Shifters Tickets
About Shifters
Don’t miss Shifters, a story of slow-burn romance and enduring love at the Duke of York Theatre following a sell-out run at Bush Theatre in the spring of 2024. Book Shifters tickets on TodayTix.
See Heather Agyepong (School Girls; or,The African Mean Girls Play) and Tosin Cole (BBC’s Doctor Who) reprise their roles from the successful run at Bush Theatre.
As the 4-star London Theatre review said, “The irresistibly likeable Cole is a lanky, rangy presence who draws you to him from the very start.”
Shifters in London blends the past and the present as former teenage lovers Dre and Des reconnect eight years after their breakup. While much has changed, there is still an undeniable connection between the two. Before going their separate ways, Dre and Des need to examine whether fate brought them back together again for a reason. The play is centered on the enduring power of love alongside topics of abuse and family trauma.
Run time
1hr 40min. No Interval.
Start date
12th August, 2024
End date
12th October, 2024
Age
Ages 12+
Venue
Directions
Location: West End
Railway station: Charing Cross
Bus numbers: (Charing Cross Road) 24, 29, 176; (Strand) 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 87, 91, 139
Night bus numbers: (Charing Cross Road) 24, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41, N279; (Strand) 6, 23, 139, N9, N15, N11, N13, N21, N26, N44, N47, N87, N89, N91, N155, N343, N551
Car park: Chinatown (5mins)
Directions from tube: (5mins) Take Charing Cross Road to St Martin’s Court, head down until the end and then take a right onto St Martin’s Lane until you reach the theatre on your right.
More information about Shifters
Shifters is a play written by Benedict Lombe, winner of the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for Playwriting. Lombe was first commissioned to write the story by the Bush Theatre, supported by the Jerwood Foundation.
As Lombe said, "Shifters' transfer is a big moment. Our dreamy, tender, unrepentantly romantic show about two lost souls finding a connection that can't be forgotten was a hit with Bush audiences. Now we get to recreate our magic on a bigger stage! I hope what Shifters does—as well as invite new audiences to fall in love with Des and Dre—is accelerate the pace for the next wave of Black British female playwrights in the West End."
The show has a talented creative team at its helm, including director Lynette Linton (Sweat), Olivier and Tony-winning lighting designer Neil Austin (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Tony-winning sound designer Tony Gayle (My Neighbour Totoro), and set and costume designer Alex Berry (Macbeth (an undoing)).
What to watch for
- Benedict Lombe is just the third Black British female playwright to have her play staged in the West End.
- The play's relatively simple set design allows the audience's focus to be on the talented Heather Agyepong and Tosin Cole.
- Critics have loved Shifters. As a 4-star review from The Guardian said, "Cole, known better for his screen roles, proves he is as adept on stage, while Agyepong is full of fire. They capture the awkwardness of young love, and of what is unsaid when they meet years later."
- Benedict Lombe's debut play, Lava, was the first debut play to win the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.
Frequently asked questions
What is Shifters about?
Shifters, a story of slow-burn romance and enduring love starring Heather Agyepong (School Girls; or,The African Mean Girls Play) and Tosin Cole (BBC’s Doctor Who), comes to Duke of York Theatre following a sellout run at the Bush Theatre.
What is the running time of Shifters?
Shifters runs for 1hr 40min. No Interval.
How do you get tickets for Shifters?
Check the top of this page for current availability and exclusive offers on Shifters tickets on TodayTix.
Which theatre is Shifters at?
Shifters is at London's Duke of York's Theatre, which is located at 104 St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4BG.
What is the age recommendation for Shifters?
Ages 12+
How much are tickets for Shifters?
Shifters tickets start at £23.
Who wrote Shifters?
The play is written by Benedict Lombe.
Who directed Shifters?
Lynette Linton directs the show.
Is Shifters appropriate for kids?
Shifters is ideal for children ages 12 and above. It is important to note that the show alludes to sexual abuse, mentions suicide once, and depicts a panic attack.
Is Shifters good?
Shifters is a touching, impactful tale of the enduring power of love as it explores topics related to love and fate alongside family trauma and abuse. The show had a sell-out run at the Bush Theatre and has been loved by critics and audiences alike.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.