Hereford and Worcester will host the first staging of a startling new play from the innovative theatre company Lost Cause. A Roaring Boy tells the story of Robert Gough, the star boy player in Shakespeare’s company, famous for playing women onstage.

As Robert's voice deepens and his time in female roles ends, he faces a crisis that no costume change can fix. Cast toward manhood and male parts he doesn’t want, Robert faces a dangerous question: who gets to decide who he becomes?

Written by Jack Hughes and directed by Ant Stones, A Roaring Boy will be performed at the Courtyard Theatre in Hereford and The Swan Theatre in Worcester. A short version of the play was originally performed as part of He Said She Said They Said, a theatrical celebration of gender in Hereford in 2024.

After receiving rave reviews from the audience, Lost Cause has developed the play into a full-length piece which will be brought to the stage for the first time this Autumn. 

A Roaring Boy has been developed through close consultation with Shakespearean experts, as well as the local community, including members of the LGBTQ+ society.

Tickets for A Roaring Boy are available to book now. Full details can be found on the Lost Cause website. 

A Roaring Boy is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, as well as Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Community Foundation.