What If? at the Bloomsbury Festival
KIERAN RAYNER & GAMAL KHAMIS PRESENT:
What If? – Bloomsbury Festival, 18 October 2026
A moving, entertaining and ever-changing story with song at its soul – where you decide what happens next!
What path will our river take to the sea?
England, 1914. Young bookseller Max and his best friend Sam have both fallen for Lily, a suffragette. As World War I unfolds, will Max follow patriotic Sam and enlist, or stay and campaign for social reform with Lily? Be it in cruel trenches or impoverished streets, turmoil is inevitable. Navigating war, politics, love, and brotherhood, Max must choose between desire and loyalty, between his duty and principles. What will he do? That’s where you come in…
Kieran Rayner’s moving and entertaining story combines live classical music with a branching narrative where the audience votes on what happens, shaping the plot and musical programme. Featuring songs by Finzi, Butterworth, Schubert, Robert & Clara Schumann, Ethel Smyth and more, What If? is an unforgettable evening of choose-your-own-adventure with song at its soul.
Gamal and Kieran are delighted to reprise What If? for a third run, this time as part of the the Bloomsbury Festival’s 20th year.
“A story told well with fun characterisation and lots of genuine humour… genuinely affecting … a feast of joys” – Everything Theatre