Southwark Playhouse

August 12 - September 5

★★★★ “Murderously confident theatre from Out Of The Forest” - The Stage; Lyn Gardner

★★★★ Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe

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. 

From the company that brought you ★★★★★ Off West End Award-winning The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria, this irreverently presented, knee-slapping actor-musician ensemble “plays with our morality with devilish fun.” -  ★★★★★ Binge Fringe 

True crime has never sounded so good.

BOOK HERE

Supported by Unity Theatre, previously supported by US Embassy BAAS scheme

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)

Press & Awards Include

WINNER VAULT Festival “People’s Choice” Award 2018

WINNER Off West End “Best Ensemble” Award 2018

NOMINATED Broadway World “Best Musical” Award 2018

★★★★★ “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

★★★★ “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

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