C. Damien Stanton
Southwark Playhouse until Sept 5
★★★★★ “This is killer theatre” - View From The Gods || ★★★★★ “The best new theatre out there” - Flora Theatre || ★★★★★ “An impressive piece of theatre” Theatreland Adventures || ★★★★★ “Far from a hatchet job, it is exceptionally executed - and dare we say, probably investigates the crime better than the detectives themselves did back in 1892” - Rated Reviewed || ★★★★★ “Entirely fresh - something truly unique here that other shows could certainly learn from.” - All That Dazzles || ★★★★★ “The perfect show” - The Theatre Flyer || ★★★★★ “A scintillating, thrilling piece of theatre, which is as intoxicating a watch as one of Lizzie’s supposed brews.” Read About Stuff || ★★★★★ “A fantastic show!” Spotlight Pod || ★★★★★ “A gory treat - I was in awe the entire time” - GH Theatre Reviews || ★★★★★ “A folksy true crime based comedic masterpiece” - A Theatre Loving Londoner || ★★★★★ “Clever, dark, hilarious, and brilliantly performed, I would have happily watched another hour.” - Joliens Theatre Diary || ★★★★★ “As thought provoking as it is entertaining.” - Girl Outside || ★★★★★ “The small but mighty cast of three create a whole world where each character feels alive, with tremendous talent as both actors and musicians” - Adventures in Theatreland || ★★★★★ “Out Of The Forest Theatre play with our morality with devilish fun.” - Binge Fringe || ★★★★★ “Firing on all cylinders.” - Reveuan Theatre ★★★★★ “An inspired piece of theatre. This is an object lesson in how to pitch a true-crime drama – and how to hold an audience absolutely spellbound.” - Bouquets & Brickbats ||
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★★★★★ “This is killer theatre” - View From The Gods || ★★★★★ “The best new theatre out there” - Flora Theatre || ★★★★★ “An impressive piece of theatre” Theatreland Adventures || ★★★★★ “Far from a hatchet job, it is exceptionally executed - and dare we say, probably investigates the crime better than the detectives themselves did back in 1892” - Rated Reviewed || ★★★★★ “Entirely fresh - something truly unique here that other shows could certainly learn from.” - All That Dazzles || ★★★★★ “The perfect show” - The Theatre Flyer || ★★★★★ “A scintillating, thrilling piece of theatre, which is as intoxicating a watch as one of Lizzie’s supposed brews.” Read About Stuff || ★★★★★ “A fantastic show!” Spotlight Pod || ★★★★★ “A gory treat - I was in awe the entire time” - GH Theatre Reviews || ★★★★★ “A folksy true crime based comedic masterpiece” - A Theatre Loving Londoner || ★★★★★ “Clever, dark, hilarious, and brilliantly performed, I would have happily watched another hour.” - Joliens Theatre Diary || ★★★★★ “As thought provoking as it is entertaining.” - Girl Outside || ★★★★★ “The small but mighty cast of three create a whole world where each character feels alive, with tremendous talent as both actors and musicians” - Adventures in Theatreland || ★★★★★ “Out Of The Forest Theatre play with our morality with devilish fun.” - Binge Fringe || ★★★★★ “Firing on all cylinders.” - Reveuan Theatre ★★★★★ “An inspired piece of theatre. This is an object lesson in how to pitch a true-crime drama – and how to hold an audience absolutely spellbound.” - Bouquets & Brickbats || 〰️
August 4th, 1892.
Andrew and Abby Borden are found brutally murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Their daughter Lizzie is the prime suspect.
The story goes that she wielded the axe that killed them.
Part courtroom drama, part live bluegrass folk gig, part historical whodunnit, Off West End and Vault Festival award winning Bury The Hatchet re-examines one of history's most infamous murder cases.
★★★★ “Murderously confident theatre from Out Of The Forest” - The Stage; Lyn Gardner
Supported by Unity Theatre, previously supported by US Embassy BAAS scheme
David Leopold, Sasha Wilson & Lawrence Boothman C. Alex Brenner
Previous Performances
30 July - 25 August 2025 Pleasance Theatre Queen Dome
18 August 2018 Canary Wharf Garden Space
26 July - 16 August 2018 The Hope Theatre
03 May 2018 Rosson House, AZ USA
27 April - 6 May 2018 Taliesin West, AZ USA
13 July - 14 July 2017 King’s Head Theatre
03 April - 04 April 2018 Theatre N16
07 March - 11 March 2018 VAULT Festival
(if you are interested in programming please email claire@outoftheforesttheatre.com)
Sasha Wilson C. Reg Maddison
Press & Awards Include
NOMINATED Fringe Theatre Awards “Best Ensemble” & “Best Director” 2026
WINNER VAULT Festival “People’s Choice” Award 2018
WINNER Off West End “Best Ensemble” Award 2018
NOMINATED Broadway World “Best Musical” Award 2018
★★★★★ “This is killer theatre” - View From The Gods
★★★★★ “The best new theatre out there” - Flora Theatre
★★★★★ “An impressive piece of theatre” Theatreland Adventures
★★★★★ “Far from a hatchet job, it is exceptionally executed - and dare we say, probably investigates the crime better than the detectives themselves did back in 1892” - Rated Reviewed
★★★★★ “Entirely fresh - something truly unique here that other shows could certainly learn from.” - All That Dazzles
★★★★★ “The perfect show” / “The harmonies are gorgeous” - The Theatre Flyer
★★★★★ “Ferociously funny” / “a scintillating, thrilling, piece of theatre, which is as intoxicating a watch as one of Lizzie’s supposed brews.” Read About Stuff
★★★★★ “A fantastic show!” Spotlight Pod
★★★★★ “A gory treat - I was in awe the entire time” - GH Theatre Reviews
★★★★★ “A folksy true crime based comedic masterpiece” - A Theatre Loving Londoner
★★★★★ “Clever, dark, hilarious, and brilliantly performed, I would have happily watched another hour.” - Joliens Theatre Diary
★★★★★ “As thought provoking as it is entertaining.” - Girl Outside
★★★★★ “The small but mighty cast of three create a whole world where each character feels alive, with tremendous talent as both actors and musicians” - Adventures in Theatreland
★★★★★ “Out Of The Forest Theatre play with our morality with devilish fun.” - Binge Fringe
★★★★★ “Firing on all cylinders.” - Reveuan Theatre
★★★★★ “An inspired piece of theatre. This is an object lesson in how to pitch a true-crime drama – and how to hold an audience absolutely spellbound.” - Bouquets & Brickbats
★★★★ “Part courtroom drama, part folk gig, part historical whodunnit, and it works. It plays with the edges of fact and legend, letting the audience feel complicit in the myth making.” - North West End
★★★★ “Nothing short of exceptional. You can feel that this piece has been put together with an immense amount of love, and it was executed with precision.” - Pink Prince Theatre
★★★★ “Masterful” / “Theatre which entertains yet makes you think” / “feels like we are sat around a campfire listening to a folk tale” - The Deskbound Dramatic
★★★★ “Gives us a woman to examine rather than the axe wielding caricature that popular culture has created.” - All Things Theatre
★★★★ “Great entertainment from a talented trio.” - Plays to See
★★★★ “Funny, inventive and surprisingly poignant”- Harry’s Theatre Life
★★★★ “First-rate actors, singers and musicians. There’s great chemistry between them, and they seem genuinely to be having fun.” - London Theatre 1
★★★★ “A brilliant and beautiful mixture of bluegrass and storytelling, a powerful and surprisingly heartfelt reflection on one of the most infamous crimes in the history of the USA.” - Three Weeks Edinburgh
★★★★ “Bury the Hatchet doesn’t just tell the tale, it turns it inside out, stitches it back together, and hands you the needle. Genuinely gripping.” - Edinburgh Reviews
★★★★ “Tightly packed, great acting, and consistently entertaining.” - Jitney Books
★★★★ “The music and accompanied singing is faultless.” - Get The Chance
★★★★ “Bury the Hatchet shines for its beautiful storytelling. shines for its beautiful storytelling.” - Snack Mag
★★★★ ‘Out of The Forest Theatre are definitely “must watch.”’ - The Indiependent
★★★★ ‘You’re in for something special. A Fringe gem, not to be missed!’ - Richard’s Theatre Reviews
★★★★ “A fast-paced farcical musical romp. This is a fun watch.” - Edinburgh Guide
★★★★ “There are no easy answers as to who murdered Andrew and Abby Borden but the lightness of the blue grass music and songs lift the murderous gloom.” - Theatre Vibe
★★★★ “Full of laughs, self-parodying Grand Guignol, and toe-tapping and dramatic songs.” - Broadway Baby
★★★★ [Leaves you] wishing school history lessons had been as enthralling as this." - Theatre Weekly
★★★★ "An unorthodox delight." - London Pub Theatres
"A strong debut production from a fledgling theatre company." - Live Theatre UK
Lawrence Boothman, Sasha Wilson & David Leopold C. Alex Brenner
Production team
Writer - Sasha Wilson
Director - Vicky Moran
Set Designer - Damien Stanton
Lighting Designer - Will Alder
Costume Design - Helen Stewart
Stage Manager - Zoë MacKinnon
Cast Lawrence Boothman, David Leopold, Sasha Wilson
Producer - Claire Gilbert for Out Of The Forest Theatre
Previously; performed by - David Leopold, Joseph Prowen & Sasha Wilson, produced by Joseph Cullen for Out Of The Forest Theatre, designed by - David Spence
With thanks to Sally Cheung, Sam Jenkins-Shaw, Mario Yniguez, Drew Leatham, Amy Rosenthal, David K. Barnes, Reg Madison