Wednesday 11 June – Sunday 15 June 2025, The London Library. London Library Members and RSL Members & Fellows can book tickets with a 10% discount on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please email Ailinn Santos for the discount code. Please see below for performance times and ticket pricing.

Creation Theatre’s immersive performance of Virginia Woolf’s 100-year-old classic

Adapted and directed by Helen Tennison

Presented by Creation Theatre in partnership with The London Library and The Royal Society of Literature

‘She had a perpetual sense, as she watched the taxi cabs, of being out, out, far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day.’

Step into the pages of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, in this intimate, immersive adaptation by Helen Tennison for the award-winning Creation Theatre.

Marking the 100th anniversary of Woolf’s iconic novel, and kicking off on the RSL’s annual Dalloway Day, this world premiere invites you to take tea with Clarissa Dalloway, walk the streets by her side, hear her innermost thoughts and explore the richly layered world of post-war London, through a moving, multi-sensory performance.

In the atmospheric surroundings of The London Library, where former member Virginia Woolf once wandered the stacks, and on the elegant streets of St James’ where the novel is set, meet unforgettable characters and eavesdrop on their hidden thoughts via an earpiece as you move through this site-specific experience. The performance culminates in an invitation to attend Mrs Dalloway’s unforgettable party. 

Expect timeless, urgent storytelling and a rare chance to inhabit Woolf’s exquisite exploration of memory, longing, and the fragility of life.

Refreshments included.

Performances:

Ticket prices:

£15 for dress rehearsal and £35 for all other performances. London Library Members and RSL Members & Fellows can book tickets with a 10% discount on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please email Ailinn Santos for the discount code.

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Key Information:

• All bookings go through Creation Theatre’s Box Office. Please contact them directly with any ticket-related enquiries on [email protected] or 01865 766266.
• All performances take place in person at The London Library and include a walk around the local streets. You’ll be provided with an earpiece for the outdoor walk to hear the character’s thoughts.
• Suitable for ages 13+
• The walking route is not the full walk which Mrs Dalloway takes in the novel. It is a creative reimagining of the walk (and shorter!)
• Please don’t bring heavy or bulky items.
• Sunday’s 11am performance will operate at a slower pace to accommodate those with access needs. If you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to contact Creation’s Box Office (details above).
• The performance will go ahead whatever the weather. We have umbrellas! And if it’s really wet, we’ll reroute the walk indoors.

Trigger warning: post-traumatic stress, suicide

Please see The London Library’s Event Access Guidelines before you arrive.

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Creation Theatre is an award-winning theatre company based in Oxford, who have been specialising in bringing classic texts to life in unusual locations for nearly 30 years. They are returning to The London Library after two previous sell-out runs of Dracula and The Time Machine.

The London Library is one of the UK’s greatest literary institutions, providing a centre of creativity, inspiration and ideas for over 180 years. It has had a unique impact on the country’s literary and artistic output and continues to do so today, with a borrowing collection containing around 1 million titles and an extensive eLibrary.

The Royal Society for Literature, founded in 1820, is the UK’s charity for the advancement of literature, acting as a voice for the value of literature, engaging people in appreciating literature, and encouraging and honouring writers. ‘Dalloway Day’ was initiated by RSL Fellow, Elaine Showalter and is marked each June by a season of related events.

Illustration by RSL Illustrator in Residence, Karrie Fransman.