Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Through Song will bring a historical play to Southwark Playhouse and train the next generation of historians, writes Cristina Trujillo…
Inclusive theatre group, People’s Company, will perform Time Train at Southwark Playhouse, May 27–29, telling the history of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe through local song.
The charity, based at Southwark Playhouse, is also launching a heritage training scheme as part of the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Through Song project.
Time Train will illustrate the heritage of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe from the Roman era into the future, diving into stories such as that of Ada Lovelace, Lord Byron’s only legitimate child, and Charles Babbage, ‘the father of computing.’
From Southwark, Babbage is one of many characters in the musical play, which will be led by 25 actors who are also from the borough. The play will utilise historical music from sea shanties to jingles, covering the Mayflower setting sail from Rotherhithe.
The initiative will also select 10 local heritage volunteers who will be trained in research skills by heritage professionals and organisations. These volunteers will create panels on local history, which will then be displayed by another of the project’s partners.
Teaming up with Greystar, People’s Company secured the opportunity for their heritage volunteers to display their work in an exhibition at the site of the Bermondsey Biscuit Factory, which is undergoing development.
John Whelan, the artistic director of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Through Song, said the scheme was “very much rooted in local community,” confirming, “We like to tell the local story, the local history… This is now your history, this is your heritage.”
He continued: “I’m excited to see the history of the area animated by its songs such as those from Bermondsey Abbey.”
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Greystar is developing the former Biscuit Factory with Pearl Yard Development Bermondsey, a project that John Whelan described as having been very thorough in “connecting to the community.”
With funding secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, People’s Company is launching the project in collaboration with Cherry Garden TRA, which provides events and services for locals.
This offering from People’s Company builds on the successful Salter Festival in 2023, which platformed community heritage in Southwark.
To apply for the heritage project, contact John Whelan on [email protected].
When: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 – Friday, 29 May 2026
Where: Southwark Playhouse Elephant, 1 Dante Place, London SE11 4RX
Tickets available soon.
