An ambitious programme of classics alongside five world premieres will welcome audiences across the Sheffield Theatres stages as part of the recently announced 2026/27 season.

This kicks off in the autumn with a double-bill of Shakespeare in the Crucible, which  will be brought to the stage by a company of actors across both titles. This ensemble will be joined by screen and stage stars Mathew Horne in Twelfth Night directed by Jamie Glover and Ian McDiarmid in King Lear directed by Donmar Warehouse Associate Artistic Director Titas Halder in association with MGC, which marks a reunion for Sheffield Theatres and former Artistic Director Michael Grandage.

King Lear will run 29 August to 19 September whilst Twelfth Night will follow from 10-31 October.

“Sheffield audiences deserve the best plays ever written and they don’t come much better than Shakespeare,” said artistic director Elizabeth Newman. “We welcome Ian McDiarmid back to the Crucible for Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy and follow it with his greatest comedy.”

Olivier Award-winner Jonathan Church will then return to Sheffield Theatres with the sure-fire splash-hit Singin’ in the Rain (26 November-16 January) which will delight audiences in the Crucible over the festive period.

As always, Sheffield Theatres’ programming brings together locally-rooted productions with global stories. The world premiere of Ugandan born and Sheffield bred and based John Rwothomack’s Never Look Back (27 february-13 March) is a retelling of the East and Southern African soldiers who fought for the Commonwealth in World War II, brought to the stage in a co-production with Sheffield Theatres’ Associate Company Roots Mbili Theatre. 

The world premiere of the stage adaptation of Sunjeev Sahota’s novel The Year of the Runaways (5-26 June 2027) is directed by Elizabeth Newman and adapted by playwright Stephanie Street, presented in association with Ranga Shankara.

The Crucible season finishes with The Ballroom, based on the acclaimed book by Anna Hope who is creating and staging the play alongside Jonathan Butterell and Kevin Clifton. Dates and further details will be announced soon.

Jonathan is, of course, best known for creating Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, which will be making its return to the Lyceum for its tenth anniversary.

Another highlight is Open Works, a first-of-its-kind festival for Sheffield Theatres, which will celebrate artists from across South Yorkshire and beyond in a coming together of creatives that will expand Sheffield as a destination for discovery. 

“Over the coming months, we’re planning to throw our doors open wider than ever before,” added Elizabeth. “We’re championing Sheffield artists next to global voices – making our stages places of discovery, ambition and joy for audiences here in the city and beyond. It’s an exciting time, and we cannot wait to make more magic in Sheffield.”

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