The South East of England has a theatre scene with real variety, shaped by seaside towns, cathedral cities, university communities and historic market towns rather than one single cultural centre. While London often dominates the national conversation, the South East has its own strong network of venues, including Chichester Festival Theatre, The Marlowe in Canterbury, Mayflower Theatre in Southampton, Theatre Royal Brighton, Oxford Playhouse, New Theatre Oxford, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Theatre Royal Windsor, Milton Keynes Theatre, The Anvil and The Haymarket in Basingstoke, and Shanklin Theatre on the Isle of Wight. These venues bring together major touring musicals, drama, comedy, dance, opera, family shows, new writing, community work and local audiences, making theatre feel both accessible and ambitious across the region. From coastal stages to university cities and historic towns, the South East proves that theatre outside London is not an afterthought; it is a busy, varied and deeply rooted cultural force in its own right.
Grace says: South East theatre has seaside glamour, historic towns and enough polished foyers to make you stand up straighter — but don’t let that fool you, it still knows how to have a proper knees-up.
Rather than listing every single event at Corn Exchange Newbury, we’ve picked out a few highlights worth having on your radar — a mix of dance, comedy, theatre, outdoor performance, music and panto.
Ballet Cymru Presents Sleeping Beauty
Corn Exchange Newbury, Wed 1 July 2026
Ballet Cymru brings Sleeping Beauty to Newbury with love, magic and destiny all wrapped up in dance. A graceful pick for anyone wanting something elegant, story-led and a bit enchanted.
Locomotive for Murder: The Improvised Whodunnit
Corn Exchange Newbury, Sat 27 June 2026
A comedy murder mystery made up on the spot, which sounds delightfully dangerous in the best way. One for audiences who like their crime-solving with jokes, chaos and absolutely no guarantee the cast know where they’re going either.
Richard Jones: The Sound of Magic
Corn Exchange Newbury, Sat 4 July 2026
Magic arrives at the Corn Exchange with Richard Jones, bringing illusion, showmanship and a good dose of “how on earth did he do that?” energy. Ideal if you like being baffled in public.
Michelle Wolf: Best Job in the World
Corn Exchange Newbury, Wed 22 July 2026
Emmy-nominated comedian Michelle Wolf brings her sharp stand-up to Newbury. A strong comedy pick for anyone who likes their jokes smart, quick and not especially interested in behaving themselves.
Deblozay
Newbury, Sat 5 September 2026
A spectacular outdoor performance that takes audiences on a journey through Newbury. This feels like one of those events where the town itself becomes part of the show, which is always more exciting than sitting politely and pretending you understand the parking machine.
Seann Walsh: This is Torture
Corn Exchange Newbury, Sun 6 September 2026
Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new hour of stand-up. Expect rambling, sharp observations and the sort of comic energy that makes everyday life sound both ridiculous and painfully familiar.
ShakeItUp: The Improvised Shakespeare Show
Corn Exchange Newbury, Thu 10 September 2026
Shakespeare hasn’t written anything new for a while, so ShakeItUp are helping him out. Expect improvised Bard-based bedlam, which is either exactly what the Elizabethans intended or the reason ghosts start tutting.
Comb
Corn Exchange Newbury, Sat 12 September 2026
Described as chilling, hilarious and moving, Comb is a storytelling piece about memory, loss and the people we carry with us. One for audiences after something more intimate and emotionally textured.
In the Land of Eagles
Corn Exchange Newbury, Fri 2 October 2026
A heartfelt, award-nominated tale of love, loss and redemption. This sounds like one of the more quietly powerful theatre picks in the programme — not necessarily loud, but likely to linger.
Sand
Corn Exchange Newbury, Wed 7 October 2026
A non-verbal circus theatre show blending acrobatics with carefully crafted storytelling. A good one if you fancy something visual, physical and a bit different from the usual sit-down-and-talk-at-me format.
Ruby Wax: Absolutely Famous
Corn Exchange Newbury, Wed 14 October 2026
Ruby Wax brings her candid live show to Newbury, mixing comedy, storytelling and sharp reflection. Expect wit, honesty and the sort of presence that can fill a room without needing much fuss.
Sleeping Beauty
Corn Exchange Newbury, Fri 27 November 2026 – Sat 2 January 2027
Corn Exchange Newbury’s 2026 pantomime is Sleeping Beauty, promising festive sparkle, silliness and enough audience participation to make shy relatives suddenly study the carpet.