By day, Tom Pavey studies how climate change is affecting lions. This week, he steps onto the Oxford Playhouse stage in a fast-paced comedy that races through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays.
At a glance
| Show | The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) |
| Where | Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LW |
| When | Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 May 2026 |
| Performance time | 7.30pm each evening |
| Running time | 1hr 40mins, with interval |
| Age guidance | Suitable for all ages, according to Oxford Playhouse |
| Tickets | Available through Oxford Playhouse |
An Oxford University researcher whose day job involves studying the impact of climate change on lions is making his professional stage debut in a comedy at Oxford Playhouse.
Tom Pavey, a DPhil student in Biology at the University of Oxford, is appearing in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), which opens in Oxford on Thursday 28 May and runs for three nights.
The production, presented by The Theatre Chipping Norton and Selladoor Worldwide, is a new 2026 version of the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s long-running stage comedy.
Its promise is simple and deliberately chaotic: all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays, performed by three actors in one evening.
From lion research to live theatre
Pavey’s academic work is based at Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, where his research looks at how climate change could affect lions and their habitats across Africa.
The project uses a mix of ecological modelling, long-term records, conservation palaeobiology, tracking data and acoustic monitoring to understand how lions may respond to changing temperatures, rainfall patterns and extreme weather.
That might seem a long way from fake wigs, fast costume changes and a sprint through Shakespeare. But Pavey has long combined science with performance, having acted and performed comedy alongside his studies.
Speaking ahead of the Oxford run, he said stepping from research into professional theatre felt “very different”, although one thing had stayed the same: “the amount of coffee and tea I drink hasn’t changed”.
He added that the production is “quite physically demanding”, which is perhaps unsurprising for a show that turns the whole Shakespeare canon into a comic relay race.
What is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)?
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) is a quick-fire comedy by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield.
The show began with the Reduced Shakespeare Company and has since become a cult stage hit, known for turning Shakespeare’s tragedies, comedies and histories into sketches, parodies and theatrical mayhem.
Oxford Playhouse says audiences can expect Hamlet performed backwards, Titus Andronicus reimagined as a YouTube cooking tutorial, and the history plays turned into a chaotic football match.
The 2026 touring version is directed by Adam Long, one of the original company members, and has been rebooted for a new generation of theatre-goers.
Why Tom Pavey auditioned
Pavey said he had previously performed a version of the show with members of the Oxford University Dramatic Society and “fell in love” with its style of comedy.
He compared its pace and silliness to some of his favourite comic influences, including The Naked Gun, Horrible Histories and early-2000s sketch shows.
When he heard there were auditions for the new tour, with Adam Long directing, he decided to go for it.
The result is a return to Oxford in very different circumstances. By the time the production reaches the Playhouse, the touring company will already have performed dozens of shows around the country.
What audiences can expect
This is not a reverent evening of Shakespeare. It is designed for people who know the plays inside out, people who remember them mainly from school, and people who think Shakespeare is not for them.
Pavey said the show is “truly for everyone” and does not require detailed knowledge of the Bard’s work.
He said audiences should expect “the unexpected”, as well as a show energetic enough to leave people ready for “a pint after the show”.
The Oxford run also gives Pavey the unusual experience of performing professionally in front of friends and university colleagues.
He said colleagues and supervisors had been supportive, although some were initially “perplexed” by the move from DPhil research to a professional comedy tour.
Who is in the touring company?
The official tour cast includes Efé Agwele, Woogie Jung, Tom Pavey and Kiran Raywilliams. The production itself is performed by three actors, with the company racing through Shakespeare’s entire dramatic output through character switches, improvisation and physical comedy.
Pavey’s previous stage credits include work with the Jesus College Shakespeare Project and the Oxford Revue. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) marks his professional theatre debut.
Performance details
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 28 May | 7.30pm | Oxford Playhouse |
| Friday 29 May | 7.30pm | Oxford Playhouse |
| Saturday 30 May | 7.30pm | Oxford Playhouse |
Tickets are available through Oxford Playhouse.
Tour continues after Oxford
After its Oxford Playhouse dates, the tour continues to venues including the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Northern Stage in Newcastle, Cast in Doncaster, Theatre Royal Wakefield and York Theatre Royal.
For Oxford audiences, however, the local hook is hard to miss: a University of Oxford scientist, better known for studying lions and climate risk, making his professional theatre debut in one of the fastest and silliest Shakespeare shows on the road.
FAQs
When is The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) at Oxford Playhouse?
The show runs from Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 May 2026, with performances at 7.30pm each evening.
What is the show about?
It is a comedy that races through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in one evening, using sketches, quick character changes, physical comedy and improvisation.
Who is Tom Pavey?
Tom Pavey is a DPhil student in Biology at the University of Oxford. His research looks at how climate change affects lions across Africa. This production marks his professional theatre debut.
Is the show suitable for people who do not know Shakespeare well?
Yes. The show is designed as a broad comedy and does not require detailed knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays.
How long is the performance?
Oxford Playhouse lists the duration as 1hr 40mins, with an interval.
Where can people book tickets?
Tickets can be booked through the Oxford Playhouse website.
