The Theatre of Glass and Shadows – set in an alternative London

Submitted: 28th July 2024

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Settle down, this is a trail into a place that is both real and fictional…………

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

The Theatre of Glass and Shadows Anne Corlett

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

This is probably a slightly unusual Booktrail entry, since the setting of The Theatre of Glass and Shadows is central to the book – but doesn’t actually exist in the real world! The story takes place in an alternate version of London, where the vast secretive Theatre District dominates the south bank of the Thames. At the heart of the district is the House of Doors theatre, where an immersive show has been running for centuries. The main character, Juliet finds out she was born in the secretive district, and travels there, hoping to claim her birthright.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Geography and inspiration

The picture of the district that I have in my head is made up of all sorts of borrowings from the real London, most of them places I knew well during my years working as a criminal lawyer in courts and police stations all over the city.

The O2, Greenwich

Early on in the writing process, I visited the O2 with my family. The story was very different at that time, and set something closer to the real-world London. The O2 gave me the idea for a much more elaborate setting – a self-contained district beneath a vast roof, where anything could be part of the show.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

The City of London Leadenhall Market

While the centre of the Theatre District is bright and open, the back streets are narrow and haphazard with a mish-mash of architecture. The City of London provided the inspiration for parts of the district. Dickensian and narrow, Artillery Close is very similar to how I imagine some of the district’s outer streets, while Leadenhall Market feels like it could be an arcade somewhere near the central plaza. The Shipping News, the pub where fans of the district’s central show gather was inspired by Lloyds Coffee House, where merchants and shipowners used to come to share trade and shipping news. Its original site is marked by a blue plaque in Lombard Street.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Shad Thames

This street of converted warehouses near Tower Bridge is very much how I imagine parts of the Theatre District, with different levels, connected by narrow staircases and networks of bridges.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Borough Market

Tucked under the railway line, this market was a big part of the inspiration for the Theatre District. You can see into the storage spaces overhead, giving the market the feel of somewhere that has all sorts of hidden places to explore, if you were only allowed.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

South Bank

While the Theatre District is entirely imaginary, it exists in a London that is otherwise recognisable. The location of the district is South Bank, home of the National Theatre and the Royal Festival Hall. In my mind, the main gate is somewhere around Gabriel’s Wharf. Juliet first glimpses the district from across the river, by Temple tube station.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Immersive London

I had the original idea for The Theatre of Glass and Shadows after my first ever visit to an immersive theatre production, Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man. London is one of the world centres for immersive theatre, and there are several places you can visit to experience it for yourself.

Map of locations in The Theatre of Glass and Shadows

Punchdrunk (c) Anne Corlett

Map of locations in

One Cartridge Place, Woolwich

This is the permanent headquarters of immersive theatre giants, Punchdrunk. Their signature masked shows were the direct inspiration for the district’s central show. Their last show in that style, The Burnt City, closed in late 2023, but they’re currently running Viola’s Room, which is a smaller scale show, featuring audio narration by Helena Bonham Carter. The nearby Dial Arch pub is probably the nearest thing to a real-world Shipping News, being a favourite meeting place for immersive theatre fans.

Wow thank you so much Anne for SUCH an amazing trail!