Our Public House
A big-hearted and funny new play
15 May - 4 July 2026
With Kit Esuruoso (Tina The Musical), Chaya Gupta (EastEnders), Gabriella Leon (Casualty), Lauren Moakes (Romeo and Juliet), Fergus O’Donnell (Downtown Abbey, Holby City) and Bharti Patel (Doctors, EastEnders).
When an entire community spoils their ballots and refuses to vote, a local pub on the brink of closure becomes the only place left to talk.
As a storm rages outside, landlady Sanjana, a family in mourning, familiar regulars and unexpected guests are thrown together for a night of debate, confession and open mic.
In a city divided by politics, secrets spill. Songs rise. People fall in love. Something shifts
Inspired by the real words of over 600 people nationwide, Our Public House transforms the state of the nation into a play with original live music, about community, connection and what might change if everyone had their say. Where drama and voices like yours take centre stage.
At every show, a local community ensemble will be part of the action onstage, performing alongside the cast and highlighting the issues they feel are most important locally – no two performances will be the same!
From award-winning playwright Barney Norris (“a writer of grace and luminosity” - The Stage) and director Josephine Burton (“immersive ingenuity” - The Observer).
Told through spoken English, British Sign Language (BSL), Sign Supported English (SSE), creative captioning and music, Our Public House brings together a cast of hearing and deaf performers.
TOUR DATES
Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Fri, 15 May - Sat, 23 May 2026 TICKETS
Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot Tue, 26 May - Sat, 30 May 2026 TICKETS
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry Thu, 4 Jun - Sat, 6 Jun 2026 TICKETS
Sterts Arts & Environmental Centre, Cornwall Fri, 12 Jun - Sat, 13 Jun 2026 TICKETS
Sheffield Theatres, Sheffield Wed, 17 Jun - Sat, 20 Jun 2026 TICKETS
Marylebone Theatre , London Tue, 30 Jun - Sat 4th July 2026 TICKETS
Our Public House is part of Dash Arts’ Albion season - an exploration of modern Englishness, in all its complexity.
CAST
Mary - Gabriella Leon
Sanjana - Bharti Patel
Anika - Chaya Gupta
Scott - Fergus O’Donnell
Jo - Lauren Moakes
Tom - Kit Esuruoso
Creatives
Written by Barney Norris
Created and Directed by Josephine Burton
Music by Jonathan Walton
Lyrics by Jonathan Walton and people across the country
Set and Costume by Good Teeth Design
Lighting Design by Ryan Joseph Stafford
Creative Captions by Ben Glover
Associate Director Scott Hurran
Sound by Bella Kear
Movement by Josie Daxter
BSL Consultancy by Charlotte Arrowsmith
Production Management: eStage
SUPPORT
Our Public House is produced by Dash Arts in association with Leeds Playhouse and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Further support comes from Deborah Loeb Brice Donor Advised Fund at CAF, Three Monkies Trust, Marchus Trust, Thistle Trust, 29th May 1961 Foundation, Unity Theatre Trust, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the National Theatre's Generate programme, and Our Public House Giving Circle.
BACKGROUND
Workshops
The research and inspiration behind Our Public House began in Spring 2023 with our Speak Out! Workshops across the country.
With our partners, Birmingham University and the University of East Anglia, since then, we’ve empowered over 600 people to write and deliver speeches about what we can change today that will make the future better. We've worked with diverse communities across England - including schools, women’s prisons, women’s and men’s social groups, political activists and deaf communities, in Cornwall, Sheffield, Manchester, Banbury, Corby, Peterborough, Coventry, Norwich, Brighton and London.
In the workshops, we supported participants in crafting and delivering powerful impactful speeches. The speeches were brilliantly diverse, ranging from a campaign for mushrooms campaigns, to increasing universal credit and rent controls, easy access to music lessons, improved special needs education and employer recognition of menopause. Their speeches provoked, persuaded and empowered. We’re still running workshops and alongside them, we’re creating a play inspired by all the people and speches we’ve met and heard.
At a series of live events in Manchester and London, we brought together our workshop participants alongside activists, academics, politicians to present and explore speech-making's ability to provoke, persuade and empower.
“You leave feeling a connection to the community and empowered by the knowledge that speech can truly be one of the greatest tools society can unlock.” - A Young(ish) Perspective
Events included cultural historian Edith Hall, playwright Alecky Blythe, former speechwriter to David Cameron, Jessica Cunniffe, comedian Rinkoo Barpaga, youth worker and community activist Zara Manoehoetoe.
Podcast
Discover the complex process of translating our research into a tangible production by tuning into our podcast series ‘Our Public House’. Immerse yourself not only in insightful discussions but also in captivating snippets from the compelling speeches delivered by our participants.
Available on all streaming platforms.
BLOG
Catch-up on our progress by delving into our blog, where you can trace our remarkable journey from securing initial funding in 2022 to our current achievements.
