Independent UK theatre news, reviews and interviews covering regional stages and the Edinburgh Fringe. Discover new productions, emerging talent and the stories behind live performance.
Ey up, welcome to Theatre Village.
If you’ve just wandered in, don’t worry — you’re not late and you’ve not missed the interval. This is Theatre Village, a little corner of the internet where theatre isn’t just reviewed or reported on, it’s lived in.
In our village, every street has a theatre.
The baker’s a lighting designer.
The mayor once played Hamlet.
And the local pub? Always full of playwrights arguing over Chekhov and chips.
Now, I should probably introduce myself. I’m Grace Hatchell — part-time theatre obsessive, full-time deliverer of news, gossip, reviews and the occasional strong opinion, all tucked neatly into my satchel. I spend my days wandering from fringe venues to regional powerhouses, poking my nose backstage, chatting to artists, and bringing back stories worth sharing. Now then, full transparency: Theatre Village belongs to Andrew — the guvnor — I just do the legwork, the legwork, and the legwork.
Theatre Village is a fictional place — but the shows, people and productions we write about are very real. We cover independent theatre, regional work, fringe gems, big nights out, and the voices that don’t always shout the loudest but deserve to be heard. You’ll find honest writing, curious conversations, a bit of backstage gossip, and a genuine love for live performance — without the snobbery or the velvet-rope nonsense.
Whether you’re a theatre-maker, a regular audience member, or someone who just likes the smell of old programmes and ghost lights, you’re very welcome here. Have a wander. Check what’s landed in my satchel this week. And if you see me lurking near the stage door, mind your business — I’m working.
What’s In Grace’s Satchel This Week?
- Fringe Theatre Doesn’t Have an Audience Problem. It Has a Discovery Problem.
- In Pieces London Premiere Concert Announced at The Other Palace
- Mona Loser Casting Announced for Birmingham Hippodrome Workshop Performances
- Red Biscuit: Little Town Blue to Play Camden People’s Theatre This April
- What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Apparently… engineers. And jokes. In a tunnel. I had questions.
- INK Festival 2026 Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Richard Curtis and Esther Freud
- Poor at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry: Cast Announced for Katriona O’Sullivan Memoir Stage Adaptation
- A&E Comedy Unleash Game of Crones on UK Tour 2026
- Rufus Hound Revives His Grandfather’s Lost Magic Show in The Mesmerist at Watford Palace Theatre
- What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Suspicious Delivery from Birmingham Rep
- What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Clever Plot Twist for Birmingham Royal Ballet
- What Does “Safety” Really Mean? For Their Safety Comes to Blue Orange Theatre Birmingham
Town by town, city by city- Grace Delivers
Scotland
- What Happens When the Teenagers Take the Gavel?
- Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Plans
- From Climate Trials to 80s Sit-Ins: Tron Theatre Unveils a Quest-Packed Spring/Summer 2026 Season
- Birds of Paradise Take On Sex, Disability and Honesty in Their Bold New Show * (We indulge in) a bit of roll play*
- A Bold, Beautiful Comeback – Citizens Theatre’s Magical Christmas with Beauty and the Beast
Birmingham
- Mona Loser Casting Announced for Birmingham Hippodrome Workshop Performances
- What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Suspicious Delivery from Birmingham Rep
- What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Clever Plot Twist for Birmingham Royal Ballet
- What Does “Safety” Really Mean? For Their Safety Comes to Blue Orange Theatre Birmingham
- Who Put the Fairies in Charge?
Sheffield
- What Happens When Eleven Women Refuse to Leave the Pitch?
- My Brother’s a Genius – Debris Stevenson’s new play at Sheffield Theatres and UK tour
- Sheffield Theatres kick off Extra Time alongside world premiere of The Ladies Football Club
- Lyceum Theatre Sheffield 2026 Programme: What’s Coming Up
- A Christmas Carol at Sheffield Theatres: Festive Feels, Mighty Carols and a Scrooge Who’s Absolutely Not Having It
London
- Red Biscuit: Little Town Blue to Play Camden People’s Theatre This April
- What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Apparently… engineers. And jokes. In a tunnel. I had questions.
- His Majesty’s Theatre London: Seating Plan, Tickets & Visitor Guide
- Popcorn, sparks… and bringing the girlfriend
- Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) UK Tour
North East
- What happens when a fringe theatre dares to reset?
- Is Mamma Mia! really not a jukebox musical?
- Can a teenage outsider still speak to us now?
- Robin Hood Panto Comes to Whitley Bay Playhouse This January
- Our Little Hour Musical Tours UK in Campaign to Honour Walter Tull
Why Theatre Village Exists
Theatre Village exists because theatre doesn’t only live in grand foyers or five-star write-ups. It lives in village halls, black boxes, touring vans, church basements, and late-night conversations after the curtain’s come down.
This is a space for the shows that take risks, the artists still finding their feet, and the stories that might otherwise slip past unnoticed. We write about theatre with care, curiosity and warmth — championing independent, regional and fringe work alongside bigger nights out, without the snobbery or velvet-rope nonsense.
Here, theatre is part of everyday life. It’s something you wander into, talk about, argue over, and carry home with you. That’s why Theatre Village exists — to celebrate live performance as something lived, not just reviewed.