Lord of the Flies

William Golding’s compelling adventure takes us into the heart of darkness.

A plane crash on a desert island abandons a group of young survivors to fend for themselves. Quickly, tribal loyalties start to form. Despite attempts by Ralph and Piggy to keep order, school rules are shed along with their uniforms, and friendly alliances fast become ferocious divisions. As the children threaten to turn feral, a deadly struggle ensues between Ralph and his leadership rival, Jack. Will chaos overcome humanity – or, with a world at war beyond the island, can rescue come in time to save them?

A modern classic, Lord of the Flies has lost none of its riveting power since its publication in 1954; frequently ranked high in lists of iconic novels, and a constant presence on the school syllabus. Nigel Williams’s much admired stage adaptation premiered at the RSC in 1995.

Anthony Lau – Associate Artistic Director at Sheffield Theatres 2020-2024, where his productions included The Crucible, Miss Saigon, Rock/Paper/Scissors and The Good Person of Szechwan – directs.