poetry plays ... At the Cockpit 9 - 11th April '26

Celebrating the centenary of Rainer Maria Rilke, 10 Letters unites Louis de Bernieres, Pomegranate London and Théâtre Volière for a one-man performance. The play revisits the life of Franz Kappus, who, as a 19-year-old officer cadet, received 10 extraordinary letters of guidance from Rilke. Now in his sixties, Kappus reflects on the passing years and wonders, did he ever truly follow the wisdom Rilke shared? 

 A one-act play re-imagining the encounter between Goethe and pastor’s daughter Frederika Brion and an act of casual cruelty that will haunt him forever. Written by Mick Wood and performed by Transit Productions. 

Celebrating 100 years since the publication of Kafka's The Castle, his last novel. 

Are song lyrics poetry? The best of them, yes, we think so. And particularly when it comes to so much French popular music, drawing as it does on the rich and theatrical tradition of French 

chanson. In Trois Hommes, three contemporary dancers and a film-maker respond to a selection of songs from the likes of Zazie, Stromae, Gaël Faye and Arthur H. Dance theatre with subtitle 

translations, exploring and addressing toxic masculinity.

Staging of the winner & runners-up of the Poetry Plays competition 2026.

Interdisciplinary improvisation on the Pomegranate's long table. Curated by editor Zerlina Mastin, First Thought Best Thought is a mash-up of jazz, dance, spoken-word and visual art.