The School of Night | LIF 2026

Saturday 9th May

7pm

The School of Night has been improvising Shakespeare since they were formed by theatre maverick Ken Campbell at the request of Mark Rylance at Shakespeare’s Globe in London in 2005. Their shows are wild and extravagent celebrations of theatre as they attempt to extemporise one of Shakespeare’s lost plays, inspired by audience suggestions. As well as being masters of improvising in iambic pentameter, The School enjoy breaking out into the styles of other great poets and playwrights. They might even make up a song or two. The School’s unique brand of literary improvisation has been seen all over the world, from the National Theatre to Elisonore Castle, from the Hay Literary Festival to the Edinburgh Festival. And now they are delighted to be asked back to Liverpool to continue asking the question: what if making stuff up was more fun than writing it down?

‘You cannot help but stare in awe as they perform’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby

‘Uproarious, intelligent, laugh-a-minute fare’ ★★★★ Telegraph

‘Fearsomely able improvisers’ ★★★★ Financial Times