Falstaff

Boisterous, vain, and gloriously boastful, Falstaff has been laughed at and loved by audiences for generations. He swaggers through Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor with wit, mischief, and a knack for turning trouble into hilarity. Few characters in theatre history have so perfectly embodied the joy of excess and the art of comic survival.

But was this legendary knight purely Shakespeare’s invention—or inspired by a real figure? Enter Sir John Fastolf, a medieval soldier whose reputation at the Battle of Patay in 1429 was clouded by whispers of cowardice, even as he amassed wealth and estates from the French wars. His fortune eventually enriched Magdalen College, Oxford, where his name is still remembered.

On stage, however, it is Falstaff who lives forever: a larger‑than‑life rogue who blurs the line between history and imagination, inviting us to laugh, question, and revel in the sheer joy of theatre.

You may also like the following events from Tom Thumb Theatre:

• This month, 29th January, 08:00 pm, Does this feel like a Sitcom? The ultimate sitcom quiz! - Adam Morison Jones in Margate
• This month, 30th January, 07:30 pm, "Shipzy: The Power of Hipismo" in Margate
• Next month, 3rd February, 08:00 pm, Chucklebomb Comedy Club [Feb 2026 - Margate] in Margate

Also check out other Arts events in Margate, Theatre events in Margate.