Petty Men
next weekend in London
Backstage rivalries and bruised egos take over in a darkly comic play about theatre, ambition and male insecurity.
Things to Know Before You Go
Updated: Tue 14 Jul, 06:00 London time
Is there a Saturday matinee for Petty Men next weekend?
No Saturday performance next weekend.
What time does the Petty Men Sunday show start next weekend?
No Sunday performance next weekend.
What's the cheapest Petty Men performance next weekend?
Check the performance list above for prices.
Julius Caesar familiarity — required, or genuinely optional?
Genuinely optional. The play uses Caesar as scaffolding rather than as text — two understudies in a West End dressing room, prepping the show beat by beat — and the Shakespeare moments are introduced cleanly enough that newcomers follow. Audience members who know the play catch a second layer; everyone else gets a chamber-piece about ambition and theatre work. It's the structure, not the source, that does the lifting.
Two understudies in a dressing room — how does the staging actually work?
Eighty minutes, two actors, one room, no interval. The dressing room is the play's only set; you watch costumes go on and come off, lines being run, the live relay from the main stage feeding in via tannoy. The closer you sit the more you see — the Arcola's smaller studio is a kind venue for a play that demands you watch faces this closely.
Buzz Goodbody dedication — context worth knowing?
Goodbody was the RSC's first female director, dead by her own hand in 1975 at 28 having just opened the The Other Place studio in Stratford; Adam Goodbody, one of the play's three writers, is family. The play's interest in what theatre asks of its outsiders is the connecting tissue; you don't need to know any of this for the play to work, but the curtain-call dedication makes more sense if you do.
What is Petty Men about?
Petty Men is a contemporary play that riffs on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, relocating the action to a cramped backstage dressing room. Two understudies, listening to the show relay from the main stage, rehearse, argue and compete for their big break until the lines between performance and reality begin to blur.
Do I need to know Julius Caesar to enjoy the show?
No. Familiarity with Julius Caesar will add extra layers of irony and recognition, but the play is written so that you can follow the story and relationships without knowing the Shakespearean original. It works as a standalone exploration of ambition, power and identity in the theatre world.
How long does Petty Men run?
The performance runs for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes with no interval. It is designed as a tight, continuous piece that keeps the tension and momentum building throughout.
Is Petty Men suitable for younger audiences?
This production is recommended for ages 12 and over. It contains strong language, themes of violence, loud music, haze effects and some adult discussions about ambition and power, which may not be suitable for very young theatregoers.
What kind of atmosphere should I expect?
Expect an intimate, charged atmosphere that starts off playful and funny before tilting into something darker and more psychological. The setting in a shared dressing room makes the audience feel close to the characters, as if eavesdropping on their most vulnerable and competitive moments.
Where is Petty Men performed?
Petty Men is staged at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston, East London, a venue known for bold new writing and inventive, small-scale productions. The studio environment suits the play's backstage setting and intense, up-close style of performance.
About this show
A tense, funny and quietly unsettling new play, Petty Men takes Shakespeare's Julius Caesar off the forum and into a cramped backstage dressing room, where two understudies are left alone with the show relay and their own ambitions. As they rehearse, bicker and try to outdo each other, the familiar lines begin to blur with their real fears about power, loyalty and what they are willing to sacrifice for a chance in the spotlight. Two understudies locked in competition and doubt gradually find that the roles they are playing seep into their lives, until it is no longer clear where performance ends and reality begins. The result is a sharp, contemporary reflection on power and identity for anyone who has ever wondered how far they might go if the curtain finally rose on their big chance.
Other plays next weekend
The Mousetrap
The Play That Goes Wrong
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Witness for the Prosecution
Museum Tours Next Weekend
British Museum
Tower of London
Madame Tussauds London
National Gallery
Attraction Tours Next Weekend
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London (Harry Potter)
Windsor Castle
Westminster Abbey
