“A GLORIOUS BLAZE OF PASSION AND FURY… RICHLY FUNNY” (The Times).

1609. I AM EMILIA.

WRITER. WIFE. LOVER. MOTHER. MUSE.

400 years ago Emilia Bassano wanted her voice to be heard. It wasn’t. Could she have been the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets? What of her own poems? Why was her story erased from history?

Emilia and her sisters reach out to us across the centuries with passion, fury, laughter and song. Listen to them. Let them inspire and unite us.

Celebrate women’s voices through the story of this trailblazing, forgotten woman.

Stand up and be counted. 

2019. WE ARE EMILIA.

Shakespeare’s Globe’s “EXTRAORDINARILY ROUSING NEW PLAY” (The Independent) which met with “WHOOPS, CHEERS, BELLY LAUGHS, A STANDING OVATION” (Time Out), now explodes at the Vaudeville theatre. An all-female cast playing both hers and hims rouses “AUDIENCES INTO A PITCH OF FERVOUR”( The Guardian) in a “MAGNIFICENT PRODUCTION” (The Stage) filled with “WIT, FIERCE INTELLIGENCE AND HEADY INTENSITY” (The Times).

 

Good To Know

The appearance of any member of cast is subject to change and may be affected by contracts, holiday, illness, or events beyond the producers' control. If in doubt please check with the Box Office before booking

Additional Details & FAQ

Access Information

For Accessibility information please contact 0330 333 4815

Cancellation Policy

No refunds or exchanges after booking.

Where Do I Go

Vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, London WC2R 0NH

 

Public Transportation

Charing Cross (Northern, Bakerloo lines) Embankment (District, Circle lines)

 

Bus Routes

1, 4 , 6, 9, 11, 13 , 15, 68, 76, 171, 176, 188

Reviews

4.9(17 reviews)
  • Sameera steward

    May 29, 2019

    An incredibly powerful and important piece of theatre. Everyone should watch it!

  • Mike Snaith

    May 27, 2019

    This play was originally done at the Globe, a circular open-air theatre with a surrounding audience. So it was structured to draw in the audience and encourage reaction. It managed to do the same in this traditional proscenium arch auditorium. Though sometimes a little simplistic it contained some powerful reflections on the position of women at the time of Emilia and their difficulty in being accepted as writers or any kind of artist. These aroused strong reactions from the audience, echoing or adding to points made, plus spontaneous cheering. The audience was mostly young, in their teens and twenties, and a majority were female, not necessarily the usual audience for West End theatre. But they were moved and enthused by this tale of growing woman power, with quotes such as "god, I've never seen anything like this before;" "thankyou for bringing me to this" and "I'm going home to google the real Emilia". And Emilia's final speech, talking about turning the book-burning (and women-burning) fire back on the men who would oppress and silence women had the audience on their feet, fists in the air and cheering the house down. A final nice twist - that of reversing the Shakespearian tradition, so excellent cast were female, including those playing men playing women in Shakespeare's Globe. Deserves a longer run. Try the Edinburgh Fringe where audiences will appreciate the staging and the play's message.

  • Krista

    May 26, 2019

    This is a nugget of truth in time, placed for us all to consume. See these extraordinary artists. Buy the text. Look at it frequently. Use it like a ready reckoner, as if you are accounting for times passed, hopes for the future & your life now. Your life will be better for this if you want it to be. Much love. Krista.

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