Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Shakespeare North Playhouse announce European premiere of THE BOOK OF WILL

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Octagon Theatre Bolton and the recently opened Shakespeare North Playhouse will co-produce the European premiere of Lauren Gunderson’s The Book of Will in 2023.

This fast-paced, funny and hilarious play opens at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch from 27 April-13 May 2023 before transferring to the Octagon Theatre Bolton from 17 May-3 June. And, to the new Shakespeare North Playhouse from 19 October-11 November.

The King’s Men are getting the band back together. Their goal: to gather the Bard’s scattered masterpieces and save his words before they’re lost to history.

Shakespeare has barely been dead for 3 years when a pirated Hamlet rip-off hits a stage near the Globe Theatre. His old acting troupe friends are livid. To save Will’s works for the ages, they hatch a near-impossible plan to collect his words on paper, setting them off on a bonkers race against time through London. Their hearts are on the line and those they love are counting on them - to maybe leave a legacy that will last forever…

Lauren Gunderson is one of the USA’s most celebrated and widely performed playwrights, most recently writing the acclaimed adaptation of The Time Traveller’s Wife (Storyhouse, Chester). 

This very special European and UK premiere production of The Book of Will coincides with the 400th anniversary of the publishing of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays in 1623 and will be directed by the Octagon’s Artistic Director Lotte Wakeham.

Further creatives and casting are to be announced. The date tickets go on sale for performances at Queen's Theatre Hornchurch will be announced shortly.