, feminist lens. It is a story about sisterhood, courage, curiosity and the search for truth, asking what happens when we stop believing stories built on fear and start listening to the voices they silence.
Blending rock and jazz with a Slavic folk twist, the musical creates a darkly playful world where sharp humour, haunting unease, and unexpected tenderness intertwine.
"What starts as a simple story unfolds into something intricate, touching, and profoundly human."
Audience member
"I was completely absorbed, cheering for the protagonist - only to be left questioning my own prejudices against the ‘monster’"
Audience member
Book
Ida Wrona
Music
Ida Wrona, Michał Grodzki, Anita Zawadzka, Anna Drewniok
Director
Kinga Pazik
Musical Director
Laoise Fleming
Set & Costume Designer
Ewelina Głowacka
Orchestrations
Anna Drewniok
Marketing Designer
Katya Bonk
Running time: 90 minutes · Age guidance: 7+
