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Entertainment
Jun 08, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

All the Rage: Guerrilla Theatre Rewrites the Epstein Narrative

AI Summary
A coalition of over 80 female and non‑binary writers is staging “All the Rage”, a guerrilla‑theatre project that flips the focus from powerful men to the victims of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The rapid‑response production, set across 15 rooms in a London office block, blends installations, audience‑generated text, and a 50‑minute scripted piece.

All the Rage: A Guerrilla‑Theatre Response to the Epstein Scandal

The project All the Rage brings together more than 80 female and non‑binary writers to create a sprawling, site‑specific performance that foregrounds the suffering of Epstein’s victims rather than the perpetrators. Initiated by playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz via a WhatsApp call to fellow writers, the effort has grown into a multi‑room spectacle in a repurposed office block in the City of London.

Collective Creation Across 15 Spaces

Within three months, a network of writers, directors, and designers transformed the venue into 15 distinct areas filled with text, images, and installations. Participants are encouraged to contribute five‑minute scenes or monologues, with no hierarchical selection process, allowing anyone to display a half‑hour piece on the walls. The final act will unite audiences for a 50‑minute performance featuring nine actors, eight of whom are women.

Re‑centering Victims in Public Discourse

By shifting the narrative focus from the “men and the money” to the lived experiences of survivors, the production challenges media conventions that often prioritize perpetrators. Writers such as Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and Timberlake Wertenbaker contribute pieces that interrogate systemic misogyny, linking historic abuses to contemporary micro‑objectifications.

Implications for Rapid‑Response Theatre

“All the Rage” continues a tradition of swift, issue‑driven theatre exemplified by Lucy Kirkwood’s “Maryland”. Its collaborative, low‑budget model demonstrates how artists can mobilise quickly around urgent social issues, potentially inspiring more decentralized, activist‑oriented productions.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Activist Performance

Director Lucy Morrison plans to integrate student designers and expand the model to other cities, suggesting a scalable blueprint for future activist theatre. As the production premieres, it may set a precedent for how the arts respond to high‑profile scandals, emphasizing victim‑centered storytelling and collective authorship.