TakeOver Festival Returns To York Theatre Royal From 26–30 May

The week-long festival features student-led performances alongside professional shows, workshops and community activities. Student showcases include murder mystery, verbatim theatre on sex work, a period musical set in 1923 Soho, and a convict ship drama — with age guidance of 16+ on some productions.

Dead Clever: Operation Mincemeat Is A Triumph Of A Musical

What a fabulous show! An improbable subject for a musical but Operation Mincemeat is a true story about real people and actual events that shaped the outcome of the second World War. Penned by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoe Roberts on behalf of Spitlip, the music and lyrics are refreshingly both catchy and intelligent.

"Planet Omar Lands At Leeds — And It's Out Of This World

I entered Leeds Playhouse and was immediately invited into the mind and imagination of an 8-year-old Muslim boy, tackling his everyday challenges with wit, naivety, and imagination. With dreams of monsters, friendly dragons and zombies following Omar as he battles bullies, unfriendly neighbours, intolerance, and prejudice.

Here And Now - The Steps Musical, Opera House, Blackpool

Jukebox musicals are incredibly popular – throw in some big hits from a popular artist or group, and in most cases, include a flimsy storyline, and the fans will come. Take That and ABBA have both had their songs featured in musicals, the latter being more prominent with Mama Mia.

To Be Or Not To Be … Times Three

Fans of Shakespeare’s gloomy Danish prince have three Hamlet events to choose from at the York International Shakespeare Festival this month, in the Creative Centre of York St John University. On April 23 – traditionally Shakespeare’s birthday – The University of Arts Targu Mures, from Romania, present their take on the play.

To See Or Not To See - Hamlet By The RSC

Hamlet has never been for the faint hearted. This production’s descent into carnage is made more chilling by blood red numbers on a clock which counts down to a stage strewn with dead bodies as vengeance and betrayal wreak havoc.

On Top Of The Wold

As a born and bred Yorkshire lass, and having married into a farming family at Barmby Moor, in the East Riding nearly fifty years ago, I, along with a packed local audience, could totally relate to the world premiere of Top of the Wold at Pocklington Arts Centre, which explored fascinating stories from the East Riding.

2:22 - A Ghost Story

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something strange and frightening feels close, so they’re going to stay up... until 2:22... and then they’ll know.

Full Service History: Matt Miller's Joyful Solo Show Gets Right Under The Bonnet

There is a phrase that recurs in Fixing like a mechanic's mantra: 'holistic car care, going on a journey — together'. By the time Matt Miller's 75 minutes are up, you realise that sentence has done rather a lot of quiet, patient work. The Ripon Theatre Festival could hardly have wished for a more propitious launch event.

Ripon Theatre Festival 2026: Celebrating Five Years Of Culture, Colour And Community Spirit

Ripon Theatre Festival (RTF) launches its 2026 programme on 27 March, promising a summer to look forward to. Firmly established as a key date in the region’s cultural calendar, this year’s festival runs 5-12 July with 8 days and nights of performances and activities.

Simply The Best - Tina Turner The Musical Leeds Grand

What a show this was! Opening night of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical had the sell-out audience hooked from the word go. The show is dedicated to the life of global superstar Tina Turner: her heartbreaking upbringing, her fight for survival in an abusive relationship, the rebuilding of her career from nothing and ultimately becoming one of the most renowned female artists in history.

From Fray Bentos To Grenfell: Sheffield's Ordinary Lives, Extraordinarily Told

Set in the living room of a house on Burngreave Road, Sheffield, young Kathy and Brian settle to make their forever home. With young love in the air and babies on the way the world is their oyster, but over the sixty years that the play spans, inevitably life gets in the way.

Small Island Big Story

Taking us on a journey from the sun-drenched island of Jamaica to war-torn Britain and beyond, Small Island is a story of love, belonging, identity, and entitlement. The story is filled with humour, serving as a reflection of ourselves and our attitudes.

Ralph Davis Talks About Playing The Title Role In The RSC’s Touring Production Of Hamlet

The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Blackpool Grand Theatre with a ‘must-see’ (Guardian) new production of Hamlet. Hamlet’s mother has married his uncle, and at a less than decent interval since the death of his father. As he pulls at the threads of his not-so-happy new family, Hamlet unravels a web of deceit and immorality that leads to the ultimate crisis of conscience.

Silver & Gold: Long John Silver Restores His Reputation?

James Hyland is the actor, adapter, director and producer of this spin-off from that much-loved hit called Treasure Island. In this one-hander called Silver & Gold, Hyland takes on the tricky task of reclaiming, or at least re-framing, Long John Silver's appalling reputation. Silver, we are told, was indeed a very bad man.

Hit Musical Show Costumes On Show In Leeds

The Leeds branch of John Lewis, in partnership with the UK and Ireland tour of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, is delighted to showcase costumes from the production ahead of its arrival at Leeds Grand Theatre, where it will play from Tue 17 March – Sat 4 April 2026.

Madama Butterfly Takes Flight As Kent Says Goodbye

As Puccini basked in the glory of La Boheme and Tosca – two of the most popular and successful works ever written for the operatic stage – little did he know that his next work, Madama Butterfly, would premier to howls of derision.

Tomorrow Belongs To YorkLight's Joyful Annie

They say to never work with children or animals…well, YorkLight’s production of Annie proved that it is perfectly possible! Annie is a heartwarming musical about a brave and cheerful orphan girl who lives in a strict orphanage run by the mean Miss Hannigan.

Grimes Of Passion

Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes has been 'revived' by Opera North. It's an ironic choice of words for this much-loved Phyllida Lloyd production, as the opera includes the tragic deaths of two young apprentice fishermen and a suicide at sea - all of whom might have benefited from some revivification.

BIZETness As Usual – Carmen

As a relative opera novice, what I have come to love about Ellen Kent’s touring productions is very simple: they do exactly what they say on the tin!

Moustache In Progress: Mark Hadfield Brings Fresh Melancholy To Poirot

Playing legendary detective Hercule Poirot in the European premiere of a new stage version of Death on the Nile, Mark Hadfield has the approval of none other than Sir Kenneth Branagh. The two actors are friends. "And he's been incredibly encouraging," Marks says about chats he's had with Branagh, who has played Poirot himself in three big-screen outings.

Crown Of Blood - Riveting And Compelling

Crown of Blood is a powerful and compelling Yoruba production retelling the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, written by Oladipo Agboluaje and directed by Mojisola Kareem. The action is set during the civil wars of 19th-century Yorubaland. General Aderemi, fresh from saving the kingdom from invaders is promoted to be a Field Marshal, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the oracle.

Phoenix Dance Theatre Presents World Premiere Of interplay In Association With York Theatre Royal

Later this month, Phoenix Dance Theatre will return to York with the World Premiere of Interplay (27 – 28 Feb) in association with York Theatre Royal.

Opera North’s The Marriage Of Figaro: A Farce (The Good Kind)

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro is a comic opera that first premiered on May 1, 1786, in Vienna, but is brought bang up to date in this witty, fizzing production directed by Louisa Miller. Performed in its original Italian, with highly amusing modern translations in the surtitles by Lydia French, Figaro is as accessible and entertaining as a Brian Rix bedroom farce.

Grand Opera House York Appoints New Theatre Director

Grand Opera House York has announced a change in leadership, appointing Allie Long as Theatre Director. Allie joined ATG Entertainment in 2017 while studying at the University of York, starting in Front of House department before progressing through marketing, operational and management roles across the UK.

The Dukes Announce A Vibrant Spring/summer Season And Start To Celebrate Turn 55 This Year!

Grab your ticket for a season of unforgettable nights of laughter, entertainment and applause as the Dukes announce a spring/summer season packed with the finest theatre, comedy and cinema. Audiences are invited to adventure into a world of thrills, comedy and excitement with the Dukes’ diverse selection of theatre shows.

To Kill a Mocking Bird

To Kill a Mocking Bird was inspired by Harper Lee’s own childhood experiences, and the novel is set in a small town in Alabama in 1934. A period in time riven by social and racial injustice. Atticus Finch (Richard Coyle) is the town’s lawyer defending Tom Robinson, a black man who has been falsely accused of raping a young woman.

In Conversation With Stephen Webb As The Rocky Horror Show Heads North

The Rocky Horror Show is coming back to the north to brighten up your winter with its fishnet-bedecked legs kicking high and feather boa swinging high as the Richard O’Brien risqué musical returns once again. Over 35 million theatregoers have witnessed The Rocky Horror Show, which tells the story of two impeccable college students, Brad and his fiancée, Janet.

Top Hat And Tails In Sheffield

There maybe moonlight, music, love and romance, but there’s also a brilliant cast, superb costumes, amazing rotating sets and clever lighting designs, and to pull everything together to make a wonderful show, there is Irving Berlin’s iconic musical score, which includes such well-known songs as Putting on my White Tie, Top Hat and Tails and Puttin’ on the Ritz.

In Conversation: John Cleese

John Cleese is talking about the runaway success of Fawlty Towers – The Play, having had two sold out West End seasons and a 10 month UK tour which began in September. “To be honest, I was more confident about it than almost anything I’ve ever done. I remember reading the finished script and thinking it was really funny. And the English do love farce. Think Ben Travers.

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