If you are looking for a Greek theatre company in London that does something different, meet Vertebra Theatre CIC. It is a Greek List member and a Hackney based ensemble whose work pulls from ancient Greek myth, dance, puppetry and visual art.
Vertebra was founded in 2012 under the artistic direction of Mayra Stergiou. According to its Greek List listing, it is an award winning ensemble of neurodivergent, non neurodivergent and queer artists, working between the UK and Cyprus. The company is registered in London as a community interest company, which means it exists for community benefit rather than private profit, and it has been registered since February 2023.
The style is contemporary choreographic theatre. Think absurd and surreal images, live movement, and what the company calls expanded scenography, a way of mixing theatre, dance, opera and visual art on the same stage. It is not a script on a bare set. It is closer to watching a moving painting.
Alongside the main shows, Vertebra runs participatory and arts in health projects in the UK and abroad, including in community, education and healthcare settings. This is general information about what the company offers, not advice.
The piece most people will hear about is Electra Untitled, a physical theatre adaptation of Sophocles’ Greek tragedy. It uses puppetry, dance and live visual storytelling and runs for about an hour. The company describes it as a feminist and queer retelling, and it deals with serious themes, so it is worth reading the content notes before you book.
The Greek link is strong. According to the company’s fundraising page, the project began in 2022 with a research residency at Theatre Attis in Athens, includes Greek artists in the creative team and was shaped by mentors of the Terzopoulos Method. The show has played in London, Oxford, Lahore, Buenos Aires, Barcelona, Tunis and Cyprus, and the same page lists The Tank Theatre in New York on 17 and 18 November as the next stop. You can read more on the Electra Untitled touring page and in this Offbeat Oxford spotlight.
Good to know: check the company website and social pages for current London dates before you plan a trip. Dates change, and not every show is on in the capital at any given time.
Greek tragedy is part of how many of us grew up. We read Sophocles at school, we have seen the ancient theatres in Epidaurus and Athens, and then we move to London and look for something that feels like home. Most of the time the answer is a taverna. Vertebra is a reminder that Greek culture here can also be a modern, risky night at the theatre.
It is also a good example of a small business built around a Greek idea. If you enjoy the stage, you can follow the company on Instagram or Facebook and visit vertebrarts.com for news.
Vertebra does not only perform. According to its fundraising page, the company plans free physical theatre and puppetry workshops in the cities it visits, and it has run community workshops in the UK, Jordan and Pakistan. The page also says the company is raising money to fund international touring in 2026 and 2027, and that 10% of what it raises goes to Latin American Women’s Aid. If the work speaks to you, sharing the page is a simple way to support a small London company that carries a Greek story around the world.
For many readers the real draw is the chance to see Greek heritage treated as living art and not as a postcard. A modern ensemble is taking a play that is more than two thousand years old and asking what it still says today. That conversation is worth joining, whether you leave the theatre moved, challenged or simply curious.
A good night out has a plan. Start with the show, check the venue and the start time, and leave room for dinner. Many fringe venues have bars but limited food, so booking a table nearby helps. Also check each venue for access information, since arrangements differ from place to place.
If you want something more traditional on the same theme, our guide to Greek tragedy in London this October lists other productions and talks.
Greek stop nearby: Yayacas at 1 Bath Place, Rivington Street, Shoreditch EC2A 3DA. It serves home style Greek dishes and wraps inspired by Greek street food, made from Greek ingredients, and it welcomes Greek gatherings. A simple pre or post show stop if your evening is in East London. Yayacas is a Greek List member too.
Bring a friend who has never seen Greek theatre, because it makes a good first try. Read a short summary of the myth of Electra before you go so the images land faster. And if you work in the arts or community sector yourself, Vertebra’s participatory work is worth a look. Contact the company through its listing: the phone number is on the page.
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