A World Elsewhere

What is A World Elsewhere about?

A World Elsewhere is a family show from Shakespeare's Globe and Splendid Productions, playing in the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse until 30 August 2026. It follows Cass, an eleven-year-old boy who takes refuge in his imagination when real life gets a little too complicated. Drawing on the Shakespeare stories his Gran told him, Cass dreams up a world of his own, filled with characters conjured from the plays. But when darkness starts to creep in and his imagined world stops behaving, Cass has to work out whether he is in a comedy, a tragedy or somewhere else entirely, and find his own way home.

Who is A World Elsewhere for?

This is a children's and family production, recommended by Shakespeare's Globe for everyone from age 5 to 105. It comes from the team behind Rough Magic, the Globe and Splendid Productions collaboration nominated for Best Family Show at the 2025 Olivier Awards, and it wears its Shakespeare lightly: young audiences need no prior knowledge to follow Cass's adventure, while grown-ups will enjoy spotting the affectionate nods to the plays. Please note that the production contains flashing lights.

Who created A World Elsewhere?

The show is co-written and co-composed by Kerry Frampton and Ben Hales of Splendid Productions, and directed by Lucy Cuthbertson. Kyle Ndukuba leads the cast as Cass, joined by Kerry Frampton, Zachary Willis and Tanvi Virmani as the characters his imagination summons. Live music and playful storytelling run right through the performance, in the inventive style Splendid Productions is known for.

The candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is the Globe's intimate indoor theatre: a timber-framed, candlelit space modelled on the Jacobean playhouses of the early seventeenth century. For a story about a boy who builds a world out of his imagination, there could hardly be a better setting, and the playhouse's small size means every seat is close to the action.

Practical information for visitors

A World Elsewhere runs at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, part of the Shakespeare's Globe site on New Globe Walk, Bankside, London SE1, until 30 August 2026. The performance lasts about 1 hour 50 minutes, including a 20 minute interval, and tickets start from £18.75. With a short run and a small auditorium, booking ahead is strongly recommended. The nearest stations are London Bridge (Jubilee and Northern lines), Southwark (Jubilee line) and Blackfriars, all within a comfortable walk of Bankside. Looking for more shows to enjoy together? Browse our family-friendly shows.