Older than the Globe, home to Shakespeare and Marlow, The Rose Playhouse is one of London’s hidden historical gems.
Hidden in the literal sense as the foundations of the city’s first Tudor theatre now lie submerged underwater underneath an office block.
I discovered it by chance one Saturday while walking down the South Bank. A sign invited me to come and explore.
The foundations of the theatre were discovered in 1989 during excavations for an office block. Now, instead of an open air stage like the Globe, the Rose looks up to a concrete sky.
It is truly remarkable how it survived all these years – and what it can tell us about our not so distant past.
The Rose Playhouse has an open day every Saturday. Go along, meet the volunteers, see a production and immerse yourself in London’s theatrical heritage.
Helen Marley-Hutchinson 