What's happened
A collective of more than 80 female and non-binary writers has mobilised to stage All the Rage, a multi-space theatrical response to the Epstein files. Produced across 15 spaces in London, the project merges art, activism and personal testimonies, focusing on victims rather than perpetrators.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The project foregrounds victim-centric storytelling in a landscape often dominated by powerful male figures.
- It leverages guerrilla theatre methods to maximize immediacy and emotional impact, distributing material across spaces to create a Gesamtkunstwerk experience.
- The collaboration across 80+ writers and multiple directors aims to democratize the creative process, challenging traditional hierarchies in theatre.
- Expect a measurable cultural resonance as audiences encounter intimate accounts, potentially influencing future productions about abuse and power.
Writing style
- Assertive, direct, and unflinching in presenting victims’ stories.
- Uses room-by-room installations to heighten visceral engagement.
- Balances performance with interactive elements to invite audience reflection and conversation.
How we got here
Writers responded to the Epstein files by forming a Whatsapp group led by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. The project spans 15 spaces in a repurposed London office block, with two main performances. The event centres on collective creation and rapid-response theatre, highlighting victims’ voices.
Our analysis
The Guardian (Arifa Akbar), The Guardian (Claire Armitstead)
Go deeper
- How has this format changed audience expectations for theatre on sensitive topics?
- Will similar collective creation models become common in fringe or institutional spaces?
- What longer-term impact do organizers expect for survivors’ narratives in mainstream theatre?
More on these topics
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Timberlake Wertenbaker - British playwright
Timberlake Wertenbaker is a British-based playwright, screenplay writer, and translator who has written plays for the Royal Court, the Royal Shakespeare Company and others.
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Rebecca Lenkiewicz - British playwright
Rebecca Lenkiewicz is a British playwright and screenwriter. She is best known as the author of Her Naked Skin, which was the first original play written by a living female playwright to be performed on the Olivier stage of the Royal National Theatre.