- Venue Royal Court Theatre, London
- Performance dates Booking to 14 March 2026
- Age guidelines 14+
Book tickets to The Shitheads – a ferocious, prehistoric new drama at the Royal Court Theatre.
When strangers intrude on a secluded cave, domestic harmony shatters and survival turns savage. Jack Nicholls’ debut play drags us back to the beginnings of who we are, in a world premiere co-directed by David Byrne and Aneesha Srinivasan.
What’s Shitheads about?
Britain’s earliest inhabitants discover that love and violence feed the same fire. When outsiders arrive at a hidden cave, the fragile peace of a small group collapses into a brutal fight for survival. The Shitheads blends dark humour, mythic scale and raw emotion to ask how far we’ve really evolved.
Why book The Shitheads tickets?
- World premiere at the Royal Court: Be first to experience a bold, original voice in British playwriting.
- High-profile creative team: Co-directed by the Royal Court’s Artistic Director David Byrne with Aneesha Srinivasan.
- Gripping, high-stakes storytelling: A taut, visceral look at community, power and survival—set tens of thousands of years ago, and uncomfortably close to home.
Book tickets
Book your seats for The Shitheads at the Royal Court Theatre. Running from 6 February – 14 March 2026 in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Royal Court Theatre, London.
The Shitheads – Royal Court Theatre. Starring (Top) Peter Clements, Jonny Khan, Annabel Smith (Bottom) Ami Tredrea, Scarlet Wilderink and Jacoba Williams
“We’re all trapped in a cave, Clare. Each of us, all on our own. Staring out of our own little skull-shaped caves.”
Tens of thousands of years ago, Britain’s earliest inhabitants learn that love and violence feed the same fire. When strangers arrive at a secluded cave, domestic harmony shatters – and survival turns savage.
Performance Information
Check booking calendar for full details
- Evenings
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Matinees
- Thursday
- Saturday
- Group Bookings For groups of 10+ enquire here
Stars and Creatives
Who is in the cast of The Shitheads?
Starring Peter Clements (How to Survive Your Mother), Jonny Khan (Two Gentlemen of Verona, RSC), Annabel Smith (The Upstart Crow), Ami Tredrea (Wendy and Peter), Scarlet Wilderink (Life of Pi) and Jacoba Williams (Poor Clare).
Who are the creative team of The Shitheads?
- Written by Jack Nicholls
- Co-directed by Resident Director Aneesha Srinivasan and Artistic Director David Byrne
- Design by Anna Reid
- Puppetry design, direction & movement by Finn Caldwell
- Lighting design by Alex Fernandes
- Composer and sound design by Asaf Zohar
- Puppetry co-design & fabrication by Dulcie Best
- Puppetry fabrication by Nick Barnes
- Casting director Saffeya Shebli
Important Notes
Post-Show Talk: Tuesday 17 February 2026
Access performances: Age UK Thursday 5 March 2026, 3pm; Captioned Thursday 5 March 2026, 3pm & 7:45pm; Babes in Arms Thursday 12 March 2026, 3pm; Chilled Saturday 14 March 2026, 2pm
Venue Information
Royal Court Theatre , Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS
Nearest Tube or Train: Sloane Square (Circle Line, District Line)
Nearest Buses: 19, 22, 319, C1, N19, N22, 137, 452
Google
AppleCritics' reviews of The Shitheads
★★★★ "Gloriously out there drama" - TimeOut
★★★★ "Savage and sweet and entirely strange" - The Guardian
★★★★ "An exhilarating debut play" - The Reviews Hub
★★★★ "An exciting and undoubtedly promising debut" - Everything Theatre
● "A confident, punchy, and dramatically substantial piece of theatre" - The Independent
● "A promising debut and just the sort of premiere the Royal Court should be staging" - Financial Times
● "Nicholls’ prehistoric drama fizzes with ideas" - The Stage
● "Wonderful and energising" - What's On Stage
Frequently Asked Questions
News about The Shitheads
The Shitheads casting announced for the Royal Court Theatre in London
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