Subterranean Shakespeare presents the world premiere of “Shakespeare: Night at the Blackfriars (London Idol 1610),” October 18-November 17

Subterranean Shakespeare presents the world premiere of “Shakespeare: Night at the Blackfriars (London Idol 1610)” written by George Crowe and directed by Robert Currier.

Geoffrey Pond as Richard Burbage and Debi Durst as Christopher “Kit” Marlowe in "Shakespeare: Night at the Blackfriars (London Idol 1610).” Photo by Kevin Moore.

Between the plague and rumblings of war, impresario and actor Richard Burbage is struggling to keep his Blackfriars Theatre open. 

So he launches a playwriting contest and fuels an intense competition between the most lauded writers of 1610—Will Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Tommy Middleton, Francis Beaumont and the ghost of Christopher “Kit” Marlow. 

As each debuts a one page cover play fashioned after one of Shakespeare’s beloved plays, while vying to be the London Idol of 1610, the results are comedic.

Performance times: 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m., Sundays, October 18-November 17.The Phoenix Arts Association Annex Theatre, 414 Mason St., S.F. (510) 276-3871, www.subshakes.com