Romeo and Hamed is a bold, provocative queer reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy from debut writer Scott Horgan.

Romeo moves through a world that never softens. Croydon’s concrete glare presses in from every side, until Hamed cuts through it. Their connection is immediate and dangerously alive, burning through expectation, faith, and the weight of family loyalty. Yet tragedy, as always, feels inescapable for our young lovers.

This is a story of pain and pleasure, desire and violence, love as something that leaves a mark. Raves become arenas of chaos and release, a rooftop in Croydon becomes a place of worship, and emotions swing without warning from euphoria to devastation.

Told in relentless, lyrical verse, Romeo & Hamed is urgent, feral, sexy and unafraid to ask difficult questions. It plays freely in Shakespeare’s sandpit, leaning into huge emotional swings, high drama, and catastrophic tenderness. It’s a story for right now that surges with energy and a pounding soundtrack, unlike anything currently on London stages.

This new play explores family devotion, identity, religion and belonging, asking if we have the courage to love freely in a world that often refuses it.

When

Wednesday 2 – 6 September 2026, 7pm

Tickets

£20 Adult / £18 Concession.

Book at riversidestudios.co.uk.