While tourists flock to Camden in search of culture, chaos and creativity, a very different group gathers each week in a local community centre. For Anya, Jason, Glen, Ruby and Sandra, what begins as a play-reading group soon becomes something much more. When the community centre faces closure, old wounds begin to surface, loyalties fracture and long-buried truths demand to be heard. As the group prepares for a public performance, the stories they read begin to mirror their own lives, blurring the line between fiction and reality.

Inspired by local residents in temporary accommodation, members of Camden Disability Action and the Black Carers Collective, Dragonflies is a heartfelt new play by Juliet Gilkes Romero about grief, resilience, belonging and the transformative power of community. Against the backdrop of a city where loneliness hides in plain sight, Dragonflies asks what happens when the places that hold communities together begin to disappear.

Developed through Hampstead Theatre's ENGAGE programme, the production combines a professional cast with a community chorus of Camden residents, placing local voices at the heart of the story. Juliet Gilkes Romero's previous work includes The Whip (RSC) and The Gift (Jermyn Street). Hampstead's Participation Director Jennifer Davis directs; her previous credits include The Winch (Hampstead Theatre) and (sorry) (Birmingham REP).

This project is generously supported by Camden Council.

Thematic: Strong language, themes of grief and homelessness.

Technical: Flashing lights, haze.

Please note that our content warnings evolve as the production does throughout rehearsal and previews, so there may be changes made between booking and attending the theatre. If you would like to speak to a member of our team about specific themes or concerns, please call the Box Office on 020 7722 9301 or email boxoffice@hampsteadtheatre.com