Jonathan Moore’s New Play, "Shakespeare’s Cousin," Premieres at White Bear Theatre

Breaking news to your phone. US mobile only. No password required.

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

West End / UK

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

The production features Robin Kingsland, Danny Solomon, and Alex Townson in Moore's exploration of the Reformation and its contemporary resonances.

Most Popular

Get all the top news & discounts for UK Regional & beyond. No password required.

White Bear Theatre will premiere Shakespeare's Cousin, a play by actor, writer and director Jonathan Moore exploring the life of poet and Jesuit priest Robert Southwell, and the interrogation that brings him face to face with Sir Richard Topcliffe, Queen Elizabeth I's torturer of choice.

Get all the top news & discounts for UK Regional & beyond.

The Reformation. Spies. Intrigue. The Armada at the door. Brutal torture of those perceived to be enemies of the state at the behest of Queen Elizabeth I.

One in three Jesuit priests are arrested, tortured and executed in front of baying mobs at Tyburn Tree. Paranoia grips the land. Thought crimes are brutally punished.

Into this dangerous, tense world steps young radical genius Robert Southwell. The most celebrated poet of his age, he was the favourite of his cousin, Shakespeare, whose plays are influenced by his work.

But outside the world of literary studies and academia, he is now largely forgotten. Why? Southwell was both a poet of genius and the most subversive of things one could be at the time: a Jesuit priest.

The interrogation of Southwell by Topcliffe is the lens through which Moore examines the ideas and wider impact of the Reformation, whose cultural and political effects still shape our world today. With contemporary resonances including censorship, religious bigotry, cancel culture, xenophobia and the cost of being an artist at a time of state oppression, Shakespeare's Cousin is very much a play for today.

The cast includes Robin Kingsland as Sir Richard Topcliffe, Danny Solomon as Robert Southwell and Alex Townson as Sir Oliver.

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

OPERATION MINCEMEAT Honors Glyndwr Michael In Cardiff

Jake Quickenden Will Lead RITA, SUE & BOB TOO! UK Tour

TITANIQUE to Close at the Criterion Theatre in January, and Will Launch UK Tour

WHEN THE BLACKBIRD SINGS to Premiere at Schwarzman Centre

When are you seeing ?

Get an Alert Each Time Stephi Wild Writes

BroadwayWorld TV

Breaking Broadway news & show discounts. No password required.

Breaking alerts by text. US mobile only.

POPULAR

Sign up for announcements and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 — Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Episode

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/SHAKESPEARES-COUSIN-to-Premiere-at-White-Bear-Theatre-20260923)._