There are always a hundred reasons to visit London on any given day, but there are some moments that seem a little weightier than others. The city has a fabulous mix of the past and present, with a long and complex history that’s complemented by local scenes that are nothing less than absolutely modern. Art and fashion are always up to date, and usually way ahead of the trends, and there are historic sites everywhere to make the contemporary seem uncanny.

But this fall offers something peculiarly exciting, and something that will bring even more good reasons for guests wondering about a visit here, with a stay in one of the stylish hotels that characterize the city. This would be the premiere of a new play. There are few cities in the world where new plays attract much attention these days, much to the disappointment of those whose lives are devoted to the lively art, mostly due to the sense that it’s become outdated or too expensive.

In London, however, the people know plays, and understand why live theatre is an art form that no other media could ever match. In terms of being outdated, however, it might be true, considering that the Old Globe hasn’t had a single female playwright on the boards in its 400 year history. Until now.

Nell Leyshon’s Bedlam , a costume drama that interrogates the divide between art and madness, is the first commissioned play that saw the Bard’s work back in the day. Directed by Jessica Swale, this promises to be a fairly momentous occasion, and it’s worth visiting to see part of the run. There’s not only the historical interest because of the breakthrough here, but also because Leyshon’s reputation as a writer has been growing ever since she turned to writing plays. A love story and a tragedy set in an asylum is the perfect way for her voice to move from intimate and intense, to booming, and it speaks for who we are, at this moment in time.

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