Unlike much of Edward’s Boys repertoire, this play has some performance history. Initially a failure when performed in 1607 by the Children of the Queen’s Revels, then briefly revived in the 1630s, it pretty much disappeared from the stage until 1898. Thereafter, it has been occasionally revived by professionals, usually as a star-vehicle. However, for Knight fully to make sense it needs to be performed by a boys’ company.
It’s an outrageous comedy that doesn’t just break the fourth wall, it tears it up into little pieces and jumps up and down on it. (Indeed, it might have been written by Luigi Pirandello – had he been around 320 years earlier than he was. And English.)
A mischievous parody and generous satire, this play both mocks theatre, and revels in it. By encouraging audience collaboration and exploiting the undeniable power of popular song, rude vigour tramples all over literary sophistication. The result is an embracing of the spirit of Carnival, the festive excess of popular celebration.
How should we account for the initial failure of this play? Perhaps it was an ironic endorsement of the satire’s accuracy. Audiences are notoriously dim…
The only place for The Knight of the Burning Pestle is in the theatre. For the only place in The Knight of the Burning Pestle is the theatre.
We will be really pleased if you are able to join us at one of the shows.
Cheers,
Perry Mills
Performances:
Wednesday 18th March at 6.30pm – Levi Fox Hall, K.E.S. CV37 6BE
Thursday 19th March at 6.00pm – Dartford Grammar School, Kent DA1 2HW
Friday 20th March at 5.00pm – The Charterhouse, London EC1M 6AN
Saturday 21st March at 6.30pm – Levi Fox Hall, K.E.S. CV37 6BE
Sunday 22nd March at 5.00pm – Magdalen College, Oxford OX1 4AU
Saturday 28th March at 5.00pm – The Charterhouse, London EC1M 6AN
Sunday 29th March to Friday 3rd April – Tour to Montpellier, France
Monday 13th July at 6.30pm – The Old Grammar School, Ledbury HR8 1DH
Wednesday 15th July at 7.30pm – Levi Fox Hall, K.E.S. CV37 6BE
(for the International Shakespeare Conference 2026)
Tickets for performances in March 2026 can be purchased via Ticket Source
Tickets for performances in July 2026 will be available nearer the time.
