Blackfriars is a small, independent theatre with big ambitions. We are proud to be Boston’s only theatre, and even prouder to be a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England. That support helps us offer more opportunities to young people and schools, and to make theatre feel not just accessible, but truly welcoming.
This programme is about creating meaningful and memorable experiences through live performance. Whether you are looking to support classroom learning or treat your students to something joyful, we are here to help. And we promise to keep the process simple for busy teachers.
SIMILE
Monday 9th November 2026 | 1.30pm
Tickets: £6.00 per student
Suitable for ages 13 to 16 | Running time: 60 minutes
Blending poetry, physical theatre, dance and spoken word, Simile follows three friends revising the night before their English Literature exam. As the night unfolds, they face personal struggles including social media, trolling and smartphone addiction, while a secret connecting them begins to surface.
Inspired by the Worlds and Lives GCSE poetry anthology, the production explores themes of place, heritage, belonging and connection. Created for young people and performed by Highly Sprung professionals, it uses poetry, dance, spoken word and physical theatre to explore friendship, identity and growing up.
ROMEO & JULIET
Wednesday 11th November 2026 | 10.30am & 1pm
Tickets: £7.00 per student (provisional)
Suitable for Years 9, 10 & 11 | Running time: Approx. 70 minutes
This fast paced, high energy adaptation of Romeo and Juliet places the audience at the heart of the action. With just three actors and minimal staging, the production strips the play back to its core, highlighting the urgency of the story and the emotional stakes faced by its young characters.
A bold, modern narrator uses humour, reflection and direct audience involvement to challenge the idea of true love and draw viewers into the drama. Blending sharp choreography, clear storytelling and rich character work, this fresh take on Shakespeare’s tragedy speaks directly to young audiences.
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SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS
Presented by Tony Peers Productions
SCHOOL PERFORMANCES | DECEMBER 2026
Friday 11th December - 10am & 1pm
Monday 14th December - 10am & 1pm
Tuesday 15th December - 10am & 1pm
Thursday 17th December - 10am & 1pm
Friday 18th December - 10am only
School ticket prices:
£9.50 per pupil (ticket only)
£11.00 per pupil (ticket and ice cream).
Free places: One free chaperone ticket for every 15 youngsters *
Get ready for a magical adventure packed with laughter, music, sparkle and plenty of panto fun as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs arrives at Blackfriars Theatre for Christmas 2026.
Presented by Tony Peers Productions, this year's pantomime stars Shannon Whetnall as Snow White, Jeremy Stroughair as Nurse Nelly, Hannah Kiss as the Wicked Queen and Emilio Encinoso-Gil as Muddles, with TV legend Basil Brush appearing digitally as the Magic Mirror.
School performances are available to book via the Box Office only.
* Ice cream for free places is £1.50. If children have ice cream, accompanying adults must also pay for ice cream.
DAS SCHLIMMSTE HOTEL
A German language play by Onatti Productions
Friday 5th February 2027 | 10am
Tickets: £5.00 per student
Suitable for ages 12 to 16 | Running time: 45 minutes
Mr and Mrs Schröder run Das Schlimmste Hotel. With its dated décor, terrible food and bad service, it's no surprise their hotel has been empty for months. When a guest finally arrives, they're overjoyed, until they discover that the description of a dangerous individual on the run matches their new visitor! Another guest arrives, followed by a huge parcel, and chaos and confusion begin.
This fast paced, silly comedy is performed entirely in German by two native German actors. Designed for students learning German, the performance includes spontaneous audience participation, with some students encouraged to take on character roles during the show.
WAITING FOR HAMLET
Wednesday 24th February 2027 | 1pm
Tickets: £10.00 per student
Post performance Q&A included
A Shakespearean comedy by David Visick, Waiting for Hamlet imagines the Old King arriving in the afterlife, where he meets his former court jester, Yorick. But the King is not happy. He's been poisoned and wants to return to exact revenge. Now only Yorick can stop him from destroying everything and everyone he loves.
Directed by Tim Marriott and performed by Nicholas Collett and Tim Marriott, this award winning comedy is a battle of wits between two fools, exploring love, loss, legacy and letting go. A prequel to Shakespeare's Hamlet, it's a comedy about a tragedy and a love letter to the original play.
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