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24th February 2026
Who is Kae Tempest?
Kae Tempest is one of the most vital and genre-defying voices in contemporary British storytelling. Emerging from London’s spoken-word scene as a teenager, Tempest built a reputation for blistering live performances, razor-sharp poetry and an extraordinary ability to capture the emotional pulse of modern life. Their work spans poetry collections, albums, novels and stage plays, earning major recognition including the Ted Hughes Award for Brand New Ancients. What sets Tempest apart is their fierce belief in storytelling as a communal act, something that connects us, challenges us and reminds us of our shared humanity.
Reimagining Sophocles for Today
In Paradise, Tempest reworks Philoctetes, a Greek tragedy written over 2,000 years ago, and makes it feel startlingly immediate. The original myth tells of a wounded soldier abandoned on an island, only to be sought out years later when he becomes strategically useful again. Tempest strips the story back to its emotional core, betrayal, survival, isolation and moral compromise, but reimagined it in language that feels urgent and contemporary. Rather than treating the myth as distant history, Paradise asks what happens when society discards people it no longer finds convenient and what redemption might look like in a fractured world.
Poetry in Performance
Tempest’s theatrical voice is unmistakable. Their background in spoken word infuses Paradise with rhythm, pulse and raw lyricism. The language moves like music direct, visceral and emotionally charged. Characters do not simply speak; they confess, confront and unravel in heightened poetic dialogue.
Tempest’s Impact Beyond Paradise
Paradise sits within a body of work that consistently interrogates identity, connection and power. From the epic poem Brand New Ancients to the novel The Bricks That Built the Houses and the album Let Them Eat Chaos, Tempest’s storytelling often focuses on individuals navigating systems larger than themselves. Across genres, their writing pulses with empathy, examining how we hurt one another, how we heal, and how we find meaning in fractured times.
Why Paradise Matters Now
In an era defined by division, conflict and uncertainty, Paradise feels urgent. It challenges audiences to examine the cost of power and the price of abandonment. It asks what responsibility we carry for one another and whether redemption is possible in systems built on exploitation. For contemporary audiences, this is not just an adaptation of a classical text; it is a mirror held up to our own moment.
What Audiences Can Expect
Audiences can expect an electrifying, emotionally charged theatrical experience that feels both epic and intimate. Kae Tempest’s language pulses through the production with rhythmic intensity, raw, lyrical and immediate, drawing you into a world where survival and conscience collide. At the heart of the story is a gripping emotional journey, portrayed by our exceptionally talented 3rd year BA acting students. Book your tickets now for this exceptional performance, this performance is showing from Sat 14 Mar 2026 – Sat 21 Mar 2026.