Theatre Peckham brings the powerful story of Alex Wheatle’s novella WITNESS to the stage for the first time, as the artistic centerpiece of its 40th anniversary celebrations, opening Peckham Fringe 2026 from Saturday 2 May – Tuesday 5 May.
Adapted for the stage by Suzann McLean and David Fielding, in partnership with Words of Colour WITNESS embodies everything Theatre Peckham stands for: the voices of young people, the rich diversity of South London, and the lived realities of choice, consequence, and courage.
Originally published by SERPENT’S TAIL LIMITED in 2022, WITNESS follows Cornell, a teenager navigating life in a Pupil Referral Unit, where young people marginalised by mainstream education face tough challenges every day. When Cornell witnesses a shocking act of violence, his world changes forever, leaving him torn between speaking out and protecting those closest to him. The play is intense, urgent, and deeply compelling, exploring courage, loyalty, and the price of truth.
The play features a talented ensemble including:
Albert Magashi as Cornell (For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy, West End and Dear England, National Theatre.)
Jermaine Dominque (BBC Crongton, Trigger Point)
Kayla-Mai Alvares (Barbie, Odd Squad, Girl Troop versus Aliens)
“This play feels like an invitation to really listen, to sit with truth, discomfort, and humanity in a way that stays with you long after the final moment,” says Albert Magashi, who stars in the lead role, “Playing Cornell has been a chance to explore the complexity of someone who is both shaped by and resisting the world around him. It’s a story that asks questions rather than offering easy answers, and that’s what makes it so powerful to be part of. It’s a privilege to help bring a story like this to life and honour the great Alex Wheatle’s legacy.”
An Echo of What Could Have Been: Crongton Knights
Theatre Peckham also honours a historic connection to Alex Wheatle’s work. In 2019, a planned stage adaptation by Pilot Theatre of Alex Wheatle’s Crongton Knights was due to premiere at Theatre Peckham, but the run was halted by the pandemic. The Crongton Knights adaptation, based on the acclaimed YA novel, is remembered for its vibrant depiction of friendship and community on the fictional Crongton estate, a world now finding new life through WITNESS.
Meanwhile, Alex Wheatle’s Crongton stories have recently reached wider audiences with the BBC’s Crongton television adaptation introducing his characters and sharp, humorous voice to a new generation.
“To be entrusted with adapting WITNESS for the stage is both an honour and a big responsibility”, says Dr. Suzann McLean MBE, CEO and Artistic Director of Theatre Peckham. “Alex entrusted us with his words and with the young people his story represents. That trust carries weight. It asks us to hold truth with care. At Theatre Peckham, our work has always centred young people, especially those navigating systems that weren’t built with them in mind. WITNESS speaks directly to that reality. I am so proud that Theatre Peckham was selected for the Alex Wheatle Witness Project for Young Actors, and grateful for our partnership with Words of Colour Productions. I hope audiences will join us at Peckham Fringe to experience WITNESS. It really is a story that demands to be seen, heard and felt.”
On Bank Holiday Monday 4 May at 5pm, WITNESS will be followed by a Q&A hosted by Joy Francis (Words of Colour). This tribute performance marks one year since Wheatle’s passing and celebrates his enduring legacy as a champion of Black British voices in literature.
As Theatre Peckham celebrates 40 years WITNESS opens as a testament to the enduring legacy of one of Britain’s most vital storytellers.
Tickets for all performances, including Alex Wheatle Day, are available at: https://bit.ly/Witness2026
