The Donmar Warehouse has launched its fifth annual Schools’ Tour with Hide, a new play by Stewart Pringle inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Directed by Jack Bradfield, the production is touring to 19 schools across Camden and Westminster, offering 29 free performances between 15 June and 10 July.
Set in a failing secondary school, Hide follows three students caught up in a radical new government experiment where, for one hour, anything is allowed.
The cast includes Elios Douglas as Manny, Gia Imo as G, and Leo Shak as Noah, with the voice of Paterson Joseph.
Playwright Stewart Pringle said, “HIDE is a story about lies and about control. It’s about the relationship between how we control ourselves, and how we’re controlled by others. A school is like a society in miniature, and the way it’s run and the opportunities which are given to the children who attend it play a huge part in how our wider society will be lived in and run by future generations.”
Donmar Artistic Director Tim Sheader added, “we are very proud to be delivering our fifth annual schools’ tour this summer, giving young audiences in Camden and Westminster the opportunity to experience the powerful intimacy of the Donmar in their own school halls. Our ambition is for all young people in our local area to develop a love of theatre, and we are delighted that through the schools’ tour and our LOCAL programme, we now have partnerships with the majority of local secondary schools. We are grateful to our funders and partners who enable us to deliver this important work to schools for free.”
The Schools’ Tour was launched after the pandemic to improve access to theatre for young people, particularly as GCSE Drama enrolment has declined significantly in recent years.
To ensure authenticity, the creative team collaborated with local teachers and students during development, shaping a piece that reflects young people’s perspectives while remaining age-appropriate for Key Stage 3 audiences.
Since 2021, nearly 12,000 students have experienced the Donmar’s Schools’ Tour, with a further 4,100 expected to attend this year’s performances.
Hide blends dark humour with a gripping narrative, placing audiences inside a tense classroom experiment where rules vanish and identities are tested.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
