Off the Ground Theatre return to the Hope Street Theatre this autumn, in their 30th year of producing theatre, with Gareth Farr’s powerful and poignant play, Britannia Waves the Rules.
Carl Jackson is a young man from Blackpool who feels trapped by the small-town expectations around him. Longing for something bigger, he joins the army, searching for purpose, escape, and a sense of belonging. But when he finds himself in the midst of modern warfare, the reality of combat and its consequences prove far from the glory he imagined.
Britannia Waves the Rules is a raw and unflinching look at the challenges faced by working-class young men in Britain today – the lure of escape, the brutal realities of conflict, and the difficult return home. Winner of a Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, Gareth Farr’s script has been praised for its honesty, humour and emotional punch.
This is the second run of Britannia Waves the Rules at Hope Street Theatre, following a successful run in October, during which it was reviewed as ‘one of the most powerful plays you’ll see on a Liverpool stage this year’, and ‘theatre at its best’ in two respective 5-star reviews!
OTG are returning to Hope Street after recent acclaimed political productions such as Josef K, Wild Swimming and Accidental Death of an Anarchist. Continuing this vein of urgent, socially engaged theatre, Britannia Waves the Rules confronts themes of identity, masculinity and the human cost of war. This is a rare one-off opportunity for Liverpool audiences to experience one of the most powerful and unflinching new plays of the last decade.
Directing is OTG founder Dan Meigh, alongside Charlie Prothero, an OTG Youth Theatre graduate. Dan has been at the helm of OTG for its entire 30-year history, and recently directed Wild Swimming at Hope Street Theatre and Treasure Island on tour. Charlie has recently set up his own company, Dogtale Theatre. He is currently on the Liverpool Everyman’s Playwrights’ Programme and recent work includes Boxes: Three Stories (Unity), Our Dougie (Live) and Beatrice (Alphabetti). The lead role is being taken by another ex-OTG student, Jim Kelly, who last performed with the company is Moth at Hope Street. He went on to train at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 2024. Since then he appeared in Here We Go (BBC One) and made his stage debut in Little Women (UK tour).
Dan said: “Britannia Waves the Rules is a story that resonates deeply with where we are as a country. It’s about young people searching for meaning, being promised adventure and belonging, but coming face to face with harsh truths. As we celebrate 30 years of Off the Ground Theatre, it feels right to be telling a story that is so immediate, so human, and so important.”
Founded in 1994, Off the Ground Theatre have spent over 30 years creating bold, imaginative theatre across the UK and Europe. While reimagining classics from Shakespeare to The Musketeers or Treasure Island, OTG’s real focus is on nurturing emerging talent. Based on the Wirral, the company gives young performers, writers, directors and designers the chance to develop and showcase their skills, producing work that is daring, socially resonant, and unafraid to challenge audiences.
Performing Wednesday 14th through to Saturday 18th January at 7.30pm.
Tickets are £12 Adults, £10 Concessions and £5 Under 21s (Booking fee applies)
Pre-booking from www.hopestreettheatre.com is strongly advised, as tickets are limited. Some may be available on the door.