Ncuti Gatwa and Edward Bluemel star in a razor-sharp new imagining of two of history’s most iconic writers, clashing in a pub backroom this summer
A fiery new play is storming into the West End this summer – and it’s got bite. Born With Teeth, the hit US play by Liz Duffy Adams, makes its UK debut at Wyndham’s Theatre from 13 August to 1 November 2025, starring Ncuti Gatwa as Christopher Marlowe and Edward Bluemel as William Shakespeare.
Set in a shadowy pub in 1590s London, where conspiracy crackles through the air and creative ambition could be fatal, the play imagines three electric encounters between two young playwrights on the cusp of greatness.
In this version, Shakespeare isn’t yet the Bard – and Marlowe isn’t quite the myth. Over shared drinks and sharpened quills, the pair flirt, fight, and feed off each other’s brilliance while keeping one eye on the door in case the Queen’s spies come knocking.
Directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s co-artistic director Daniel Evans, this taut two-hander strips away the dusty history and plays fast and loose with the dangerous energy of the times. Expect tension, chemistry, barbed wit and a sense that anything: betrayal, love, even treason, is just a few lines of verse away.
For fans of Doctor Who, Killing Eve, or simply great theatre with teeth, this is one to catch while you can. It’s a strictly limited 11-week run, with performances Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm and matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Best of all? 2,000 tickets are being made available at just £10 for 16–25-year-olds, thanks to TikTok’s sponsorship.
London x London Take
Whether you’re a Shakespeare purist, a sucker for onstage chemistry, or just want to see Ncuti Gatwa set fire to the stage before your eyes – Born With Teeth looks set to be the summer’s smartest theatre ticket. And with TikTok offering £10 tickets for under-25s, it’s the perfect intro to the West End for a new generation.
Need to Know
When : 13 August – 1 November 2025
Location: Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA
Tickets from £25. £10 TikTok tickets for 16–25s available
Book Here: delfontmackintosh.co.uk
