Preview: Titus Andronicus Reimagined in Sunderland’s Summer of Shakespeare 2025

Titus Andronicus Reimagined in Sunderland’s Summer of Shakespeare 2025

This August, Sunderland audiences are in for a bold theatrical experience as Theatre Space North East brings Shakespeare’s most visceral tragedy to life in a way you’ve never seen before. Titus Andronicus, often called Shakespeare’s “Tarantino play,” will be staged from Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 August in a disused commercial unit on High Street West, transforming the space into an immersive world where virtual reality collides with real life.

A Shakespearean Bloodbath in the Digital Age

Directed by Corinne Kilvington, this blistering new version places Titus Andronicus inside the mechanics of an online gaming world — a place where morality is malleable, rules can be bent, and characters are free to act out their darkest impulses. The production embraces modern anxieties around AI, VR, and online identities, asking how the choices people make in digital spaces reflect their true selves.

The script, a modern verse translation by Amy Freed (commissioned by Play On Shakespeare), sharpens Shakespeare’s bloody narrative for contemporary audiences. Freed’s adaptation updates archaic references, creating dialogue that resonates more directly with the modern ear without losing the raw power of the original.

“It’s another big swing,” says Kilvington, “and another opportunity to unapologetically pull Shakespeare into 2025 and highlight the longevity and urgency of the plays.”

A Cast of Regional Talent

Theatre Space North East has assembled a sizeable and dynamic ensemble, mixing seasoned professionals with emerging voices and community performers. The full cast includes:

• Philip Harrison – Titus Andronicus

• Samuel Mandele – Aaron

• Julia Bainbridge – Lavinia

• Luke Maddison – Demetrius

• Lewis Ralston – Chiron

• Maryam Ali – Tamora

• Louise Garwood – Marcus

• Tom Eastwood – Bassianus / Caius

• Jamie Brown – Saturninus

• Miles Kinsley – Lucius

• Charlie Lennon – Young Lucius + cast

• Freddie Scott – Sempronius + cast

• Liam Wilson – Martius / Publius

Alongside these twelve players, three trainees and up to eight community ensemble members will contribute to what promises to be an electrifying, immersive spectacle.

Accessible, Immersive, and Urgent

Hot on the heels of July’s unfiltered Taming of the Shrew, this latest Summer of Shakespeare production cements Theatre Space’s reputation for placing radical interpretations of Shakespeare right in the heart of Sunderland. With the support of Sunderland City Council, the UKSPF, and The Barbour Foundation, the company ensures culture is not confined to traditional venues but embedded in the very fabric of the city.

Producer Jamie Brown highlights their mission: “With our donation/pay-what-you-feel ticketing, finance is not a barrier towards enjoying what promises to be an electric production highlighting some of the best talent in the region.”

Tickets:

• Dates: Thursday 28 – Sunday 31 August 2025, 7pm

• Venue: Unit 61, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3DP

• Tickets: Pay-what-you-feel (advance booking strongly advised)

• Running Time: Approx. 2 hours 

• Age Guidance: 14+ (content includes strong physical and sexual violence, blood, and self-harm/mutilation)

• Practical Notes: Chairs provided; limited toilet access; bring your own refreshments.

Booking and full details are available now at www.theatrespace.org.uk.