Please note: This production contains strobe/flashing lights, strong language and adult themes, including references to slavery, racism, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse.
To download our Self Care Guide for the plays, please click here
There are two sides to every story.
Grieving the loss of the family shop with their dreams destroyed, Denise and daughter-in-law Carly are left to pick up the pieces of their relatives’ mistakes.
Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Erin Doherty play Denise and Carly in this thought-provoking drama that explores family dynamics, race, colonialism and cancel culture.
DEATH OF ENGLAND: THE PLAYS
Following acclaimed seasons at the National Theatre, Clint Dyer and Roy Williams’ extraordinary series of three state of the nation plays, DEATH OF ENGLAND, will be performed together for the very first time for a strictly limited season @sohoplace.
These three interconnected plays are, by turns, exhilarating, profoundly moving, funny but furious, and deeply theatrical. Watch one as a standalone experience or discover the connections between two or three of the plays as Michael, Delroy, Denise and Carly navigate the joys and challenges of what it means to be British in 2024.
Starring Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You, Gangs of London), Thomas Coombes (Baby Reindeer), Erin Doherty (The Crown) and Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Dune) and directed by Clint Dyer, the “uniquely brilliant” (Evening Standard) DEATH OF ENGLAND is set to be the theatrical event of the summer.
Please note: This production contains strobe/flashing lights, strong language and adult themes, including references to slavery, racism, sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse.
To download our Self Care Guide for the plays, please click here
★★★★★‘Doherty and Brewster’s performances are phenomenal’
Daily Telegraph
★★★★‘Dramatic potency lies in the humanity throbbing at the core’
Broadway World
★★★★‘Two superb stage actresses spar with one another’
Evening Standard
★★★★‘Closing Time grabs you by the scruff of the neck’
The Times
Carly
Erin Doherty is one of the most talented and respected actors of her generation, playing leading roles across film, television and theatre.
Doherty most recently played the lead in upcoming Disney Plus series A Thousand Blows. In 2022 Erin appeared at the National Theatre leading the cast of The Crucible as Abigail Williams. Erin played the lead in BBC One/Amazon Prime thriller series Chloe, which garnered five star reviews and critical acclaim for Erin. Erin will next be seen in new feature film Firebrand, opposite Jude Law, and in feature film Reawakening opposite Juliet Stevenson, both of which will have a theatrical release this year.
Erin attended the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, playing a range of leading roles during her three years of training. During this time, Doherty was selected to take part in the professional production of Pink Mist at the Bristol Old Vic, and was the winner of The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year 2015.
Her debut performance upon graduation in 2015 was as Laura in Ellen McDougall’s The Glass Menagerie, after which Doherty was cast as Tamsin in Katherine Soper’s debut play Wish List (2016) at Manchester’s Royal Exchange and London’s Royal Court Theatre. Her performance was recognised by the Manchester Theatre Awards, naming Doherty as Best Actress in a Studio Production 2017.
In 2017 appeared as Fiz in BAFTA Award-winning writer Jack Thorne’s Junkyard, which earned her rave reviews: “Doherty is the star here, and by rights will soon be a star full-stop” WhatsOnStage. Later that same year, she took on the leading role in Aykbourn’s The Divide at the Edinburgh International Festival, remounting it early in 2018 at London’s Old Vic Theatre. The Telegraph noted her “luminous central performance”.
Also in 2017, Doherty received high critical acclaim in The Young Vic’s production of the one woman show My Name Is Rachel Corrie. The Guardian applauded her stunning performance, marking her out as “one of the year’s great discoveries”.
Doherty closed 2017 with a run at London’s Old Vic Theatre, playing the leading role of Belle opposite Rhy Ifans’ Scrooge in Matthew Warchus’ production of A Christmas Carol. In 2019 Doherty was once again on stage in Wolfie at Theatre 503.Doherty’s inaugural television role was as a guest star in the BBC’s Call The Midwife in 2016, followed by the BBC adaptation of Les Miserables in 2018 before landing the role of Princess Anne in Netflix’s world-wide hit series The Crown.
Erin is best known for her break out performance as Princess Anne in Netflix’s The Crown. Erin was a 2018 Screen International Star of Tomorrow and a 2018 Evening Standard Rising Star. In 2020, Erin was honoured at the Newport Beach Film Festival as a ‘Breakout Honouree’ following her role of Princess Anne.
Denise
Sharon Duncan-Brewster’s outstanding skills as an actress are reflected in the diverse range of theater, television and film credits she has acquired over the years. Most recently, she was seen in the blockbuster film Dune for Warner Bros, playing the role of Dr Liet Kynes, Enola Holmes on Netflix and as Tula Quik in Sky’s drama Intergalactic.
Theatre includes: Victory Condition (Royal Court Theatre), Meet Me At Dawn (Traverse Theatre), The Almighty Sometimes (Manchester Royal Exchange), Swallow (Traverse Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Liverpool Everyman) and The Not Black and White Season (Tricycle Theatre).
Television includes: Sex Education (Netflix), Years & Years (BBC), The Long Song (BBC), Top Boy (Channel 4), The Bible (History Channel), Cucumber (Channel 4), The Mimic (Channel 4), Bad Girls (ITV), Doctor Who (BBC) and Eastenders (BBC).
Film includes: The Intent 2: The Come Up, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney/Lucas films) and Three and Out (Rovinge).
Understudy Carly
Kate is an actor, singer and beatboxer from South London. She graduated from Italia Conti as a Carlton Hobbs Bursary Award runner up and Alan Bates Award finalist.
In 2023 she originated the role of Robyn in Pied Piper: A Hip Hop Family Musical (Battersea Arts Centre // BAC Beatbox Academy // rODIUM) and Desree in the UK tour of Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist, directed by James Dacre (Royal & Derngate Northampton). She then joined the ensemble for The Globe’s Christmas production of Hansel & Gretel.
This year Kate co-wrote and played Juliet in Polka Theatre and Beats & Elements’ co-production of Romeo & Juliet, for which she has been nominated for TYA Best Performance in the Off West-End Awards among further nominations for the show. She went on to tour with Pied Piper: A Hip Hop Family Musical including a run at London’s Southbank Centre. Further credits include Frankenstein: How To Make A Monster (BAC Beatbox Academy & Battersea Arts Centre, UK Tour), Crongton Knights (Pilot Theatre), Arthur/Merlin (Iris Theatre), 3 Years, 1 Week and a Lemon Drizzle (Edinburgh Fringe, Underbelly) and Aladdin (Lyric Hammersmith) for which she won Best Supporting Artist at The UK Pantomime Awards 2022.
Kate has been part of the BAC Beatbox Academy since 2014 training, facilitating at the Academy to some of London’s top Drama Schools and performing across the country.
Understudy Denise
Paulette trained at The Arts Educational Schools and has built an extensive career across film, theatre and television both in the UK and the USA.
Theatrical credits include: Lilian Bader in Unsung Collective (tour); Rachel: Blend.Share.Mix.’(Theatre 503); Fanny Chew You Like Ice (Ohio Theatre NY) Pauline In-between the Sheets (Theatre 54, NY) Carrie A Left at Happily Ever After (MTC, NY).
Notable film and TV credits include: Jacquie Richards in Where the Heart Is (Yorkshire/United TV); Amanda Kennet in The Cops (BBC); Mary Magdalene in The Testament (Roarlight); Ms Morningstar in Supah Ninjas (Nickelodeon); Detective Belushi in Franklin & Bash (TNT); Talulah in The Leading Man (ALM Films); Susan Alogosa in The Testing Point (Academy Films); Jo Weber in Holby City (BBC); Charlie in Ella and The Mother’s (BBC).
Paulette has also appeared in numerous short films including the role of Cassie King in C.A.T.s (Stay Tuned Tv); Gemma in Waiting for Nana (MPP); Josephine (mum) in Violin Boy (Delphine Films); Juliette in The Three of Us (MMG Films); Eve Hamilton in Mother’s Cure (SW Productions).
Featured roles in television commercials and voice over productions for Apple Music; EE; Avanti Trains; Buick, American Airlines and GT ‘Alive’, among others.
Author
Director
Co-Set & Costume Design
Co-Set & Costume Design
Lighting Design
Co-Sound Design
Co-Sound Design
Associate Lighting Designer
Associate Director
Please note: Photography and recording of any kind is strictly prohibited.
The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist at any performance, as this is subject to a variety of factors including illness, injury, or events beyond the producers’ control. No refunds or exchanges will be offered as a result of an artist’s unavailability to perform at any performance.