Spider at The Cockpit

Fresh from its runner up award for Best Show at Bitesize Festival, Riverside Studios (Feb 24), and its sell-out run at South London Theatre, comes Spider, a new play written and directed by Jude Benning. 

'Whiplash' meets 'The Goonies', Spider is an irreverent fast-paced black comedy romp with a flawed character at its heart. It explores themes of authority, manipulation and rebellion, set against a backdrop of shifting social values. When the brakes are off, how do the outlooks of Gen X and Gen Z compare?

For years Frank Dowling has had his acting students in his thrall. But two decades after starring in the West End hit, Spider, his vigour is waning. Set in a London drama school, we watch his students develop over the course of a year, their training culminating in an improvisational game set in Epping Forest. Here, over a few hot days in June, the discipline learned in the rehearsal room rapidly starts to unravel. 

The play asks what happens when you deconstruct your heroes and watches as the superior male begins to lose his grip on power. An energetic adventure story, it will leave audiences guessing until the end.

“Spider has all the air of a work in progress and one to keep an eye on.”
Franco Milazzo, Broadway World

“The writing is strong throughout, well observed with some beautiful moments, and the ending is class.”
Conor Montague, author of Capital Vices

"Spider has an interesting plot, a fast tempo, it’s clever, it will make you laugh, and above all the actors are wonderful." Audience member, Riverside Studios

*The show has been reduced from its original run time of 120 minutes to 70 minutes for Camden Fringe. Strap in for a fast ride. 

See @spidertheplay on Instagram for full information on cast & crew