Southwark Playhouse has announced a significant revival of Dawn King's thought-provoking play, The Trials, set to run from Thursday, August 28th to Saturday, August 30th, 2025, at their Borough venue. This production marks the debut of the Southwark Playhouse Young Ensemble, a brand-new theatre company comprising talented young individuals aged 19 to 25 from South London.
Directed by Vicky Moran, The Trials plunges audiences into a near-future dystopia where a jury of young people sits in judgment of the older generation. Their task: to determine who should be held accountable for failing to address the escalating climate catastrophe. The play critically examines the lines between justice and revenge, posing the compelling question: when those most affected by a crisis hold the power, are they delivering true justice or merely seeking retribution?
The twelve-strong cast for this production includes Anne-Elizabeth Sowah, Dominique Vincent, Emma Judge, Evie Desheva, Harry Japes, Josie Surminski, Nina Amos, Rachel Greenwood, Rowan Miller, Scarlett Molyneux, Syam Stewart, and Thea Walcott Mckay. The creative team features Natalie Johnson on set and costume design, Will Monks for lighting and video projection, and Fergus Carver handling sound design.
David Workman, Southwark Playhouse’s Head of Participation, emphasized the initiative’s importance: "Southwark Playhouse has been committed to providing opportunities for young people to have really tangible opportunities to perform on our stages. The Young Ensemble is a sign of our ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging talent." This company will receive four months of intensive training and development with theatre professionals, providing a vital launchpad for their performing careers.
The Trials was previously staged to critical acclaim at the Donmar Warehouse in 2022. This Southwark Playhouse production promises to bring renewed urgency to its powerful themes.
Tickets for The Trials are available now via the Southwark Playhouse website.
