Liz Duffy Adams’ Born With Teeth is a playful and daring imagining of a relationship between Christopher Marlowe (Kit) and William Shakespeare (Will) during an extraordinarily dangerous time for artists. The story is based on the idea these two literary icons may have collaborated on the Henry VI history plays.
“Oh Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!”
– Henry VI, Part 3
Christopher Marlowe is the rockstar of Elizabethan theatre and a scandalous spy for the Crown. He is danger and seduction combined. William Shakespeare is a jobbing actor and promising young playwright. Shakespeare is dazzled by Marlowe and he has ambitions of his own.
Daniel Evans is RSC Co-Artistic Director and two-time Olivier Award winner. Evans directs Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve, My Lady Jane) as William Shakespeare and Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) as Christopher Marlowe in this explosively entertaining duel of words, wits, and power-play.
“I’m so excited to be joining Born With Teeth alongside the amazing Edward Bluemel. Liz Duffy Adams has written an exceptional play that is smart, dark, sexy, sharp and funny! There’s a lot to get one’s teeth into. This is like no version of Shakespeare and Marlowe that I’ve ever seen before, and I can’t wait for audiences to join us for the ride”.
Ncuti Gatwa plays Marlowe
“I feel incredibly proud and excited to be working with Ncuti Gatwa and Daniel Evans on the European premiere of Born With Teeth. To be stepping into the shoes of a young William Shakespeare is a huge thrill for any actor and I can’t wait to get started. When I read Liz Duffy Adams’ script, I was instantly drawn into the high-stakes world of these two rival playwrights and the incredible, creative chemistry they share. There’s a real freshness and vitality to Liz’s writing that speaks directly to our world, and I can’t wait for West End audiences to experience it for the first time”.
Edward Bluemel plays Skespeare
Born With Teeth runs from 13 August – 1 November 2025, at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DA, United Kingdom.
More about Ncuti Gatwa (Christopher Marlowe in Born With Teeth).
Ncuti Gatwa is a Rwandan Scottish BAFTA award-winning actor known for his role as the fifteenth ‘Doctor’ in Doctor Who. He debuted in this role during the final of the 60th Anniversary Specials in 2023 and continued in his first full season, winning a BAFTA Cymru Award. His second season, featuring new companion Belinda Chandra played by Varada Sethu, will premiere on 12 April.
In addition, Ncuti wrapped production on the film The Roses, starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, set for release later this summer. In 2024, he will make his National Theatre debut as Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest, which received rave reviews. He gained fame for his BAFTA-winning role as Eric Effiong in Netflix’s Sex Education and appeared in Barbie and Masters of the Air in 2023. Ncuti also performed at King Charles’ Coronation Concert as ‘Romeo’ in Romeo & Juliet.
More about Edward Bluemel (William Shakespeare in Born With Teeth).
Edward Bluemel (William Shakespeare) trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and made his screen debut in the indie film Access all Areas (2017). He recently wrapped filming Netflix’s The Seven Dials Mystery alongside Martin Freeman and Helena Bonham Carter. Edward is known for his role in BBC’s Killing Eve and has appeared in Netflix’s Sex Education and Sky One’s A Discovery of Witches. His theatre credits include leading roles in Trevor Nunn’s Love in Idleness and Touch at the Soho Theatre.
