White Bear Theatre

The White Bear Theatre is a fringe theatre founded in 1988 in the White Bear pub in Kennington, London. It is run by artistic director and founder Michael Kingsbury. The theatre is one of London’s leading pub theatres and has been dedicated since its inception to new writing and the Lost Classics Project. The Lost Classics Project focuses on producing obscure historical works alongside contemporary plays. It is one of the longest-established pub theatres in London. The Lost Classics Project has revived forgotten plays from previous generations. It has produced the first uncensored performances of John Osborne’s early works, Personal Enemy and The Devil Inside Him. The project has also staged J.P. Donleavy’s The Ginger Man and Sylvia Rayman’s all-female play Women of Twilight. In its historical strand, it has featured non-Shakespearean plays and expanded the repertory beyond commonly revived works. Past productions include Thomas Dekker and John Webster’s Westward Ho and Ben Jonson’s final play, The Magnetic Lady. A visitor finds a small but influential theatre space inside the White Bear pub. The intimate setting creates a close connection between performers and audience. The theatre’s programme balances new writing with revivals of lost classics. Its reputation draws theatre enthusiasts and academics alike. The Lost Classics Project has earned praise for reshaping the early modern repertory. The Mark Marvin Rent Subsidy Award from the 2012 Empty Space Peter Brook Awards highlights its impact.