The Fall of Sejanus

by Ben Jonson

October 2–11, 2026

The Well Coffee House

2410 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend

Some remember when Rome was a republic. Few are bold enough to speak of those days now.

Though Rome’s second emperor Tiberius presents himself magnanimously before the public and the senate, corruption and the silencing of dissent are the new norms in the Roman Empire. No one plays the game better than Sejanus, the emperor’s right-hand man. He’s as deft at turning the law against anyone he perceives as a threat as he is at bribing and murdering his way into the arms of Livia, daughter-in-law of the emperor.

But Sejanus is not content to simply maintain his position. His ambition aims ever higher—aspiring for nothing short of ruling the empire himself.

Ben Jonson’s play, originally titled Sejanus His Fall, is not just a dramatic tale of political intrigue. It’s a call to action: a scathing critique of corruption, abuse of power, and a tyrant’s weaponization of the law against his enemies. The play from 1603, covering events from ages earlier, so powerfully articulates the dangers of an ethically bankrupt authoritarian regime that Jonson faced allegations of treason.

The Fall of Sejanus performs October 2–11 at The Well Coffee House. See our Event FAQ for info on parking, ticket types, and other details.