The Big House will present the world premiere of The Inquest, a new promenade drama examining the challenges faced by young people leaving the care system, from 25 November to 19 December at its London home.
Written by James Meteyard and directed by Maggie Norris, the production follows David, a foster father seeking answers three years after the death of his son Jordan, who took his own life shortly after ageing out of care.
Staged as an immersive promenade production, audiences move through the building as the story unfolds, placing them at the heart of a Coroner’s Court investigation that examines the circumstances leading to Jordan’s death.
Developed in dialogue with INQUEST, the UK charity specialising in state-related deaths, the production shines a light on the challenges care-leavers can face when support systems fall away during the transition to adulthood.
The play was conceived after Norris served on an inquest jury and witnessed institutional failings firsthand. It was subsequently developed with Meteyard through The Big House’s Open House Project, which supports care-affected young people through training and theatre-making.
According to the production, care-leavers in England are four times more likely to die between the ages of 18 and 24 than their peers, with the transition between child and adult mental health services highlighted as a particular area of concern.
Norris said, “Serving on an inquest jury unveiled a devastating truth: the shocking, calculated lengths to which institutions will go to shield themselves from failure. Yet, out of that darkness, a light endures. This play was born from the tragic, preventable loss of an inspirational young man whose life should have been saved. While it does not tell his story, his unbroken spirit breathes through every moment, transforming an institutional failure into a living memory and the memories of all of those young people who have been failed by the very hands meant to guide and protect them.”
Meteyard added, “When researching ahead of writing this show I was shocked at the repeated patterns of systemic failures I kept seeing. It felt like some of the systems designed to protect young people can run like faulty train lines, transporting them from A to B, often arriving late, breaking down, and without anyone on board to ask for help. What young people need is a garden to grow in. Anyone who has tried to get a straight answer out of a public body will recognise the fight at the heart of this piece.”
Founded as both a theatre company and arts charity, The Big House creates original productions with care-affected young people, drawing on lived experience to develop new work. Its productions have toured nationally and received multiple Off West End Awards, alongside recognition from organisations including the Centre for Social Justice and the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport.
The creative team for The Inquest includes set designer Tina Torbey, lighting designer Nina Morgan, sound and video designer Mic Pool, and producer Layla Chowdhury. The cast is made up of participants from The Big House’s Open House Project 2026.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
