Shakespeare North Playhouse announces a bold new season of theatre, outdoor spectacle and family experiences: from Macbeth, to Fringe Festival new writing, to a summer of open-air Shakespeare and storytelling in the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden.
• A striking new production of Macbeth led by Shakespeare North’s Associate Artist Ben Crystal
• A summer-long celebration in the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden, with open-air Shakespeare, opera and family favourites.
• A rich Studio programme of inventive storytelling, from contemporary voices to gothic tales and reimagined classics.
• Joyful family experiences throughout the year, from outdoor adventures to festive shows
• Comedy, cabaret and the Heading North Fringe Festival
A dynamic and wide-ranging programme brings together bold reimaginings of Shakespeare, contemporary storytelling, open-air performance and joyful experiences for audiences of all ages. From intimate studio shows to larger-scale outdoor productions, this season celebrates creativity in all its forms.
The summer months in the Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden will transform the Playhouse into a lively outdoor hub filled with theatre, music and family-friendly entertainment. Come rain or shine: The show will go on – joy guaranteed.
Across the other spaces of the building, artists and audiences can explore identity, history, humour and imagination. With something for everyone, Shakespeare North continues to bring communities together.
STAGE SPOTLIGHTS
The highlight of the season is one of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedies, as Shakespeare North’s Associate Artist Ben Crystal brings Macbeth into the Cockpit Theatre in Autumn 2026. Bold, immediate and immersive, this production places audiences at the heart of ambition, intrigue, power and fate.
In contrast, also coming to the Cockpit Theatre stage, What Wood Victoria Do? by The Cabaret Geek brings celebration and musical storytelling.
In the Studio, a rich programme of new writing and inventive performance shines a light on distinctive voices and forms. Highlights include Out The Woodwork, a sharp contemporary work from Gingerlee Does It, and The Story of Edith Smith by Pauline Fleming, uncovering a remarkable life through powerful storytelling.
Elsewhere, Forced Entertainment’s Selected Works: Table Top Shakespeare offers a brilliantly inventive and accessible reimagining of Shakespeare’s plays using everyday objects, while Off Grid fuses together theatre and stand-up comedy, exploring generational divide, binary politics and how the online world is rapidly changing our society.
Atmosphere and storytelling intertwine in Haunted Shadows: The Gothic Tales of Edith Nesbit, The Hammer & Helena and Ghost Stories for Christmas, delivering spine-tingling theatrical experiences.
SUMMER IN THE SIR KEN DODD PERFORMANCE GARDEN
The Sir Ken Dodd Performance Garden once again becomes the beating heart of the summer season. Audiences can enjoy Shakespeare’s most beloved works in the open air, from The Comedy of Errors, Love’s Labour’s Lost and Romeo & Juliet to Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and As You Like It, presented by some of the UK’s leading touring companies.
And Family audiences can enjoy joyful, accessible productions including Reynard The Fox, The Almost Complete History of Britain and A Midsummer Night’s Dream together.
FAMILY FUN & FESTIVE MAGIC
Family-friendly experiences continue throughout the year, with playful, imaginative shows designed to delight younger audiences and their grown-ups.
Beloved company Colour the Clouds returns with A Very Messy Christmas, a joyful and sensory festive adventure, and Wrongsemble’s Tinsel brings music, mischief and heartwarming storytelling to the stage.
COMEDY & FRINGE
The season also delivers laughter and fresh perspectives through a lively comedy and fringe offering. Alex Stringer’s Happy Hour promises sharp, relatable humour, while Women Aren’t Funny boldly and brilliantly continues to disprove its own title.
The Heading North Fringe Festival in May 2026 is a diverse line-up of performances and showcases emerging talent and inventive storytelling, including the shows Lambslaughter, The Hanged Man’s Bride, One Man Poe, The Perfect Match and It Happened On A Tuesday before they head on to Edinburgh Fringe in August.
GET INVOLVED
Alongside its stage programme, Shakespeare North Playhouse also hosts a wide range of community events including Baby Bards, Chatty Café, Itch (Spoken Word Night), Scratch Nights, Shared Reading and more every month. Visitors can take part in guided tours, creative workshops, and free family activities during half-terms. The Bar & Kitchen remains a hub for creativity and connection, featuring seasonal Supper Clubs and a changing menu celebrating locally sourced ingredients.
Explore the full programme and book now:
🎟️ www.shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk