British Theatre Guide podcast

Tristan & Yseult , said to be Cornwall's oldest love story, has had numerous retellings, including the opera Tristan and Isolde by Wagner and Kneehigh Theatre Company's 2003 production directed by Emma Rice with a script by Carl Grose and Anna Maria Murphy. The Kneehigh production is being revived by the Emma Rice Company for a tour in 2026 and 2027 with a cast including John Leader as Tristan and Nandi Bhebhe as Yseult. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to them both when the show was still previewing in Bath about restaging the famous Kneehigh production of this 5,000-year-old story, what it is like to be in Emma Rice's rehearsal room, taking the production to New York and more. Tristan & Yseult from the Emma Rice Company opened at Theatre Royal Bath on 11 September 2026 and will tour to Theatr Clwyd in Mold , Citizens Theatre Glasgow , Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh , St Ann's Warehouse in New York City, Oxford Playhouse , Nottingham Playhouse , Theatre Royal Plymouth and York Theatre Royal , where it will end on 17 April 2027. (Photo of Nandi Bhebhe as Yseult & John Leader as Tristan, credit Steve Tanner)

The work of multi-award-winning lyricist Don Black spanning more than five decades is to be celebrated in From The Heart , which had a short, sold-out run last year and returns to London's Garrick Theatre this October. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Clive Rowe, who stars in the production alongside Caroline O'Connor and Michael D Xavier, about performing these famous songs and a few new ones with music by composers including Gary Barlow, Natasha Bedingfield, David Arnold, Debbie Wiseman and Mike Batt. He also spoke about how being backstage at an amateur theatre as a young lad in Shaw, a small town near Oldham, set him off on a journey to, eventually, the West End, and how much he loves the job he has been doing for nearly forty years. From The Heart , directed by Nick Winston with musical direction by Joe Church and arrangements by Nick Barstow, will run at London's Garrick Theatre from 8 to 18 October 2026.

"Alfred Hitchcock meets Monty Python in a fast-paced comedy spy thriller packed with theatrical magic". That's how Derby Theatre and Hull Truck are describing their co-production of The 39 Steps which is inspired by John Buchan's classic novel and Alfred Hitchcock's film. BTG Midlands Editor Steve Orme spoke to director Cal McCrystal, "the country's finest comedy director", as well as two of the cast, Ryan Starling and Sophie Bloor. The 39 Steps will run at Derby Theatre from Tuesday 29 September until Saturday 17 October before transferring to Hull Truck from Wednesday 21 October until Saturday 14 November. (Pictured from left: Ryan Starling, Cal McCrystal and Sophie Bloor)

Anthony Almeida, the only person to have received both the Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall Director Award and the European Opera Director Prize, is directing his first Shakespeare play, Othello , for a co-production between Northern Stage in Newcastle, HOME Manchester and Citizens Theatre in Glasgow in association with Royal and Derngate in Northampton. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Anthony about his concept for the play, the motivations and contemporary resonances of its characters and events and its 1980s setting. Othello will run at Northern Stage in Newcastle 11–26 September 2026 then tour to HOME Manchester 30 September–10 October, Royal & Derngate in Northampton 13–17 October, Theatr Clwyd in Mold 20–24 October, Citizens Theatre in Glasgow 27 October–7 November, Derby Theatre 10–14 November and New Theatre Peterborough 17–20 November.

Ihsane from Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and Eastman by double Olivier Award-winning Belgian choreographer and dancer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, drawing on his Moroccan heritage, will be performed as part of the 2026 Edinburgh International Festival . BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Sidi before the Festival about the creation of the show, looking back on life after turning 50, his changing views on the attitudes of his late father, who died 30 years ago, as he has got older, blinkered, stereotypical attitides towards Arab men and queer men in society and much more. Ihsane will be performed at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre from 18 to 20 August 2026. (Photo of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, credit Navid Fayaz)

The King's Theatre in Edinburgh, originally built in 1906, closed after the 2022 Edinburgh festivals for a major refurbishment project, and is to reopen in time for the 2026 festival season. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Fiona Gibson, CEO of Capital Theatres, the company that owns the King's as well as the Edinburgh Festival Theatre and the Studio Theatre, about the refurbishment, the new and upgraded facilities, the support they have received from government, arts organisations and the public and the final preparations currently taking place for opening the doors to the public on Thursday 23 July 2026. For more information about all events, see the Capital Theatres web site , or Edinburgh International Festival for events in the festival programme.

Tim Jackson is a British director, choreographer, musical director, music arranger and performer who recently received his first Tony nomination for directing the musical Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York) . Tim has directed and choreographed a revival of the musical Something Rotten , with music and lyrics by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by John O'Farrell, which has just opened for previews at the Opera House in Manchester starring Jason Manford, Richard Fleeshman and Marisha Wallace. Tim spoke to BTG Editor David Chadderton about his current show, as well as about his experience at the Tonys in New York and the development of both shows. Something Rotten opened at the Opera House in Manchester on 16 June and runs until 19 July 2026. For more information and tickets, see somethingrottenthemusical.com .

Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland, is about to open its 75th anniversary season, its first since star of stage and screen Alan Cumming took over as Artistic Director. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Sam Hardie, Associate Director at the theatre, who is directing a revival of Iain Heggie's Wiping My Mother's Arse , and to playwright Douglas Maxwell, whose new play Inexperience will open in June, about the new season and the ways in which the new artistic director and his predecessor, Elizabeth Newman, changed the theatre's focus. Douglas also shares the best piece of advice he was ever given about playwriting that he thinks about every day, which came from Iain Heggie. Pitlochry Festival Theatre 's 75th anniversary season opens on 23 May 2026 with a revival of the musical Once directed by John Tiffany, followed by Finn Den Hertog's production of Shakespeare's Lear starring Maureen Beattie, a revival of 2024 Edinburgh Fringe hit A History of Paper , Beckett's Happy Days starring Siobhán Redmond directed by Roxana Silbert, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie directed by Vicky Featherstone and My Fair Lady directed by Maria Friedman with Alan Cumming as Professor Higgins. In the Studio, Douglas Maxwell's Inexperience opens on 13 June, followed by I Can Die Too by Frances Ruffelle, Sally George and Alan Cumming, Wiping My Mother's Arse by Iain Heggie (directed by Sam Hardie) and I'll Be Seeing You by Martin Sherman.

Liverpool's Unity Theatre is the last surviving member of the Unity Theatre movement formed from left-wing workers' drama groups in the 1930s. The theatre is to present a series of events under the name A Radical Reimagining to celebrate a century of radical theatre in Liverpool, a project conceived by Artistic Director Eli Randle. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Eli about the project, the theatre's history and the changing face of political theatre. Eli also paid tribute to Graeme Phillips, Artistic Director of the Unity for more than thirty years, who died last year. The various events in A Radical Reimagining will take place through May and June 2026 at the Unity Theatre , including Young Radical Theatre Makers from a new generation of artists and Stage Left , a production that looks back on the company's history, both running from 4 to 6 June.

Birmingham Rep is to present its first Shakespeare play for ten years. Joe Murphy who became artistic director 12 months ago is directing A Midsummer Night's Dream along with deputy artistic director Madeleine Kludje. BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme spoke to Joe and Madeleine about their take on the play before chatting to three of the cast, Evie Ward-Drummond, Isabel Adomakoh Young and Charlotte Wallis. A Midsummer Night's Dream will run at Birmingham Rep from Saturday 25 April until Sunday 24 May 2026. (Pictured from left: Charlotte Wallis (Helena), Isabel Adomakoh Young (Hermia), Evie Ward-Drummond (Lysandra), deputy artistic director Madeleine Kuldje and artistic director Joe Murphy.)

Bryony Kimmings has been creating and performing shows based closely on events in her own life since her award-winning Sex Idiot in 2010. Her latest solo show, Bog Witch , about her difficult move from the city to the countryside and growing awareness of environmental issues, is currently on a tour of the UK and Ireland. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Bryony about the show, her creative process, how she began creating this type of theatre, the role of a dramaturg, her surprise at finding she was influenced by Brecht and doing audience participation the correct way. Bog Witch has been performed so far at Soho Theatre in London, Attenborough Centre in Brighton and HOME Manchester. From May to October 2026, it can be seen at Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry, Cambridge Junction, Bristol Old Vic, Connaught Theatre in Worthing, Swan Theatre in Worcester, Newbury Corn Exchange, Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire, Nottingham Playhouse, Chester Storyhouse, St George's Hall in Bradford, The Dukes in Lancaster, Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and Leeds Playhouse. For more information, see www.bryonykimmings.com . (Photo of Bryony Kimmings in Bog Witch at Soho Theatre, credit: Rosie Powell)

Northern Stage and Derby Theatre are joining forces to present the musical Little Shop of Horrors . Kristian Cunningham will play Seymour while Amena El-Kindy will take the role of Audrey. BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme spoke to director Sarah Brigham about her take on the play before chatting to Kristian and Amena. Little Shop of Horrors will run at Northern Stage in Newcastle from Friday 8 until Saturday 23 May 2026. It will then transfer to Derby Theatre from Saturday 30 May until Saturday 20 June.

London's Marylebone Theatre is soon to present a revival of Arthur Miller's 1968 play The Price , directed by Jonathan Munby and starring Henry Goodman in the role of 89-year-old Gregory Solomon. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Henry about the role and the play and its current relevance as well as about rehearsing, directors, political theatre, the influence on him of playing Freud in Terry Johnson's Hysteria and the types of roles he is currently looking to play. David then spoke to Jonathan about the play, his reasons for wanting to direct it now, the production's design and style, how he will approach rehearsals and the influence his five years working for Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama have had on his directing. The Price will run at Marylebone Theatre in London from 17 April to 7 June 2026.

The 2016 Palme d'Or and BAFTA-winning film I, Daniel Blake , directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty and featuring comedian and actor Dave Johns in the title role, was adapted by Johns for a stage production in 2023 directed by Mark Calvert. The production is to be revived for a short tour in 2026 produced by Northern Stage in Newcastle and Leeds Playhouse featuring most of the original cast and production team. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to director Mark Calvert about the play and its strong message, how playing the title role in the film fired up Dave Johns politically and made him keen to bring it to the stage, the reactions from audiences across the political spectrum in 2023, the fear of having Loach and Laverty in the audience on press night and more. I, Daniel Blake opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle from 20 March to 2 April 2026 before touring to Citizens Theatre in Glasgow 7–11 April, The Dukes in Lancaster 14–18 April, HOME Manchester 21–25 April and Leeds Playhouse 28 April–9 May. (Photo of Mark Calvert, credit: Von Fox Promotions)

English Touring Opera has been taking live opera productions and educational and community projects around the UK since 1979. The company has been based in London up to last year, when it began a move to Sheffield, and its spring 2026 season will be its first to open in the South Yorkshire city. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to ETO's Artistic Director and CEO, Robin Norton-Hale, about the three productions about to open as well as about what makes the company unique, the challenges of touring, developing new opera works and about why no one should be afraid or daunted about going to the opera. Ada and the Code Crusaders by Anna Pool visits mainly schools and libraries around the country from 17 March to 23 May. Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci will open at Sheffield Lyceum on 20 and 21 March respectively before touring to Cheltenham Everyman, Hackney Empire, Buxton Opera House, Norwich Theatre Royal, Storyhouse Chester, the Marlowe in Canterbury, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hall for Cornwall in Truro and Gala Durham. For more information and tickets, contact the theatres themselves or see English Touring Opera's own web site .

Ockham's Razor was founded in 2004 by its current Artistic Directors, Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney, who have directed and toured many large-scale circus-based productions over the last two decades. Their latest show, Collaborator , is an intimate two-hander that sees the company founders back on stage together for the first time in five years. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Charlotte about the origins of the show and how it came together, the company's approach to making work, the challenges of touring a circus show to conventional theatre venues, adapting running a theatre company around raising a family and a great deal more. Charlotte also spoke about seeing a contemporary circus performance in Chile about the 'disappeared' during the Pinochet regime that still made her feel emotional to talk about 25 years on and that probably set a smoking, drinking literature student on track to what she does today. Ockham's Razor 's Collaborator will open at The Place in London from 29 to 31 January before touring to The Lowry in Salford from 5 to 7 February and the Corn Exchange in Newbury on 11 March 2026. (Photo of Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey in Collaborator , credit: Kie Cummings)

BTG's Panto Editor Simon Sladen spoke to Allan Stewart, who marks an extraordinary milestone of 50 years in pantomime. Allan reflected on his early start as a teenage club performer, his unexpected first role as Buttons without ever having seen a panto and the lessons learned from mentors such as Jack Radcliffe and producer Paul Elliott. He shared stories from working alongside stars including Les Dawson, Danny La Rue and Frank Bruno and offered insight into the craft of comedy and the traditions that make pantomime unique. Simon and Allan also discussed his long-standing partnership with Andy Gray and Grant Stott, the enduring appeal of Edinburgh's Kings Theatre and how pantomime has evolved from single microphones to spectacular, high-tech productions. Allan also considered the sense of family that develops within a company and why panto remains such an important introduction to theatre for audiences of all ages. Jack and the Beanstalk continues at Edinburgh Festival Theatre until 11 January 2026. (Photo of Allan Stewart as Auntie May in Jack and the Beanstalk (c) Douglas Robertson)

The Big Tiny Productions Ltd, founded in 2019 by Will Cousins and Ben Richards, is producing four shows in the North West for Christmas 2025, three of which are pantos written by Ben and designed by Will. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to them both, with a few contributions from their dog, Toby, about the company and this year's shows, as well as about the changing nature of panto, the balance between tradition and innovation (it's like a lasagne…), choosing panto stories, Northern v Southern humour, funding spectacular shows in small venues and Ben's panto-related PhD, amongst other things. The Big Tiny 's shows for Christmas 2025 are Rumpelstiltskin at Contact in Manchester from 9 to 31 December 2025, The Pied Piper of Hamelin at The Met in Bury from 6 to 28 December, Hansel and Gretel at Millgate Arts Centre in Saddleworth from 6 December to 3 January and Mrs Claus Saves Christmas at Bolton Octagon from 10 to 24 December. The set, prop and costume exchange service that Ben and Will mention in the interview is Pursued By Bear . (Photo of Will Cousins & Ben Richards, credit Howard Barlow)

The British Theatre Consortium, headed by playwrights Dan Rebellato and David Edgar, has followed up its reports on the state of the British theatre repertoire in 2013 and 2014 with a study into how things have changed in the industry between 2019, the year before the COVID lockdowns began, and 2023. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Dan Rebellato about the findings of the report, what it tells us about the problems, vulnerabilities and stability of British theatre over those four years and how it was changed by the pandemic. The report British Theatre Before & After Covid was published on 26 November 2025 by the British Theatre Consortium based on the work of a research team led by Catherine Love-Smith. The full 143-page report can be read at or downloaded from the BTC web site .

David Ireland is an Irish playwright with a reputation for writing hard-hitting drama such as The Fifth Step , Ulster American and Cypress Avenue , but director Max Elton is reviving a very different play by him, Most Favoured , which can be seen at Soho Theatre in London over the Christmas period. BTG David Chadderton spoke to David about the play and his influences as a writer, as well as how his love of Shakespeare began in a Blackpool guest house at the age of 9 and why he wants to write romantic comedies and feels he couldn't face watching some of his earlier plays now. Most Favoured , starring Lauren Lyle and Alexander Arnold, will run at Soho Theatre in London from 11 December 2025 to 24 January 2026. (David Ireland photo credit Tommy Ga-Ken Wan)