{"id":476959,"date":"2026-04-11T19:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T18:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=476959"},"modified":"2026-04-13T12:06:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T11:06:28","slug":"the-peckham-theatre-that-got-john-boyega-into-acting-help-their-40th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/the-peckham-theatre-that-got-john-boyega-into-acting-help-their-40th-birthday\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u00a0Peckham theatre that got John Boyega into acting \u2013 help on their 40th birthday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Theatre Peckham, responsible for kick-starting the careers of Star War\u2019s John Boyega and Bad Education\u2019s Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, is celebrating its 40<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0birthday,\u00a0<em>writes Oliver London\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"809\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-809x560.jpg\" alt=\"John Boyega in the House Fairy, picture: Theatre Peckham\" class=\"wp-image-476999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-809x560.jpg 809w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-405x280.jpg 405w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-768x532.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-211x146.jpg 211w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-1320x914.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-750x519.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy-1140x789.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/John-Boyega-on-stage-In-The-House-Fairy.jpg 1429w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>John Boyega on stage &#8211; In The House Fairy. Picture supplied by Theatre Peckham.<\/em><\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-850x560.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-475353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-850x560.png 850w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-425x280.png 425w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-768x506.png 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-222x146.png 222w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-1320x869.png 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-750x494.png 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57-1140x751.png 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-11.12.57.png 1324w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Actor John Boyega.  Image via Creative Commons: https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/vWJGdG<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>To mark the occasion on May 2, the theatre on Havil Street, is hosting a free exhibition displaying archive material and will be launching their annual Peckham Fringe Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fringe opens with the first ever performance of WITNESS, a stage adaptation of Alex Wheatle\u2019s 2022 novel, directed by Theatre Peckham Artistic Director Dr Suzann McLean.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtNDM5OTAzMDExIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtY29udGVudCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50IiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC0yeDEiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgICAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"784\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--784x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-117059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--784x560.jpeg 784w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--392x280.jpeg 392w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--768x548.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--120x86.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--350x250.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--750x536.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.--1140x814.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Theatre-Peckham-CEO-Suzann-McLean-has-been-awarded-an-MBE.-.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 784px) 100vw, 784px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Theatre Peckham CEO, Suzann McLean has been awarded an MBE. (photo credit: John Yabrifa)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>WITNESS tells the story of a young man in a Pupil Referral Unit who witnesses a shocking act of violence, forcing him to choose between protecting those close to him and speaking out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The production includes local artists at different stages of their careers, including the West End\u2019s Albert Magashi in the lead role of Cornell and members of Theatre Peckham\u2019s academy in supporting roles.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjI0Nzc4MjAwIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtaW4tYXJ0aWNsZS1tcHU5IHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Ij4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLW1wdTknKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-840x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-476991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-840x560.jpg 840w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-219x146.jpg 219w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-1320x880.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Academy-Students-2-1140x760.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Picture supplied by Theatre Peckham<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>An important element of the theatre\u2019s local impact is their so-called \u2018Theatre Peckham Model\u2019, which offers pathways to support children, young people and artists in training, development, and the creation of new work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking about the production, Dr McLean said: \u201cWITNESS is a powerful example of the theatre\u2019s journey &#8211; with artists who began here now creating work at a professional level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 4, Peckham Fringe will also feature a dedicated Alex Wheatle day in collaboration with Words of Colour, bringing together writers, performers and screen talent for a public conversation and Q&amp;A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The anniversary aims to celebrate the people, voices, and communities that have shaped the theatre over the past four decades, since it was founded in 1986 by Teresa Early MBE.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzExNjE1ODY1OSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Full details of the Peckham Fringe programme will be announced in due course. Tickets for the event can be found at their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theatrepeckham.co.uk\/peckham-fringe-2026-full-listings\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.theatrepeckham.co.uk\/peckham-fringe-2026-full-listings\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"K8I2xhs5AcM4hC0fbwMv1rRGl5vWo9Ua7dre7qj9JDuTNt6Oc2ggopVSV1uXywSA4mpbqisfHQnUizH3\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"8CKbY6PdMF\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/john-boyega-will-appear-in-bbc-documentary-about-the-final-hours-of-damiola-taylors-life\/\">John Boyega will appear in BBC documentary about the final hours of Damilola Taylor&#8217;s life<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;John Boyega will appear in BBC documentary about the final hours of Damilola Taylor&#8217;s life&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/john-boyega-will-appear-in-bbc-documentary-about-the-final-hours-of-damiola-taylors-life\/embed\/#?secret=WoIUgc3evV#?secret=8CKbY6PdMF\" data-secret=\"8CKbY6PdMF\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theatre Peckham, responsible for kick-starting the careers of Star War\u2019s John Boyega and Bad Education\u2019s Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, is celebrating its 40th\u00a0birthday,\u00a0writes Oliver London\u2026 John Boyega on stage &#8211; In The House Fairy. Picture supplied by Theatre Peckham. To mark the occasion on May 2, the theatre on Havil Street, is hosting a free exhibition displaying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18930,"featured_media":476986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"May 2nd will also see the launch of the Peckham Fringe Festival "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"33"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13539,18246,13602,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-476959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-lifestyle","category-news","category-peckham"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476959"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":477587,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476959\/revisions\/477587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}