Elan Butler, Nathaniel Christian and Leanne Henlon will star in The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return when it makes its London debut at Southwark Playhouse Borough in September.
Set against the backdrop of a post-2008 financial crash, the show follows two best friends as they chase the highs of youth against a backdrop of systemic neglect, over one chaotic night in austerity-hit Luton.
Writer Sam Edmunds, who grew up in Luton, draws on his own experiences and in-depth conversations
with young people and those directly affected by knife violence to explore how easily vulnerable individuals from working-class communities can be drawn into violence, and how unaddressed anger can lead to tragic consequences.
Debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edmunds’ work highlights the harsh realities facing young people in deprived areas and communities that have suffered years of systemic neglect. What starts as a blur of noughties bangers and corner-shop gin spirals into something darker – a raw, real-time collision of friendship, violence, and survival. Told with biting wit and lyrical intensity, this production is a powerful
exploration of class, identity and the rage of a generation forced to fight for freedom, while also capturing the universal and relatable experience of transition and uncertainty that accompanies major life changes.
The production is directed by Sam Edmunds (Blanket Ban), who is the founder and co-artistic director of Chalk Line Theatre. Vikesh Godhwani (Blanket Ban), the other half of Chalk Line Theatre, co-directs.
They are joined by movement director & intimacy coordinator Jess Tucker Boyd (Bacon), designer Rob Miles (Sisyphean Quick Fix) and composer Matteo Depares (Blanket Ban).
The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough from September 3 – 27, 2025. Tickets here.
Top image: The Chaos artwork (image supplied)