# Theatre Village

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The Home Of The UK Theatre Community

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## Posts

- [Theatre News](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-news/): #
- [Sticky floors, crumpets and growing pains: SPIDERS heads to Hull Truck Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sticky-floors-crumpets-and-growing-pains-spiders-heads-to-hull-truck-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, a nightclub with toasted crumpets has already earned itself a second look from me. Add a coming-of-age drama about two young Northern women, and this particular delivery is going straight to the top of the postbag. Hull Truck Theatre has announced SPIDERS, a new play written by and starring Martha
- [AYLA brings a spark of hope to The Other Palace for one night only](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ayla-brings-a-spark-of-hope-to-the-other-palace-for-one-night-only/): By Grace Hatchell There’s a new musical in my postbag, and this one has rather more on its mind than whether the last bus home will turn up. AYLA: A New Musical heads to The Other Palace in London on 30 November 2026 for a one-night, semi-staged concert with a four-piece band. At its centre
- [Alice Fearn brings a little ‘Memory’ to Sunderland as CATS heads north](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/alice-fearn-brings-a-little-memory-to-sunderland-as-cats-heads-north/): By Grace Hatchell Well, there’s something worth slipping into the January diary before it disappears beneath dentist appointments and reminders to put the bins out. CATS is coming to Sunderland Empire from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 January 2027, with Alice Fearn stepping into the role of Grizabella. Now, I deliver plenty of things on
- [Se Gæst | The Guest returns with a question about who belongs](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/se-gaest-the-guest-returns-with-a-question-about-who-belongs/): By Grace Hatchell A stranger washes up on England’s shores. The community that finds them is already in turmoil, and their arrival brings questions of blame, survival and belonging bubbling to the surface. That’s the starting point for Se Gæst | The Guest, a dance theatre production returning to the road this autumn. North East
- [Review: An Evening of Burlesque at Whitley Bay Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-an-evening-of-burlesque-at-whitley-bay-playhouse/): I arrived at the Whitely Bay Playhouse for An Evening of Burlesque with a question: what exactly counts as burlesque? I had a little read beforehand and found the Academy of Burlesque & Cabaret’s guide. It traces the art form from parody and comedy through to the glamour and variety we associate with it today.
- [A round of applause, please: the Great British Theatres Awards finalists are here](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-round-of-applause-please-the-great-british-theatres-awards-finalists-are-here/): By Grace Hatchell There’s a particular pleasure in walking into a theatre before a show. The chatter in the foyer, somebody studying the programme, somebody else negotiating custody of the interval ice creams. Behind all that are people keeping the building open, welcoming their neighbours and making sure the place will still be there for
- [Coming soon: meet the performers behind the shows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/coming-soon-meet-the-performers-behind-the-shows/): By Grace Hatchell I’ve been watching how folk find their way into Theatre Village. Someone arrives to read about a show, spots a performer’s name and thinks, “Hang on, who’s that?” Next thing, they’re off looking for more. I know the feeling. I’ve gone to see a production knowing nowt about the cast and come
- [Got a Show and No Idea Who to Pitch It To? Pitch Up: Beginning Wants to Meet You](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/got-a-show-and-no-idea-who-to-pitch-it-to-pitch-up-beginning-wants-to-meet-you/): By Grace Hatchell You’ve made a show. You’re excited about it. Then comes the mysterious next step: getting it in front of a venue. Who do you contact? What do you send? And how do you explain months of work without delivering a 47-minute monologue beside the tea urn? Pitch Up: Beginning is designed to
- [An Empty Burial Plot and a Family’s Unfinished History: The Land We Shared Comes to London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/an-empty-burial-plot-and-a-familys-unfinished-history-the-land-we-shared-comes-to-london/): By Grace Hatchell Larisa Faber’s grandmother had a place waiting for her beside her parents. When she died, she was buried miles from the land she came from, and that plot was left empty. It is a small, painful detail at the heart of The Land We Shared, which makes its UK debut at artsdepot
- [The Devil Wears Prada announces its new cast — and I’m taking notes from the back row](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-devil-wears-prada-announces-its-new-cast-and-im-taking-notes-from-the-back-row/): By Grace Hatchell There’s a change of personnel at Runway magazine. Thankfully, it’s happening onstage at the Dominion Theatre, so I can enjoy the drama without anyone asking me to find a missing parcel for Miranda Priestly. The Devil Wears Prada The Musical has announced its new company, with Teri Hatcher set to play Miranda
- [Zaynab Shahid makes her professional debut in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’s 10th anniversary tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/zaynab-shahid-makes-her-professional-debut-in-everybodys-talking-about-jamies-10th-anniversary-tour/): Everybody’s Talking About Jamie has announced its full cast for the 10th anniversary UK tour. There are familiar names on the bill, and I’ll get to them. But first, I want to tell you about Zaynab Shahid. Zaynab will play Fatimah, and the tour will mark her professional debut. She has recently graduated from Urdang
- [Pinocchio returns to the Watermill Theatre for Christmas](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pinocchio-returns-to-the-watermill-theatre-for-christmas/): By Grace Hatchell The world’s most famous puppet is returning to Newbury! The Watermill Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for its Christmas production of Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio, back by popular demand after its 2024 run. I’m rather fond of a Christmas show that offers more than a pretty tree and a chorus
- [The Revlon Girl returns to Park Theatre this autumn](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-revlon-girl-returns-to-park-theatre-this-autumn/): By Grace Hatchell The Revlon Girl returns to Park Theatre in Finsbury Park from 26 October to 14 November, bringing Neil Anthony Docking’s play about grief, friendship and the women of Aberfan back to the venue where it first appeared. Set in the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster, the play follows a group of mothers
- [The Price of Creativity Is Too Much for Families](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-price-of-creativity-is-too-much-for-families/): By Grace Hatchell I was looking at tickets for a theatre show I wanted to see but the stalls prices: £50 to £90 per seat. Per seat! At £90, I’d expect the interval ice cream to arrive with its own tiny orchestra. Of course, there were cheaper seats in the gallery. I’m glad they exist.
- [Woolwich Works Christmas 2026: Circus, Drag and Disco](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/woolwich-works-christmas-2026-circus-drag-and-disco/): By Grace Hatchell Woolwich Works unwraps an alternative Christmas of circus, drag, dance and festive chaos If your Christmas traditions could use a little more roller-skating, Bollywood brass, drag bingo and competitive silent disco, Woolwich Works may have found the answer. The Royal Arsenal venue has unveiled a festive programme running from late November into
- [Guildford Shakespeare Company Expands Knife Crime Programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/guildford-shakespeare-company-expands-knife-crime-programme/): By Grace Hatchell Guildford Shakespeare Company expands knife crime programme during its 20th anniversary year Guildford Shakespeare Company is marking its twentieth anniversary with an autumn programme which shows exactly how wide theatre’s reach can be. One moment, Shakespeare is helping Year 9 pupils examine the consequences of carrying a knife. The next, thousands of
- [The Shivers Children’s Theatre Tour This October Half Term](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-shivers-childrens-theatre-tour-this-october-half-term/): By Grace Hatchell A fox, a pigeon and a secret agent take on Miss Information in The Shivers A fox, a pigeon and a secret agent are being sent on a mission to save the world this October half term. I’m not entirely sure who completed the risk assessment, but it sounds considerably more exciting
- [Private Lives gets a gloriously chaotic 1980s makeover](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/private-lives-gets-a-gloriously-chaotic-1980s-makeover/): By Grace Hatchell Private Lives gets a gloriously chaotic 1980s makeover Big hair, iconic music, questionable fashion and even more questionable romantic decisions are heading to London this November as Noël Coward’s Private Lives receives a colourful 1980s makeover. Frankly, if there is one thing capable of making Coward’s deliciously chaotic relationships even more dramatic,
- [Birmingham Rep Announces A Whopping Spring 2027 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-rep-announces-a-whopping-spring-2027-season/): By Grace Hatchell Birmingham Rep has announced its Spring 2027 season and, goodness me, somebody has been busy. There are world premieres, returning favourites, comedy, cabaret, family shows, adaptations and enough theatre to make my diary quietly request annual leave. So rather than plucking out a couple of productions and pretending the rest aren't there,
- [Scott Gallagher Is Finally Becoming A Panto Dame – After 14 Years Of Waiting](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/scott-gallagher-is-finally-becoming-a-panto-dame-after-14-years-of-waiting/): By Grace Hatchell I have always maintained that if you’re going to make a major career change, you might as well do it in an enormous frock. After 14 years working around the country as a pantomime comic, Blackpool radio presenter Scott Gallagher is finally doing precisely that. This Christmas, he’ll be swapping breakfast radio
- [Derby Theatre Named Finalist in Great British Theatres Awards](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/derby-theatre-named-finalist-in-great-british-theatres-awards/): By Grace Hatchell There’s a rather obvious thing you can do at a theatre. You buy a ticket, find your seat, hope the person in front hasn’t brought their tallest hairdo, and watch whatever happens on stage. But Derby Theatre has been doing rather a lot with the bits that come before, after and sometimes
- [The Snow Queen Is Coming to Newcastle – And Grace Has Questions About a Place Called Stifle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-snow-queen-is-coming-to-newcastle-and-grace-has-questions-about-a-place-called-stifle/): I have delivered post in some wonderfully named places in my time. But Stifle? That sounds less like somewhere you settle down and raise a family and more like somewhere you accidentally take the wrong bus to and spend the next three hours trying to escape. Nevertheless, Stifle is where Northern Stage is taking us
- [Jim Caruso’s Cast Party Returns to London – And You Might End Up in the Show](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jim-carusos-cast-party-returns-to-london-and-you-might-end-up-in-the-show/): There are certain phrases that make me nervous. “Audience participation” is one of them. “Open mic” is another. Put the two together, add a Broadway entertainer, an internationally acclaimed pianist and more than twenty years of New York showbusiness, though, and you have my attention. Jim Caruso’s Cast Party is packing its metaphorical bags and
- [Horrible Histories Brings The Nasty Bits Of The Past Back To Sheffield](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/horrible-histories-brings-the-nasty-bits-of-the-past-back-to-sheffield/): By Grace Hatchell History was never particularly tidy. Kings chopped people’s heads off, ancient Egyptians did peculiar things with dead bodies, monarchs argued with Popes and, frankly, quite a lot of people met endings that would never make it past a modern health and safety assessment. Thankfully, Horrible Histories has spent years making sure children
- [Cinderella Is Moving Into a National Trust House This Christmas](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cinderella-is-moving-into-a-national-trust-house-this-christmas/): By Grace Hatchell I have seen Cinderella performed in plenty of theatres over the years, but this Christmas she is packing up the glass slippers and moving somewhere rather grander. East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley is being transformed into the setting for Cinderella: An Immersive Pantomime Experience, a brand-new production from Electric Press Productions running
- [Puss in Boots Takes Over Scarborough as Stephen Joseph Theatre Reveals Christmas Cast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/puss-in-boots-takes-over-scarborough-as-stephen-joseph-theatre-reveals-christmas-cast/): By Grace Miaow Hatchell There are certain moments in life when you realise events have moved beyond your control. Your mum might not be home for Christmas, your sisters have been left in charge, they're mean to you, they're mean to your cat... and then the cat starts talking. At that point, I think we
- [Birmingham Rep’s Peter Pan Promises Genuine Flying, 20 New Songs and a Bold New Wendy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-reps-peter-pan-promises-genuine-flying-20-new-songs-and-a-bold-new-wendy/): Birmingham Rep is heading for Neverland this Christmas, and apparently it intends to get there properly. The theatre has announced the full cast for its new production of Peter Pan, running in The House from 18 November 2026 until 17 January 2027, and there is something rather intriguing going on beneath all the fairy dust.
- [GRIEFCASE explores the things we leave behind at The Hope Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/griefcase-explores-the-things-we-leave-behind-at-the-hope-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell There are possessions that are simply possessions. And then there are the things that somehow become attached to a person, a moment or an entire part of our lives. That difficult distinction sits at the heart of G R I E F C A S E, a new production from Tailwind Physical
- [Dick Whittingberg Gets Into a Pickle brings a Yiddishe twist to Christmas panto](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dick-whittingberg-gets-into-a-pickle-brings-a-yiddishe-twist-to-christmas-panto/): By Grace Hatchell I have seen Dick Whittington before. Quite a few times, actually. But Dick Whittingberg? Now you've got my attention. JW3 and Plotnek Productions are returning with their annual pantomime this Christmas, and this time they've taken one of London's best-known panto stories and given it a distinctly Jewish makeover. Dick Whittingberg Gets
- [Jack and the Beanstalk Comes to Mercury Theatre Colchester for Christmas 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jack-and-the-beanstalk-comes-to-mercury-theatre-colchester-for-christmas-2026/): By Grace Hathcell There are certain things you can rely upon at Christmas. Someone will buy you socks. Someone will insist they actually like sprouts. And somewhere in Britain, a perfectly sensible family will exchange their cow for a handful of beans. The Mercury Theatre in Colchester is getting ready to climb into panto season
- [Spin Cycle: The Lesbian Launderette Play Gets Another Wash in London After Edinburgh Fringe Success](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spin-cycle-the-lesbian-launderette-play-gets-another-wash-in-london-after-edinburgh-fringe-success/): By Grace Hatchell There are always a few shows at Edinburgh Fringe that you really want to see, but no matter how much you stare at the schedule, shuffle things around and contemplate whether lunch is actually necessary, you simply cannot squeeze them in. For Theatre Village this year, one of those was Spin Cycle:
- [Talawa Theatre Celebrates 40 Years with Star-Studded Hackney Empire Showcase](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/talawa-theatre-celebrates-40-years-with-star-studded-hackney-empire-showcase/): By Grace Hatchell Forty years in theatre deserves rather more than a cake and a few balloons. So Talawa Theatre Company is taking over Hackney Empire for one extraordinary evening celebrating four decades of Black British theatre – and they're bringing quite a few familiar faces along for the occasion. Talawa Iconic takes place on
- [David Ireland’s What the Animals Say Returns to Finborough Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/david-irelands-what-the-animals-say-returns-to-finborough-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell Some plays apparently bring football, politics, sectarianism, old grudges and two Belfast men waiting for a ferry. I suspect this one isn't going to be a gentle evening. David Ireland’s first play, What the Animals Say, is returning to the stage at London’s Finborough Theatre for a strictly limited four-week run from
- [Stand and Deliver! Robin Hood Takes Over Lichfield Garrick This Christmas](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stand-and-deliver-robin-hood-takes-over-lichfield-garrick-this-christmas/): By Grace Hatchell I’ve had some strange things happen on a post round. Dogs have chased me. A goose once disliked me for reasons I still don’t understand. And I’ve delivered parcels to houses where the numbering system appears to have been devised by somebody who actively hates posties. But I’ve never stumbled into Sherwood
- [Sunderland Empire’s Peter Pan Panto Has Its Full Crew – And Captain Hook Had Better Watch Out](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sunderland-empires-peter-pan-panto-has-its-full-crew-and-captain-hook-had-better-watch-out/): By Grace Hatchell There are certain things you can rely on at Christmas in the North East. There will be arguments over tubs of chocolates, somebody will insist it’s far too early to put the decorations up, and Sunderland Empire will assemble a panto cast determined to cause absolute chaos. This year, they’ve taken to
- [RENT’s Original Mark and Roger Are Reuniting in London – and Apparently 1996 Was 30 Years Ago](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rents-original-mark-and-roger-are-reuniting-in-london-and-apparently-1996-was-30-years-ago/): By Grace Hatchell I have received some troubling news. RENT is turning 30. Thirty. Years. I have checked the dates several times because I was fairly certain 1996 happened about twelve years ago, but apparently somebody has been interfering with the calendar again. Still, if we must confront the relentless passage of time, Musical Con
- [Birmingham Rep Reveals the Cast for a Brand-New Production of The Snowman](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-rep-reveals-the-cast-for-a-brand-new-production-of-the-snowman/): By Grace Hatchell There are certain things you can rely on at Christmas. Someone will buy you socks. Someone will insist they do not want anything and then look disappointed when you believe them. And somewhere, a small boy will build a snowman who turns out to be considerably more adventurous than expected. Now The
- [I’ve seen Cambridge Arts Theatre’s new season, so apparently I live in Cambridge now](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ive-seen-cambridge-arts-theatres-new-season-so-apparently-i-live-in-cambridge-now/): By Grace Hatchell I have made a decision. It is perhaps not a financially responsible decision, nor one I have discussed with the guvnor Andrew or anybody sensible, but those are traditionally my favourite sort. I have taken up residence in Cambridge. Not permanently, you understand. I still have a postal round to complete and
- [Nearly 4,000 scripts, five new plays – and this is exactly why we champion new writing](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/nearly-4000-scripts-five-new-plays-and-this-is-exactly-why-we-champion-new-writing/): By Grace Hatchell I have a complaint to make to the Royal Court Theatre. Nearly 4,000 scripts. Four. Thousand. I know Theatre Village has a postal theme, but there are limits to what one woman can reasonably be expected to carry in a satchel. Still, having staggered metaphorically up the garden path with the lot
- [Ore Oduba is heading to Sheffield for Cinderella – while I’m still searching for the perfect pair of shoes](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ore-oduba-is-heading-to-sheffield-for-cinderella-while-im-still-searching-for-the-perfect-pair-of-shoes/): By Grace Hatchell There are certain preparations that must be made as Christmas approaches. Theatres start hanging decorations. Pantomime companies assemble their casts. Actors begin warming up their vocal cords. And I start trying on sensible shoes. You may think Cinderella has cornered the market in important footwear decisions, but she only had to dance
- [Goblin is dragging us back to 2007 – and apparently we’re going willingly](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/goblin-is-dragging-us-back-to-2007-and-apparently-were-going-willingly/): By Grace Hatchell I have been informed that we are going back to 2007. Now, ordinarily I’d object. I’m not entirely convinced my eyebrows survived 2007 the first time around. But when the invitation comes courtesy of an award-winning, darkly comic show involving an emo teenager, an imaginary friend and a deeply questionable reality TV
- [The Satchel Has Spoken! Celebrating Our Satchel of Stars and Satchel of Dreams Winners](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-satchel-has-spoken-celebrating-our-satchel-of-stars-and-satchel-of-dreams-winners/): By Grace Hatchell. Well, that’s it. The reviews have been written, the stars have been dished out, my feet have just about forgiven me, and somewhere in Edinburgh there’s probably still a performer wondering why a Yorkshire postie kept turning up at their shows. It can only mean one thing. The satchel has spoken. This
- [Pleasance Ends Edinburgh Fringe 2026 With 25 Awards – And More Than 484,000 Tickets Issued](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pleasance-ends-edinburgh-fringe-2026-with-25-awards-and-more-than-484000-tickets-issued/): By Grace Hatchell Well, Edinburgh Fringe has packed away its posters, everyone’s feet are recovering and somewhere a performer is probably still finding glitter in places glitter really shouldn’t be. And what a Fringe it was for the Pleasance. The Pleasance Theatre Trust has revealed the figures from its 42nd Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and they’re
- [Review Of Bipolarcoaster – Amanda Andrews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-bipolarcoaster-amanda-andrews/): Edinburgh Fringe has a wonderful habit of producing shows that arrive without enormous marketing campaigns or publicity machines behind them, yet somehow manage to completely take you by surprise. Bipolarcoaster was one of those shows for me. Inspired by Amanda Andrews' personal experiences with bipolar disorder, Bipolarcoaster asks whether people are born on the mental
- [Review Of Take Care By Late Shift Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-take-care-by-late-shift-theatre/): While much of the country is celebrating New Year's Day, there are people whose jobs don't simply stop because it's a bank holiday. Someone still has to turn up, someone still has to take responsibility, and someone still has to care. That is the world explored in Take Care by Late Shift Theatre, a Bristol-based,
- [Review Of Queen of the Empire – Sasha Snowdon](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-queen-of-the-empire-sasha-snowdon/): Drinking, dancing and debauchery – just another night at The Middlesbrough Empire! And Lizzie, Boro's resident party girl, loves nothing more than a wild night out. But behind the dresses, drunks and drama, her family fractures under the weight of a devastating illness. When Lizzie is ultimately forced to face her reality, is it all
- [Review Of Delusions And Grandeur – Karen Hall Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-delusions-and-grandeur-karen-hall-edinburgh-fringe/): I couldn't actually tell you when Delusions And Grandeur began. We met Karen Hall eating a sandwich. Then, after she had finished eating her sandwich, the show officially started. At least I think it did. At first, I couldn't work out whether Karen was genuinely hungry or whether sitting there eating a sandwich was actually
- [Sixteen Five-Star Shows, A Few Awards and One Rather Chuffed Yorkshire Postie](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sixteen-five-star-shows-a-few-awards-and-one-rather-chuffed-yorkshire-postie/): By Grace Hatchell Now then. When I packed my satchel and headed to Edinburgh this August, I wasn't trying to predict award winners. I wasn't trying to work out what The Guardian might eventually like, which productions The Stage might wander into, or who would leave Edinburgh carrying something shiny. I had a considerably simpler
- [The List Festival Awards 2026: Winners Announced](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-list-festival-awards-2026-winners-announced/): By Grace Hatchell The winners of The List Festival Awards 2026 have been announced, celebrating some of the standout creativity and talent across Edinburgh’s Art, Book, Film, Fringe and International festivals. The final ceremony took place on Friday 28 August at W Edinburgh, bringing together artists, industry professionals and festival organisations for an afternoon celebrating
- [The List Festival Awards 2026 Shortlist: What Happens After the Fringe?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-list-festival-awards-2026-shortlist-what-happens-after-the-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell The List Festival Awards has revealed its 2026 shortlists, celebrating some of the artists and productions that have made their mark across Edinburgh’s festivals this summer. Returning for a third year, the awards cover Art, Book, Film, the International Festival and, of course, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the winners set to
- [Arts Theatre Cambridge Unveils New Safety Curtain for 90th Anniversary](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/arts-theatre-cambridge-unveils-new-safety-curtain-for-90th-anniversary/): By Grace Hatchell There I was, minding my own business on my rounds, when I noticed something rather fancy going on at the Arts Theatre Cambridge. Now, strictly speaking, stopping to investigate theatre news isn't included in my postal duties. But neither is ignoring a spectacular great mural when somebody has gone to all that
- [A Beginner’s Guide to Widowhood Comes to Lion & Unicorn Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-beginners-guide-to-widowhood-comes-to-lion-unicorn-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell There are some holidays where the hotel isn't quite what it looked like in the brochure. Perhaps the buffet is questionable. The pool is suspiciously cold. Or your room has a delightful view of the bins. And then there is Suria's holiday. She's gone to Türkiye out of season with two teenage
- [The List Festival Awards 2026 Longlists Announced for Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-list-festival-awards-2026-longlists-announced-for-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell Well, Edinburgh Fringe might be entering its latter stages, but apparently nobody is allowed to put their feet up just yet. The longlists for The List Festival Awards 2026 have been announced, celebrating some of the shows and performers that have been making their mark across Edinburgh this August. The awards cover
- [In Her Defence Musical Makes Camden Fringe Debut in 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/in-her-defence-musical-makes-camden-fringe-debut-in-2026/): In Her Defence is heading to Camden Fringe this August, bringing audiences a bold, heartfelt and hilariously British new musical set against the colourful backdrop of 1987. Written by Harrison Cranfield, the original British musical comedy combines eccentric characters, sharp humour and an emotionally driven story about resilience, friendship and finding the courage to stand
- [Book Club Brings Books, Wine and a Rather Large Helping of Friendship to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/book-club-brings-books-wine-and-a-rather-large-helping-of-friendship-to-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell I do like a good book. I also quite like a packet of crisps. Throw in some wine and a bit of theatre, and suddenly a book club sounds much more tempting. New Stagers is bringing Book Club to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a lively comedy following Linda and her fellow book
- [Oops: When a Professional Matchmaker Makes One Rather Awkward Match](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/oops-when-a-professional-matchmaker-makes-one-rather-awkward-match/): By Grace Hatchell There are mistakes. There are big mistakes. And then there’s accidentally setting up your college boyfriend with your high school bully. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I would call an oops. Fortunately for Olivia Raine Atwood, it also makes rather good material for an Edinburgh Fringe show. Olivia is back at
- [Last Chance at the Fringe: Emma Davies Turns Getting Sacked into Satire](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/last-chance-at-the-fringe-emma-davies-turns-getting-sacked-into-satire/): By Grace Hatchell If you’ve ever had an email from HR beginning with “Just a quick chat…” and immediately started wondering whether you should clear your desk, Emma Davies may have created the Edinburgh Fringe show for you. But you’ll need to be quick. Today, 18 August, is the final day to catch You Are
- [MNÁ: Being a Grown-Up Was Supposed to Be Easier Than This](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mna-being-a-grown-up-was-supposed-to-be-easier-than-this/): By Grace Hatcell You know when you’re younger and you assume that by your late twenties you’ll have everything sorted? Career going nicely. Money in the bank. Perhaps a nice flat. You’ll know exactly who you are and where you’re going. Yes. About that. MNÁ, meaning “women” in Irish, is arriving at the Edinburgh Fringe
- [15 Minutes of Shame Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/15-minutes-of-shame-review/): Money problems, social media, sex, relationships and the increasingly desperate search for financial security all collide in 15 Minutes of Shame, a contemporary piece of theatre which feels very much rooted in the world we are living in now. The production follows a young London couple struggling with the realities of keeping themselves financially afloat.
- [Review Of Symphony Of Light](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-symphony-of-light/): Symphony of Light is an ambitious faith-based dance production which takes stories, imagery and messages from the Bible and translates them into movement. Rather than presenting these stories through conventional dialogue, the company uses contemporary dance, ballet, flags, visual projections and aerial performance to explore themes of faith, light and the human relationship with God.
- [Swan Song Review At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/swan-song-review-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Swan Song from Jilted Bride Productions takes us into the chaotic world of a disgraced director attempting to propel himself back into the spotlight with a new production. Along the way, secrets emerge, powerful people risk being exposed and an assortment of theatrical personalities collide. With its mixture of comedy, media criticism and deliberately absurd
- [Review Of Woodhill Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-woodhill-edinburgh-fringe/): LUNG Woodhill is a documentary theatre and dance production from LUNG exploring the deaths of three men at HMP Woodhill and the families left searching for answers about what happened to them. Using testimony from those families alongside movement, choreography and recorded audio, the production looks beyond the prison walls and into the human consequences
- [Review Of Formosa Viva](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-formosa-viva/): Formosa Viva brings the history and identity of Taiwan to the Edinburgh Fringe through contemporary dance, physical theatre and visual storytelling. Performed by eight dancers, the production takes us across 500 years of Taiwanese history, moving from its Indigenous roots through periods of colonial struggle and ultimately towards modern democracy. Rather than telling this story
- [Bean vs The Robots: A Solo Show Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bean-vs-the-robots-a-solo-show-musical/): Midge Lema / Lemabean Productions Bean is trapped aboard her spaceship – and now, unfortunately, so are we. She has lost her memories and must attempt to recover them through a series of songs played on her keyboard. As those memories gradually return, we begin to discover why Bean went to space in the first
- [Review Of LS6 Theatre – Happily Ever Never](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-ls6-theatre-happily-ever-never/): LS6 Theatre’s Happily Ever Never at Edinburgh Fringe takes us behind the glitter, costumes and carefully manufactured magic of the princess party industry. On the surface, everything is smiles, sparkles and happily ever afters, but behind the scenes things are considerably more complicated. The production follows the world of the Princess Party Planners, where performers
- [LANDSFRAU at Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/landsfrau-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Edinburgh Fringe has thousands of productions and every so often something lands in the Theatre Village inbox that makes me stop and think: now, what's this all about? Today that production is LANDSFRAU هموطن. Presented by the Doris Crea Collective, LANDSFRAU is an autofictional journey from German-Afghan actress Mariann Yar, blending music,
- [Review of Tori Morancay: Le French c'est Freak](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-tori-morancay-le-french-cest-freak/): Tori Morancay's debut solo show, Le French c'est Freak, dives into Frenchness, fiascos and bad decisions with bold, self-deprecating comedy. Raised in France and now based in New York, Tori unpacks cultural confusion and the chaos of chasing love and applause with an accent she has absolutely no intention of losing. Sharp, high-energy and unapologetically
- [Review of Realm Beyond Boundless Dance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-realm-beyond-boundless-dance/): Realm Beyond Boundless Dance is a ground-breaking Chinese contemporary street dance production that fuses ancient mythology with the energy of modern movement. Created by a professional street dance troupe from Shanghai, the show reimagines traditional cultural symbols, folk music, mythical characters and Eastern aesthetics through innovative choreography. Featuring projections, spectacular wire work and contemporary dance,
- [Review of Oops – Olivia Raine Atwood](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-oops-olivia-raine-atwood/): Olivia Raine Atwood is a professional matchmaker who accidentally set up her college boyfriend with her high school bully. Sort of like if Ron set up Hermione with Malfoy. Or Romeo set up Juliet with someone who bullied Romeo. You know. Like that. You get it. At the Edinburgh Fringe, I was lucky enough to
- [Review of Seasons – Cardboard Box Theatre Company](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-seasons-cardboard-box-theatre-company/): I was at Edinburgh Fringe and in this production there is a park that's been around for years. Welcome to Willow Park! Come and meet Parker the Parkkeeper and his cat Clover as they tell you the story of Maggie and Mylo the magpies. Cardboard Box Theatre Company presents this lively, musical puppet show which
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2026: Olivia Raine Atwood Says OOPS to the Dating Game](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2026-olivia-raine-atwood-says-oops-to-the-dating-game/): By Grace Hatchell Right, villagers. Dating is hard enough when you're only responsible for your own questionable romantic decisions. Imagine being professionally responsible for everybody else's as well. Welcome to the world of Olivia Raine Atwood. Olivia – or Liv – is a professional matchmaker. Her actual 9-to-5 job involves finding love for other people,
- [Jack Kenyon: Table for Two Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jack-kenyon-table-for-two-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe, Jack Kenyon leaves a magical impression with Table for Two. Abundant with moments of pure impossibility, astonishing coincidences and logic-defying mysteries, Jack takes his audience on a playful magical journey before attempting to answer one rather important question: can a magician successfully land a second date? I believe this might
- [Review Of Hannah Platt: Cult Classic](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-hannah-platt-cult-classic/): Are you a failure? A reject? Alone? Good. Named ‘one to watch’ by Rolling Stone Magazine, cult comedian/leader Hannah Platt is primed to prey on your vulnerabilities in Cult Classic, a show exploring sacrifice, self-worth and whether, once you've sacrificed everything else, you should sacrifice your soul too. For the first 15 minutes of Cult
- [Review Of Kwami Odoom and Jack Henry Support Group](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-kwami-odoom-and-jack-henry-support-group/): Kwami Odoom and Jack Henry need help. Kwami is worried he'll be a bad father, while Jack can't quite work out how to be gay, sane and sexy at the same time. Two different comedians, two different problems and apparently not a single solution between them. They need some outside perspective. They need a support
- [Glow Job Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/glow-job-edinburgh-fringe-2026-review/): Hall & Carss Productions Glow Job is a two-hander comedy following a desperate aesthetics clinic in Yorkshire. With bills piling up and the threat of closure looming, the team will do almost anything to keep the business afloat – even when their ethics and their grip on reality begin to wobble. Annie Hall and Jennifer
- [Review Of Why English? Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-why-english-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Vibhinna Ramdev An Indian woman questions her life in the post-colonial era. English, unknowingly forced upon her, leaves her facing an identity crisis. Through personal experiences, interaction and performance, Why English? explores language, culture, identity and the legacy that English continues to hold within India. At the centre of Why English? is a deceptively simple
- [Reformer Review Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/reformer-review-edinburgh-fringe/): Pilates is the complete co-ordination of body, mind and spirit... plus it gives you a bum like a Victoria's Secret model. Two women meet at a reformer Pilates class, but can female friendship withstand the battleground of the studio, where everyone wants to be the best (read: hottest) in the room? Sophie and Lottie tackle
- [Two Little Pigs Edinburgh 2026 Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/two-little-pigs-edinburgh-2026-fringe-review/): Patrick Bone Productions Dumped, in denial, and desperate for something to control, Mark adopts a pet pig, hoping for some simple companionship. The walking, talking hog who turns up has other ideas. Like The Odd Couple, but it's a protein-guzzling gym bro and a feminist literature-obsessed pig. An absurdist comedy about masculinity, the thin line
- [Review of 100 Million Fish In The Aquarium – Shannon Brooke](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-100-million-fish-in-the-aquarium-shannon-brooke/): A few years ago, Shannon Brooke was diagnosed with OCD after a lifetime of performing what she describes as ridiculous compulsions. Yes, she’s a performer – although perhaps not quite in the way she originally intended. Following her successful 2025 debut show A Horseless Rodeo, Shannon Brooke is back at the Edinburgh Fringe and, importantly,
- [Review of The Yellow Wallpaper At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-the-yellow-wallpaper-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Based on the story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper is a six-person dance thriller brought to life through a fusion of visceral choreography and classic text. While undergoing treatment for “female hysteria”, Jane is confined to a room covered in yellow wallpaper. As the weeks pass, the wallpaper begins to take on a
- [Review Of Adele Cliff -Work In Progress- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-adele-cliff-work-in-progress-edinburgh-fringe/): Multi award-winning comedian Adele Cliff brings a work-in-progress show to the Edinburgh Fringe, promising material on love, life choices and llamas. Although, as it turned out, the llamas didn't make it into this particular performance. Cats did. I'd heard of Adele Cliff before, but simply hadn't had the opportunity to see her perform, so this
- [Review of Come From Away – Viva Arts and Community Group](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-come-from-away-viva-arts-and-community-group/): Come From Away is based on the remarkable true story of an isolated community called Gander in Newfoundland, who played host to the world. What started as an average day in a small town turned into an international sleepover when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip
- [Review of Sydnee Washington: My Black Barbie Story](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-sydnee-washington-my-black-barbie-story/): Sydnee Washington has lived, babe – many lives. Lowkey, high key, some nights so embarrassing that only Black Barbie can reenact them in a stop-motion live show. Follow Sydnee’s life story from childhood to making questionable decisions as a bottle girl in the iconic nightclubs of 2010s New York City – and how she eventually
- [Review of Bryn Woz – SMUT At Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-bryn-woz-smut-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): I attempted to see SMUT last year but, as so often happens at the Edinburgh Fringe, my diary had other ideas and I couldn't make the timings work. This year, however, I made a beeline for it. And having finally entered the world of Entendre Entendre, I'm rather glad I did. SMUT introduces us to
- [They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theyre-just-small-town-northern-lads-review/): Nathan Jonathan at Edinburgh Fringe This was a production I definitely wanted to see. The premise immediately caught my attention, and it's only playing for a short run at the Edinburgh Fringe. So don't dawdle, lads and lasses. They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads takes us back to Y2K and follows a teenage boy caught
- [Uncorked Review-Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/uncorked-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Sometimes the simplest theatrical setups can produce some of the most relatable stories. Uncorked introduces us to Kate and Nadia, best friends since primary school who have maintained one sacred tradition as they've grown up: their monthly evening of cheap wine and bad television. It began when they were teenagers and has survived into their
- [Girlz Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/girlz-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): It's not very often that I get the opportunity to review a production, return a year later and see what has changed. But here we are. I first reviewed Girlz at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 and awarded it five stars. Now it's back for 2026, this time on a bigger stage, with some cast
- [An Ode To The Casting Director Review- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/an-ode-to-the-casting-director-review-edinburgh-fringe/): Sophie Fisher There's something wonderfully brutal about the acting profession. You can spend years training, learn your lines, perfect an audition, walk confidently into a room and give everything you've got. Then somebody you've known for approximately four minutes gets to decide whether you're right for the job. Welcome to An Ode To The Casting
- [Review of Gridlock At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-gridlock-at-edinburgh-fringe/): The show's premise is deceptively simple. Gridlock is a play about a couple at a crossroads. Alexa and Thomas are stuck in traffic – both literally and figuratively – and as they wait for the traffic to finally start moving, their conversation begins to take them backwards. They revisit the moments that shaped their relationship
- [Chinese Culture Week 2026: Bringing a Taste of China to the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/chinese-culture-week-2026-bringing-a-taste-of-china-to-the-edinburgh-fringe/): As a reviewer, I was invited to the official opening of Chinese Culture Week (CCW) 2026, taking place as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And this was slightly different from my usual Fringe assignment. Normally I arrive at a venue, find my seat, watch a performance and then disappear afterwards with a notebook full
- [Peregrinations Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/peregrinations-review/): There are some productions at the Edinburgh Fringe where you can immediately see the amount of thought, creativity and artistic precision that has gone into putting them on stage. Peregrinations is certainly one of them. This is a powerful wordless work of masked physical theatre and puppetry exploring displacement and the immigrant experience in America.
- [Paper Cuts (and Other Small Tragedies) Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/paper-cuts-and-other-small-tragedies-review/): I started this production on particularly impressive form at Edinburgh Fringe “Paper Cups,” I told the usher. No. No, Andrew. Paper Cuts. Sorry. Although a play about paper cups could perhaps be Emma and Evie Productions' sequel. I'll expect a small credit. The show's premise sees a spiralling woman accidentally attending a children's origami class,
- [Amy Matthews: Definitions Of Toast Review Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/amy-matthews-definitions-of-toast-review-edinburgh-fringe/): Comedy is a difficult thing to review. What one person finds absolutely hilarious can leave somebody else completely unmoved. Humour is incredibly subjective, so when reviewing comedy I tend to look beyond simply asking, “Did I laugh?” Are the jokes delivered with confidence? Does the comedian command the room? Does the material flow? And, perhaps
- [Review Of Blip Blarp: A Close Encounter That Never Quite Takes Off](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-blip-blarp-a-close-encounter-that-never-quite-takes-off/): Meet Blip Blarp, a galactic overachiever and full-time romantic disaster who lands on Earth with a fairly ambitious to-do list: conquer the planet and produce 1,000 offspring. There is, however, one considerable obstacle standing in the way – dating humans. Thrown headfirst into the chaos of modern romance, from thirst traps and mixed signals to
- [Can Puppets Talk About Miscarriage? Seasons Brings a Difficult Conversation to the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-puppets-talk-about-miscarriage-seasons-brings-a-difficult-conversation-to-the-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, magpies, squirrels, a parkkeeper, catchy songs and puppets. Sounds like we're safely in children's theatre territory, doesn't it? Well, not quite. Cardboard Box Theatre Company is bringing Seasons to the Edinburgh Fringe, and behind its colourful collection of woodland characters is a subject that family theatre doesn't often venture towards:
- [You Never Know: A Song Cycle – Love, Loss and the People We Didn’t End Up With](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/you-never-know-a-song-cycle-love-loss-and-the-people-we-didnt-end-up-with/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, we’ve all got them. The people who wandered into our lives, made themselves comfortable for a while and then, for whatever reason, didn't make it into the next chapter. Some disappear quietly. Some leave a whopping great emotional crater behind them. And some occasionally pop into your head years later
- [Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spraywatch-a-beautiful-rescue-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): She's definitely not in Santa Monica anymore. Everyone's favourite 90s-style lifeguard has somehow washed up in Spray, a soggy and struggling British seaside town that's considerably more grey skies than California sunshine. If she wants any chance of getting home, she has a mission: whip Spray's local lifeguards into shape and propel the town to
- [HR The Musical Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hr-the-musical-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): If you've ever worked in an office, endured a performance review, survived another restructure or sat through a meeting wondering what on earth everyone is talking about, H.R. The Musical may feel frighteningly familiar. The hit New Zealand workplace sketch-comedy takes the ridiculous side of modern working life and turns it into a musical revue,
- [Shantify The Musical Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/shantify-the-musical-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Following successful Edinburgh Fringe runs in 2024 and 2025, alongside appearances at London's Ambassadors Theatre, Underbelly Boulevard and a sell-out performance at Cornwall's Minack Theatre, Shantify is back in Edinburgh. The concept is wonderfully simple: take the spirit and unmistakable harmonies of traditional sea shanties and throw in songs you would never normally expect to
- [Up Til Now Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/up-til-now-edinburgh-fringe-review/): Up Til Now is a celebration of the strength of platonic love, following five students on the brink of change. At a time when friendships have become family and the future feels frighteningly undefined, do you cling to what you know or are you desperate to break free? As graduation approaches, plans diverge, relationships shift
- [DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dusk-night-dawn-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): VERTICAL DREAMSCAPE Sometimes a show has to come back and nag me before I finally listen. DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN initially landed in front of me and, I'll admit, I dismissed it. Then it somehow wandered back into my thoughts. I looked at it again. Thought about it some more. And eventually realised: I need to see this.
- [SpinQueen™ – Review Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spinqueen-review-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Megan Tomei First things first. Megan Tomei performs a spin class during every performance of SpinQueen™, and judging by the pace she maintains, I'm fairly confident she won't need to visit the gym for the duration of the Edinburgh Fringe. The show doubles as her daily workout. That physicality isn't simply a gimmick, though. It's
- [Review Of  LAUNA Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-launa-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Tidal Theatre Every now and again at the Edinburgh Fringe, I walk into a production genuinely unsure about what I'm about to experience. LAUNA was one of those shows. The premise certainly intrigued me. Following the loss of her daughter, young mother Edna must navigate the shifting terrain of grief as memories increasingly begin to
- [Review Of Antigone 1989: A Town Hall Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-antigone-1989-a-town-hall-musical/): I hear you. There are far too many good shows to pick from at the Edinburgh Fringe, and unless someone has kindly invented an extra eight hours in the day, you simply cannot see everything. But here is a show you really shouldn’t miss. The show’s premise: A bold retelling of Sophocles’ tragedy set in
- [Footloose: Youth Edition – Review- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/footloose-youth-edition-review-edinburgh-fringe/): Sometimes at the Edinburgh Fringe, the shows you end up seeing almost by accident can be some of the most interesting. I had a spare couple of hours and decided to browse through The Space’s programme to see what tickled my fancy. However, in this case, it wasn't actually the show that persuaded me through
- [Review Of Dust At Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-dust-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Written and directed by Charlaina ThompsonPerformed by Craig McCardle The premise of Dust is both haunting and compelling. Set in England during lockdown at 2:20am, the story follows a man desperately trying to make it home. Through a morphine-fuelled delirium, audiences are taken on a journey through the defining chapters of his life as a
- [Review of Homecumming Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-homecumming-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Written and performed by Magalie Rouillard-Bazinet The premise of Homecumming immediately tells audiences what they are in for. The production follows a woman who can no longer reach orgasm, but what initially appears to be a story centred around sexuality quickly develops into something much deeper. Inspired by real life, it explores mental health, depression,
- [Review Of Youth In Flames Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-youth-in-flames-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Written and performed by Mimi Martin Inspired by real events, Youth in Flames returns to the Edinburgh Fringe following a sold-out Off-Broadway run. Written and performed by Mimi Martin, the production transports audiences into the heart of the 2019 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests through the eyes of a young British expat searching for belonging while
- [A World Apart – A Musical That Asks Whether We're Living Our Own Lives… Or Someone Else's](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-world-apart-a-musical-that-asks-whether-were-living-our-own-lives-or-someone-elses/): By Grace Hatchell There's something rather comforting about believing everyone else has life sorted. You know the feeling. You're scrolling through social media, someone has bought a beautiful house, another friend has just welcomed a baby, someone else is sipping cocktails in Bali, and suddenly you're wondering whether you've accidentally taken a wrong turn somewhere.
- [Jack and the Beanstalk Climbs Back Into Cambridge with a Familiar Face Leading the Way](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jack-and-the-beanstalk-climbs-back-into-cambridge-with-a-familiar-face-leading-the-way/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, Christmas simply wouldn't be Christmas without a pantomime, would it? Oh yes it would... no, no, I'm joking already! I do love a good panto, and there's something rather comforting about knowing some traditions never go out of style. The Arts Theatre Cambridge has announced that local favourite Matt Crosby
- [Cinderella Invites You to the Ball This Christmas at East Riddlesden Hall](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cinderella-invites-you-to-the-ball-this-christmas-at-east-riddlesden-hall/): By Grace Hatchell Well now... if you've ever fancied stepping inside a fairytale instead of simply watching one from a comfy theatre seat, then pop your glass slippers on because this sounds rather enchanting. This December, Electric Press Productions is transforming the beautiful East Riddlesden Hall in West Yorkshire into the setting for Cinderella: An
- [Why English? Returns to Edinburgh Fringe with a Powerful Exploration of Identity, Language and Belonging](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-english-returns-to-edinburgh-fringe-with-a-powerful-exploration-of-identity-language-and-belonging/): By Grace Hatchell Every now and then, a Fringe show comes along with a title that makes you stop scrolling. Why English? It's short, simple... but the more you think about it, the bigger the question becomes. Created and performed by Vibhinna Ramdev, this solo show explores what it means to grow up in India
- [Review Of Compression Test](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-compression-test/): I was fortunate enough to see Compression Test at Durham Fringe, presented by 92 Beats Theatre. Directed by James Weaver and Lily Blakeman, with a script by Molly O'Donnell and Lily Blakeman, the production stars Harrison Rowley-Lynn and Molly O'Donnell in an intimate two-hander. Set during the hottest day of the year, Compression Test takes
- [Ready to rock? Why should you see We Will Rock You in Solihull this September?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ready-to-rock-why-should-you-see-we-will-rock-you-in-solihull-this-september/): By Grace Hatchell We Will Rock You is heading to the Dovehouse Theatre this September, proving once again that you don't need the West End postcode to put on a show packed with powerhouse vocals, iconic songs and enough air guitar to make the neighbours nervous. West Midlands amateur company Obsidian Theatrical Productions will present
- [Birmingham Rep announces full cast for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-rep-announces-full-cast-for-the-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time/): By Grace Hatchell A modern theatrical classic is heading back to the stage – but thankfully it isn't simply dusting off the old production, polishing the props and hoping nobody notices. We've all seen revivals that feel a little like someone found an old script in the loft and thought, "That'll do." This, however, feels
- [Student-created musical Muse! heads to the Edinburgh Fringe after Lincoln Center success](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/student-created-musical-muse-heads-to-the-edinburgh-fringe-after-lincoln-center-success/): By Grace Hatchell Who says you have to wait years for your big break? Muse! The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical is proving that talent doesn't come with an age limit. Fresh from a sold-out industry presentation at New York's Lincoln Center, the new musical created by students at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy is making the
- [Formosa Viva returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a powerful story told through dance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/formosa-viva-returns-to-the-edinburgh-fringe-with-a-powerful-story-told-through-dance/): By Grace Hatchell Some stories don't need dialogue to make themselves heard. Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with an entirely new cast, Formosa Viva is an ambitious contemporary dance production that takes audiences on a journey through 500 years of Taiwan's history. Blending contemporary dance, physical theatre and striking visual storytelling, the 50-minute performance explores
- [Matthew Tennyson and Richard Cant lead world premiere of Sanctuary at the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/matthew-tennyson-and-richard-cant-lead-world-premiere-of-sanctuary-at-the-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell Some stories whisper rather than shout, and Sanctuary sounds like one of them. Making its world premiere at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, the new play from debut playwright Jacob Sparrow arrives with an impressive creative team and two of Britain's finest actors at its heart. Award-winning performers Matthew Tennyson and Richard Cant
- [Interview: Amanda Andrews on Bipolarcoaster. Original music and finding humour in life's toughest moments](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-amanda-andrews-on-bipolarcoaster-original-music-and-finding-humour-in-lifes-toughest-moments/): Amanda Andrews brings her one-woman musical Bipolarcoaster to this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, blending original music with an honest, often humorous exploration of living with Bipolar II Disorder. Ahead of the Fringe, she spoke about the show's origins, embracing vulnerability and why printer repairs have become an unexpected part of her job. Q: Bipolarcoaster is
- [They’re Just Small Town (Northern) Lads Asks What Makes a Man at Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theyre-just-small-town-northern-lads-asks-what-makes-a-man-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell There are certain phrases capable of transporting a person straight back to early-2000s Britain. “Top up your phone.” “Meet us outside Woolworths.” “Your mate has put a song on his MySpace page and it is clearly about you.” And now, somewhere in a small Northern town, a teenage boy is trying to
- [It Comes In Waves washes into London after a sell-out tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/it-comes-in-waves-washes-into-london-after-a-sell-out-tour/): By Grace Hatchell There are some plays that immediately catch your attention because of their title alone, and It Comes In Waves was one of those for me. Then I discovered it's set in a grief café on the Suffolk coast, and suddenly I wanted to know even more. After a sell-out tour across the
- [Bright Places heads out on UK tour with a moving, funny and refreshingly honest story about living with MS](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bright-places-heads-out-on-uk-tour-with-a-moving-funny-and-refreshingly-honest-story-about-living-with-ms/): By Grace Hatchell Sometimes theatre has the power to entertain. Sometimes it starts conversations. And every now and then it manages to do both at the same time. That's exactly what Bright Places looks set to achieve as Carbon Theatre takes its critically acclaimed production on a UK tour this autumn. Inspired by writer Rae
- [DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN: Pole Dancing, Nightlife and the Strange Hours Before Morning](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dusk-night-dawn-pole-dancing-nightlife-and-the-strange-hours-before-morning/): By Grace Hatchell Some Edinburgh Fringe pitches arrive wearing sensible shoes and carrying a tidy synopsis. Then there is DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN, which seems to have swung through my window upside down, trailing smoke, neon and the unmistakable atmosphere of somebody who has not seen a conventional bedtime in years. Presented by Vertical Dreamscape, this experimental aerial
- [North Sapph-Fest Week Three Brings Lesbian Romcoms, Queer Cabaret and a Dildo Custody Battle to Islington](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/north-sapph-fest-week-three-brings-lesbian-romcoms-queer-cabaret-and-a-dildo-custody-battle-to-islington/): By Grace Hatchell The Hope Theatre has announced the third week of its inaugural festival for queer women and non-binary artists Some theatre programmes ease you in gently. North Sapph-Fest has chosen a different route: lockdown obsession, an 18th-century lesbian romcom, theatrical cabaret, heartbreak, Hercules, XXL jorts and a dispute over who gets custody of
- [Troubled Waters: Fishtail Women, Sacred Wells and a Woodland Rave Beneath the Surface](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/troubled-waters-fishtail-women-sacred-wells-and-a-woodland-rave-beneath-the-surface/): By Grace Hatchell Corinne Harragin brings folklore, laughter and watery mischief to the Edinburgh Fringe Water has always had a suspicious amount going on beneath the surface. One minute it is sitting politely in a glass. The next it is swallowing ships, inspiring ancient worship and apparently hosting shape-shifting rivers and mythical woodland raves. Frankly,
- [Amanda Royce Wants Your Vote — and Possibly a Full-Blown Revolution](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/amanda-royce-wants-your-vote-and-possibly-a-full-blown-revolution/): By Grace Hatchell Rachel Twigg brings bold character comedy Your Choice Amanda Royce to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe There are politicians who arrive with carefully tested slogans, professionally managed social media accounts and promises vague enough to mean absolutely nothing. Then there is Amanda Royce. Amanda is launching her mayoral campaign in the seemingly peaceful
- [Interview With Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė on A Pebble In The Road At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-ingeborga-dapkunaite-on-a-pebble-in-the-road-at-edinburgh-fringe/): We caught up with actor Ingebora for an interview about A Pebble In The Road Q: A Pebble in the Road is rooted in such specific memories of your childhood home. When did you first realise those memories might become a piece of theatre? A: My grandmother was born in 1905 and died in 2008
- [Why I Won’t Be Seeing Bliss at the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-i-wont-be-seeing-bliss-at-the-edinburgh-fringe/): Let me begin with the important bit: I expect Bliss to be very good. In fact, everything about it suggests that it could become one of the biggest hits of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It arrives from the Olivier Award-winning producers behind Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin
- [Can a Trapeze Artist Turn Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination into a Fringe Musical?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-a-trapeze-artist-turn-abraham-lincolns-assassination-into-a-fringe-musical/): By Grace Hatchell What happens when the thing that has defined your entire life suddenly disappears? For Kaely Michels-Gualtieri, that was not a theoretical question posed during a particularly intense creative-writing workshop. It became her reality when a series of life-threatening injuries brought her career as an elite solo swinging trapeze artist to an abrupt
- [What Does It Mean to Return Home When You Are No Longer the Person Who Left?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-does-it-mean-to-return-home-when-you-are-no-longer-the-person-who-left/): By Grace Hatchell Home sounds like a simple word. Voltei, the award-winning autobiographical monologue by Portuguese actor and theatre maker Joana Raio, will make its international debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026. Performed in English, the production runs at theSpace @ Symposium Hall from 10 to 15 August and explores migration, identity, belonging and
- [Is This the Burlesque Show That Throws Out the Rulebook?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-the-burlesque-show-that-throws-out-the-rulebook/): By Grace Hatchell. Burlesque can sometimes arrive wearing a very particular outfit. You know the one. Feathers. Fishnets. A raised eyebrow. Possibly a chair being used in a way its manufacturer never intended. But The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue appears to have looked at the traditional burlesque rulebook, shut it firmly, covered it in glitter and
- [Review Of Nikita Kuzmin Supernova At Newcastle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-nikita-kuzmin-supernova-at-newcastle/): I was fortunate enough to visit the Tyne Theatre and Opera House to watch Supernova, the new dance spectacular starring Nikita Kuzmin. This was my first time at the theatre, and what a lovely venue it is. The historic interior immediately gives the evening a sense of occasion, making it an ideal setting for a
- [How to Art Brings Bananas and Clown Comedy to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-to-art-brings-bananas-and-clown-comedy-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Two Bananas, One Gallery Wall and a $6.2 Million Identity Crisis: How to Art Comes to Edinburgh Fringe Art can be many things. Beautiful. Challenging. Political. Transformative. It can also, apparently, be a banana fastened to a wall with duct tape and sold for more money than most of us will see
- [Natalie Patuzzo Attempts to Collect Every Single Sound in the World at Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/natalie-patuzzo-attempts-to-collect-every-single-sound-in-the-world-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Most people arrive on Earth, look around, pay a few bills and eventually develop a complicated relationship with the self-checkout machine. Natalie Patuzzo’s alien has a rather more ambitious assignment. In her debut clown show, Every Single Sound in the World, Patuzzo plays an extraterrestrial visitor sent to collect every sound on
- [Bryn Woz Brings SMUT Back to Edinburgh Fringe — Sequins, Scandal and a Memoir That Definitely Won’t Be in the Church Raffle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bryn-woz-brings-smut-back-to-edinburgh-fringe-sequins-scandal-and-a-memoir-that-definitely-wont-be-in-the-church-raffle/): By Grace Hatchell Bryn Woz is returning to Edinburgh with a solo comedy stuffed with burlesque, filthy poetry, scandalous confessions, audience interaction and enough romantic history to make your family WhatsApp group go suspiciously quiet. She will perform at Assembly Roxy – The Snug from 5 to 31 August 2026, except 18 and 25 August,
- [Fantasy World Adventures Mega Park! The Musical: Nepotism, Mascots and Parental Disappointment at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fantasy-world-adventures-mega-park-the-musical-nepotism-mascots-and-parental-disappointment-at-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell There are many sensible ways to inherit a family business. You could study management. Learn the accounts. Shadow the staff. Develop a firm handshake and begin saying things such as “moving forward” without visibly wincing. Or, like Teddy Mega, you could secretly dream of dressing up as the theme park mascot instead.
- [A Pebble in the Road Brings One Family’s Extraordinary Story to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-pebble-in-the-road-brings-one-familys-extraordinary-story-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Some theatre productions arrive with a cast of twenty, three revolving sets and enough scenery to give the stage manager a nervous twitch. A Pebble in the Road arrives with internationally acclaimed actor Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė, one solitary chair and the memories of a small three-room apartment in Vilnius. And honestly, that sounds
- [Queer Theatre Unveils a Joyful Season of LGBTQIA+ Plays, Pride, Cabaret and Community in London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/queer-theatre-unveils-a-joyful-season-of-lgbtqia-plays-pride-cabaret-and-community-in-london/): By Grace Hatchell Queer Theatre has announced its Summer and Autumn season, and honestly, I had to read the list twice and put the kettle on. Play readings, live podcasts, acting classes, Pride events, showcases, cabaret, drag, a picnic, a swim, and a birthday party. I’ve had quieter Christmases. I’m Grace Hatchell, Yorkshire postie, theatre
- [BURN At Edinburgh Fringe: The Story Of Bloody Mary](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/burn-at-edinburgh-fringe-the-story-of-bloody-mary/): By Grace Hatchell There are some historical women who get remembered. Then there are historical women who get branded. Queen Mary I did not just inherit a throne. She inherited a country at war with itself, a religion split down the middle, a family history that could give anyone a permanent migraine, and then, for
- [Blip Blarp: The Alien Dating Disaster At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/blip-blarp-the-alien-dating-disaster-at-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell There are some Fringe shows where you read the blurb and think, “Aye, that sounds interesting.” Then there are shows where you read the blurb and immediately wonder whether someone has spiked your Yorkshire Tea with moon dust. Blip Blarp - An Alien Love Story is very much the second one. This
- [Make It Count Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/make-it-count-review/): By James Sweeney - www.james-sweeney.com Review: Make It Count Make It Count, a new award-winning comedy-drama by James Sweeney, came to Louth Riverhead Theatre from 18th to 20th June 2026. This studio-scale three-hander follows one man’s chance to relive sixteen years of marriage, with consequences that are both surprising and painfully revealing. The production features
- [Who Was Noor Inayat Khan?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-was-noor-inayat-khan/): Noor Inayat Khan is the real woman behind Stephanie Street’s new play a small and quiet light, which premieres at Chichester Festival Theatre’s Minerva Theatre before transferring to the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. The play is based on the life of Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan, a courageous Second World War agent who fought against fascism
- [Who Is Starring In This Dazzling Production Of Hairspray?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-is-starring-in-this-production-of-hairspray/): The 2027 UK and Ireland tour of Hairspray The Musical has confirmed its first major cast announcement, with Neil Hurst returning to play Edna Turnblad. Further casting is still to be announced, which means fans are still waiting to hear who will play Tracy Turnblad, Link Larkin, Motormouth Maybelle and the rest of the Baltimore
- [Can Stanislavski Save Five Theatre Camp Counsellors From the Apocalypse?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-stanislavski-save-five-theatre-camp-counsellors-from-the-apocalypse/): By Grace Hatchell Stanislavski Can’t Save Me from the Apocalypse Heads to Edinburgh Fringe Well now, this one landed in my satchel sounding like the kind of summer camp I would absolutely not survive, mainly because I once cried during Duke of Edinburgh when my cereal bar melted. Living Room Productions are bringing Stanislavski Can’t
- [Why Leslie Odom Jr’s West End Hamilton Debut Feels Like More Than Stunt Casting](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-leslie-odom-jrs-west-end-hamilton-debut-feels-like-more-than-stunt-casting/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, rehearsal images have landed for Leslie Odom Jr’s West End debut in Hamilton, and this is not your average “famous face joins a hit show” situation. Because when Leslie Odom Jr walks into the Victoria Palace Theatre as Aaron Burr from Friday 3 July 2026, he is not simply stepping
- [Who’s Ready To Go Back To The Canteen With Dinnerladies At Birmingham Hippodrome?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whos-ready-to-go-back-to-the-canteen-with-dinnerladies-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Victoria Wood’s dinnerladies Is Coming To Birmingham Hippodrome, And Honestly, Pass Me The Tea Towel Now then, there are some announcements that land in the satchel and make me do a little shuffle by the kettle. This is one of them. The iconic Victoria Wood sitcom dinnerladies is being brought back to life in a
- [From Laughs to Loss: George Grant Returns to Edinburgh with Two Very Different Stories to Tell](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-laughs-to-loss-george-grant-returns-to-edinburgh-with-two-very-different-stories-to-tell/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, when a mum emails me saying she's been promoted to Head of Selling My Boy, what exactly am I supposed to do? Tell her no? I'm Yorkshire, not heartless. When Susan Grant's email landed in my satchel, I couldn't help but grin. "I have been assigned the task of selling
- [Theatre Tickets, Granny Mortgages and the Great Seat Lottery](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-tickets-granny-mortgages-and-the-great-seat-lottery/): By Grace Hatchell Now then. I love theatre. I really do. I love the lights going down, the hush before the curtain rises, the little flutter you get when the orchestra starts, the programme rustle, and the person three rows behind opening a boiled sweet as if they are trying to unwrap a greenhouse. I
- [How Has Jess Robinson Stayed This Brilliantly Under My Radar?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-has-jess-robinson-stayed-this-brilliantly-under-my-radar/): Every Edinburgh Fringe throws up those magical discoveries where you stop, read a performer’s biography and think... “Hang on... how have I only just found you?” That was exactly my reaction to Jess Robinson. Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe following a smash-hit run and UK tour, Elton Reimagined is not simply another tribute show. Instead,
- [The World Can Be Bleak, So Get Your Mayo Out for Fanny Bleach at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-world-can-be-bleak-so-get-your-mayo-out-for-fanny-bleach-at-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell By 9:50pm at the Edinburgh Fringe, the polite shows have usually gone to bed. That may be just as well, because Fanny Bleach: The Nearly Naked Show does not sound like it has arrived to behave itself. Making her solo comedy debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, Fanny Bleach, also known
- [What Happens When Happily Ever After Was Never Made for You?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-happily-ever-after-was-never-made-for-you/): By Grace Hatchell If you're searching for a new comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe that mixes humour with heart, Happily Ever NEVER could be one to add to your list. Making its Fringe debut at theSpace @ Niddry Street Studio, this original production from Leeds-based LS6 Theatre follows a young woman working as a Disney-style
- [Why Amateur and Drama Schools Deserve the Spotlight Too](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-amateur-and-drama-schools-deserve-the-spotlight-too/): By Grace Hatchell When people think about theatre, they usually picture the big names. The West End. National tours. Famous actors. Opening nights. Red carpets. And don't get me wrong, I love all of that. But theatre doesn't begin there. It begins in church halls where someone is still painting scenery the night before opening.
- [Can Self-Care Turn Sinister? Thermodrama Comes to Summerhall for Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-self-care-turn-sinister-thermodrama-comes-to-summerhall-for-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Thermodrama at Edinburgh Fringe 2026: Sauna-Set Wellness Satire Comes to Summerhall Thermodrama will run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 at Summerhall’s Old Lab from Thursday 7 August to Monday 31 August, excluding 18 and 25 August. Performances take place at 22:30, with a running time of 60 minutes. Following a sell-out Edinburgh run last
- [Should You See Derren Brown’s Only Human at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre This July?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/should-you-see-derren-browns-only-human-at-sheffields-lyceum-theatre-this-july/): Derren Brown returns to Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre with Only Human, a brand-new live show promising mind-reading, psychological illusion and theatrical storytelling. Derren Brown is heading back to Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre this July with his brand-new live show, Only Human — and frankly, if anyone can make a night at the theatre feel like your brain
- [What If Shakespeare Had Writer’s Block And Macbeth Wasn’t Having It?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-if-shakespeare-had-writers-block-and-macbeth-wasnt-having-it/): By Grace Hatchell The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical comes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 as a featured production at Underbelly’s Cowbarn, bringing pop musical comedy, literary chaos and one very pressured young William Shakespeare to Bristo Square from 7 to 31 August. Created by students at Interlochen Arts Academy, and fresh from a sold-out industry
- [What Happens When Opera, Kink And Comedy Get Locked In A Haunted Parlour?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-opera-kink-and-comedy-get-locked-in-a-haunted-parlour/): By Grace Hatchell Operotica: Lovers in Every Lifetime comes to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 at Underbelly Bristo Square’s Dairy Room, bringing queer opera, dark comedy, vaudeville theatrics and a rather saucy haunted parlour to the city from 5 to 30 August. Created by Operotica, the classically trained queer opera duo formed by Amber Reeves
- [Dear Michelle Kwan at Edinburgh Fringe 2026: Bringing Figure Skating, Girlhood and Dark Comedy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dear-michelle-kwan-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026-bringing-figure-skating-girlhood-and-dark-comedy/): Triple Lutz Productions will bring the UK premiere of Christie Spessard’s Dear Michelle Kwan to the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Christie Spessard’s dark comedy is about competitive figure skating, girlhood, obsession and locker-room chaos Directed by Ryan Pangracs, the dark comedy is inspired by Spessard’s own childhood experiences in the competitive figure skating world. It
- [Rockpools at Edinburgh Fringe: Molly Windust’s Tender, Strange Dive Into Womanhood, Grief and the Rooms We Hide Inside](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rockpools-at-edinburgh-fringe-molly-windusts-tender-strange-dive-into-womanhood-grief-and-the-rooms-we-hide-inside/): By Grace Hatchell Molly Windust brings her debut solo show Rockpools to Pleasance Courtyard, a darkly comic and tenderly strange exploration of womanhood, endometriosis, grief, loneliness and the private worlds we build when life becomes too much. Funny, surreal and emotionally charged, this is one of those Fringe pieces that looks small at first glance,
- [Birmingham Rep’s Rep Rising 26 Festival: Young Talent, Red Shoes, Pigeons And Shakespeare Eurovision](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-reps-rep-rising-26-festival-young-talent-red-shoes-pigeons-and-shakespeare-eurovision/): By Grace Hatchell Well, pop the kettle on and make room in the satchel, because Birmingham Rep is handing its stages over to the next generation of performers, theatre-makers, storytellers and creative troublemakers this July — and honestly, it sounds like the sort of festival where you go in for one show and come out
- [15 Minutes of Shame Brings Fame, Finances and OnlyFans Fallout to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/15-minutes-of-shame-brings-fame-finances-and-onlyfans-fallout-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Into the satchel today goes 15 Minutes of Shame, a biting new comedy-drama heading to ZOO Playground 2 at Edinburgh Fringe 2026. It runs from Friday 7th to Sunday 30th August at 19:20, which is just late enough in the day for everyone to have already questioned their life choices over a
- [The Leeds Tealights Bring SPF5000 to Edinburgh Fringe — Sketch Comedy With Speedos](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-leeds-tealights-bring-spf5000-to-edinburgh-fringe-sketch-comedy-with-speedos/): By Grace Hatchell The Leeds Tealights Are Bringing SPF5000 to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 — and Apparently Comedy Now Requires Speedos Grace Hatchell has opened her satchel today and nearly dropped the lot straight into a paddling pool. The Leeds Tealights are heading back to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026 with SPF5000, an hour of raucous
- [Chloé Nelkin Consulting’s Emerging Edinburgh Roster 2026 Is Bursting The Satchel Seams](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/chloe-nelkin-consultings-emerging-edinburgh-roster-2026-is-bursting-the-satchel-seams/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, theatre villagers, brace yourselves, because Chloé Nelkin Consulting’s ( CNC)'s Emerging Edinburgh Roster 2026 has landed, and frankly, my satchel has started making a noise usually associated with old lift machinery. This is the fourth year of Chloé Nelkin Consulting’s Emerging Edinburgh Roster, returning alongside its Main Roster and its
- [Gathering Stones Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Preview](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/gathering-stones-edinburgh-fringe-2026-preview/): Edinburgh has a habit of making you look at yourself when you were only planning to look at a show. One minute you’re holding a Fringe programme, wondering whether you’ve got time for a sandwich before the next venue dash, and the next you’re sat in a room thinking, “Oh. Apparently I’ve been carrying that
- [Corn Exchange Newbury’s Old Library Opens, and It’s Not Here for Quiet Reading](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/corn-exchange-newburys-old-library-opens-and-its-not-here-for-quiet-reading/): Corn Exchange Newbury Opens the Old Library with a Season Stuffed Fuller Than My Satchel By Grace Hatchell Well, pull up a library chair and mind the overdue fines, because Corn Exchange Newbury is opening a brand-new chapter this autumn — quite literally. From September to November 2026, Corn Exchange Newbury is marking the inaugural
- [Cheeyang Ng’s Legendary Heads to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cheeyang-ngs-legendary-heads-to-edinburgh-fringe/): Legendary by Cheeyang Ng brings Chinese mythology, queer joy and immigrant identity to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 in a solo musical at Underbelly, with direction by Emilio Ramos. Legendary Comes to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Grace here, and sometimes something lands in my satchel that feels less like a press release and more like a flare shot
- [A Simple Beastly Murder Hits Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-simple-beastly-murder-hits-edinburgh-fringe/): A Simply Beastly Murder brings a grown-up Famous Five-inspired murder mystery to Edinburgh Fringe 2026, starring Rachel E. Thorn and Alistair Mackay, with additional voices by Alistair McGowan. A Simply Beastly Murder Comes to Edinburgh Fringe Grace here, and today’s satchel has arrived smelling faintly of childhood nostalgia, suspicious behaviour and tinned pineapple. Which, in
- [Newcastle Theatre Royal 2027 Season Announced  And All That Jazz!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/newcastle-theatre-royal-2027-season-announced-and-all-that-jazz/): Newcastle Theatre Royal has announced a spectacular new 2027 season featuring Twelve Angry Men, São Paulo Dance Company, Jesus Christ Superstar starring Sam Ryder, Chicago, Hadestown, Rambert’s It’s a Sin and Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift. Newcastle Theatre Royal Announces New 2027 Season Grace here, and my satchel has been positively groaning this
- [Could Carys Jeffrey Evans Be the UK’s Next Eurovision Hopeful?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-carys-jeffrey-evans-be-the-uks-next-eurovision-hopeful/): By Grace Hatchell I have seen many ambitious things arrive in my satchel over the years. Musicals with revolving sets. Fringe shows performed in cupboards. Press releases promising “life-changing theatre” from a room above a pub where the carpet has seen things. But Carys Jeffrey Evans has gone one better. She does not simply want
- [Secret Cinema Grease 2026: Tell Me More About Ricky Wilson as Teen Angel?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/secret-cinema-grease-2026-tell-me-more-about-ricky-wilson-as-teen-angel/): By Grace Hatchell I have waited patiently for many things in life. A parcel that said “out for delivery” for three days. A bus that allegedly existed. My natural transformation into Sandy from Grease. And now, while I am still waiting for that last one, Secret Cinema has gone and announced that Ricky Wilson, lead
- [What Is The Lady Doth Protest? The Sharp Dark Comedy Coming to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-the-lady-doth-protest-the-sharp-dark-comedy-coming-to-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell There are some show titles that arrive in my satchel with all the subtlety of a Shakespearean heroine kicking open the stage door, and The Lady Doth Protest is very much one of them. Following a sold-out New York run, this sharply funny new dark comedy is making its international debut at
- [Interested In Having Your Review Published?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interested-in-having-your-review-published/): Have You Seen a Show? Theatre Village Is Opening the Satchel to Guest Voices Theatre Village has always been a one-person show, run with a lot of love, a lot of late nights, and the occasional dramatic sigh into a cup of tea. But theatre is far bigger than one person, one seat, one train
- [Frozen, Fabulous and Slightly Unhinged: Maya Ricote Brings AY AM! to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/frozen-fabulous-and-slightly-unhinged-maya-ricote-brings-ay-am-to-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell There are some Edinburgh Fringe shows that politely introduce themselves with a little wave and a sensible press release. And then there is Maya Ricote: Ay Am!, which appears to arrive by bursting out of a freezer, dripping with glamour, trauma, witchcraft, songs, clowning, and possibly a splash zone. Frankly, I had
- [What Makes Departure Lounge 2026 One Of Derby Theatre’s Most Exciting Festivals Yet?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-departure-lounge-2026-one-of-derby-theatres-most-exciting-festivals-yet/): By Grace Hatchell Departure Lounge 2026 Is Ready For Take-Off At Derby Theatre — And Grace Has Packed Her Satchel Ey up, theatre folk — fasten your seatbelts, secure your emotional baggage, and make sure your tray table is in the upright position, because Derby Theatre is preparing for take-off once again. In Good Company
- [What Happens When All the Ghosts of Christmas Are Played by a Dame?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-all-the-ghosts-of-christmas-are-played-by-a-dame/): By Grace Hatchell I knew Christmas couldn't be far away when a Dame popped out of my satchel before I'd even had chance to finish my tea. Watford Palace Theatre has announced that audience favourite Terence Frisch will return for his fourteenth pantomime season this Christmas, stepping back into heels as Dame Christmas in A
- [Interview With Producer Millie Thomas Of 'Take Care' At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-producer-of-millie-thomas-take-care-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Theatre Village were lucky enough to do an interview with Mille Thomas, the producer of Take Care. Take Care is inspired by your own time working in a care home for adults with learning disabilities. What was the moment, memory, or feeling that made you think, "This story needs to be on stage"? Whilst my
- [Our Pick Of Top 10 Shows To See At Edinburgh Fringe 2026.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/our-pick-of-top-10-shows-to-see-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Hi folks, It’s time to announce the top ten shows Theatre Village is backing for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. These are the shows we believe have the potential to live on beyond the Fringe. When we announced our provisional list back in April, some were still completely unknown to us, and a few did not
- [The Horse of Jenin Returns with a Powerful Story of Childhood and Resilience](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-horse-of-jenin-returns-with-a-powerful-story-of-childhood-and-resilience/): By Grace Hatchell-2nd Act Couriers There are some shows that arrive at the Edinburgh Fringe with a bit of polite theatre chatter behind them, and then there are shows that come trotting back in with a Fringe First Award, sold-out audiences, five-star reviews and a place on Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Shows of the Fringe.
- [HATER Brings British East Asian Satire to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hater-brings-british-east-asian-satire-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Some theatre titles arrive politely, hat in hand, hoping you’ll give them a moment of your time. HATER does not. HATER sounds like it has kicked the rehearsal room door open, rolled its eyes, and asked why everyone is being so deeply embarrassing. Brava Guava’s HATER will make its Edinburgh Fringe premiere
- [English Touring Theatre Announces Ambitious New Season of New Writing, Shakespeare and Bold Adaptations](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/english-touring-theatre-announces-ambitious-new-season-of-new-writing-shakespeare-and-bold-adaptations/): By Grace Hatchell- Written from the back seat of a touring van currently somewhere between Bristol, Shakespeare and a service station sausage roll. Now then, this one’s come through the letterbox with a proper bit of weight to it. English Touring Theatre has announced a brand-new season running from autumn 2026 into spring 2027, and
- [Ventnor Fringe 2026: Isle of Wight Festival Returns With Comedy, Circus, Theatre And Cliff-Top Magic](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ventnor-fringe-2026-isle-of-wight-festival-returns-with-comedy-circus-theatre-and-cliff-top-magic/): By Grace Hatchell I am on the back table of Theatre Village's sorting room, with a ferry timetable, a pink highlighter, and a packet of biscuits she claims are “for editorial stamina.” Now then, I’ve had some interesting things through my satchel in my time — bills, flyers, mystery envelopes that smell faintly of perfume
- [What Should Performers Wear? From Auditions to Opening Night](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-should-performers-wear-from-auditions-to-opening-night/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, pull up a chair and let me tell you something they don't teach you in drama school. Well, they might. I didn't go. The closest I got was our school production of Oliver! where I spent most of the rehearsal period trying not to trip over a broom whilst pretending
- [H.R. The Musical Brings Workplace Chaos, Office Jargon and Big Laughs to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/h-r-the-musical-brings-workplace-chaos-office-jargon-and-big-laughs-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Written from a suspiciously warm staff break room, sat beside a broken vending machine and a noticeboard full of passive-aggressive reminders. Now then, villagers, I have seen many frightening things in my time. But few things chill the soul quite like the words: “Can we just circle back on that?” So you
- [Hannah Platt: Cult Classic Brings Dark, Sharp Stand-Up Comedy to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hannah-platt-cult-classic-brings-dark-sharp-stand-up-comedy-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Hannah Platt Brings Cult Classic to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 — And Grace Is Slightly Worried She’s Been Recruited By Grace Hatchell Now then, villagers, I’ve delivered all sorts in my time. Bills, flyers, theatre gossip, the odd suspiciously heavy parcel that I chose not to ask questions about. But I don’t think I’ve ever had
- [The Yellow Wallpaper Is Coming to Edinburgh Fringe 2026. A Gothic Dance-Theatre Thriller Creeping Out of the Walls](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-coming-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026-a-gothic-dance-theatre-thriller-creeping-out-of-the-walls/): By Grace Hatchell Now then, I don’t usually make a habit of staring too closely at wallpaper. Mainly because once you start noticing the dodgy joins, the bubbles, and the bit your dad swore he’d “sort next weekend” in 2008, you can never unsee it. But The Yellow Wallpaper is a different matter entirely. This
- [Which Dance Shows Should You See at Edinburgh Fringe 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/which-dance-shows-should-you-see-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Would you believe our guvnor once attended dance school? I know. I had to sit down with a brew when I found out as well. Apparently, before he was running Theatre Village and making me carry half the Fringe in my satchel, Andrew was off learning his steps. I’m not saying he was destined for
- [Grace Hatchell’s Fringe Predictions Are Coming… Once She’s Finished Steaming](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grace-hatchells-fringe-predictions-are-coming-once-shes-finished-steaming/): Grace Hatchell is off to a spa. Yes, really. I know. Try not to faint into your programme. After weeks of rummaging through press releases, side-eyeing suspiciously dramatic show descriptions, and trying to work out whether “life-changing clown theatre” means genius or forty-five minutes of someone screaming into a lampshade, I have decided that my
- [Wizards, Goblins and Excalibur: Em Humble’s Lady of the Lakes Comes to Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wizards-goblins-and-excalibur-em-humbles-lady-of-the-lakes-comes-to-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell I’m writing this from beside a suspicious-looking lake, where I’ve been waiting twenty minutes for a mystical hand to rise from the water with a sword, but so far all I’ve seen is one duck with attitude and a Greggs wrapper doing laps. Hark, theatre villagers. Polish your goblets, adjust your chainmail
- [The Road To Hell Is Touring: Hadestown Confirms UK And Ireland Dates](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-road-to-hell-is-touring-hadestown-confirms-uk-and-ireland-dates/): By Grace Hatchell Grace Hatchell has barely got one foot in the underworld before the satchel starts rattling again. First Leicester. Then Sheffield. Then Sunderland. Honestly, if Hades needs a tour manager, they know where to find me. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Hadestown is officially heading out on its first-ever UK and Ireland
- [Could Take Care Be One Of Edinburgh Fringe’s Most Heartfelt New Plays?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-take-care-be-one-of-edinburgh-fringes-most-heartfelt-new-plays/): By Grace Hatchell I am writing this one during a late shift of my own, with a brew gone lukewarm, a packet of biscuits doing emotional support duties, and a newfound respect for anyone who keeps going while the rest of the world has its slippers on. Some people start New Year’s Day with fireworks
- [From Cereal To The Stage At Edinburgh Fringe, It is LAUNA.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-cereal-to-the-stage-at-edinburgh-fringe-it-is-launa/): By Grace Hatchell I am writing this one from the quiet corner of the sorting office, where even the kettle seems to know not to whistle too loudly. Some shows arrive in the satchel with jazz hands, sequins and a trumpet blast. Others arrive more softly. Carefully. Like something you don’t want to crease. LAUNA
- [What Can Audiences Expect from BALLET NIGHTS at Leicester’s Curve?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-can-audiences-expect-from-ballet-nights-at-leicesters-curve/): By Grace Hatchell Grace Hatchell is writing this one from the back row of Leicester’s Curve, trying very hard not to attempt a pas de deux with her postbag. Nobody needs to see that before lunchtime, love. But when BALLET NIGHTS comes calling, even a Yorkshire postie has to sit up straight and pretend she
- [Divina de Campo Stars in Amanda – The Night Before Me London Debut](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/divina-de-campo-stars-in-amanda-the-night-before-me-london-debut/): By Grace Hatchell Grace Hatchell is writing this one from the edge of a theatre dressing-room mirror, surrounded by enough lightbulbs to make a postie feel like she’s accidentally wandered into the final of a very glamorous talent show. Satchel down, mascara emotionally prepared — because this one sounds like it’s coming with glitter, grit,
- [Shannon Brooke Returns to Edinburgh Fringe with 100 Million Fish in the Aquarium](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/shannon-brooke-returns-to-edinburgh-fringe-with-100-million-fish-in-the-aquarium/): By Grace Hatchell I’m writing this from inside an aquarium gift shop, wearing a snorkel I absolutely did not pay for, while trying to explain to a confused clownfish that Oz has sent us a comedian, 100 million fish, and still, somehow, not a single horse. Now then, some deliveries arrive with stamps, some arrive
- [Why Am I In Your Country? brings ancient tragedy and modern refugee testimony to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-am-i-in-your-country-brings-ancient-tragedy-and-modern-refugee-testimony-to-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell-I’m writing this with one hand on my satchel and the other trying not to spill tea over Euripides, which is harder than it sounds when ancient tragedy turns up before lunch. This one arrived in my satchel carrying 2,500 years of grief, exile, survival and one very important question: Why am I
- [Grace Finds SpinQueen™ in Her Satchel and Nearly Pulls a Hamstring Just Reading It](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grace-finds-spinqueen-in-her-satchel-and-nearly-pulls-a-hamstring-just-reading-it/): Written by Grace Hatchell, who is attempting to type this while pedalling on a spin bike and has already discovered that journalism and cardio should not be mixed without medical supervision. Now then, some shows arrive in my satchel with a little jazz hands, a wink, and a ticket link. Some arrive smelling faintly of
- [Soho Theatre’s 2026 Programme: Bigfoot, Judy Garland, Satan at 7-Eleven and a Very Busy Satchel](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/soho-theatres-2026-programme-bigfoot-judy-garland-satan-at-7-eleven-and-a-very-busy-satchel/): Grace’s Satchel Has Burst Open at Soho Theatre and Honestly, Someone Fetch Me a Trolley Now then, I opened the latest Soho Theatre listings thinking I’d find a few tidy announcements, maybe a comedy night, perhaps a heartfelt play, maybe one performer having a sensible little crisis under a tasteful spotlight. Reader, I was naïve.
- [Two Shows, Two Bombshell Stories and One Fearless Comic: Sofia May to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/two-shows-two-bombshell-stories-and-one-fearless-comic-sofia-may-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers- — I’m writing this while sitting beside two suspiciously dramatic parcels and wondering whether Edinburgh Fringe insurance covers emotional whiplash. Now then. I’ll be honest — when two parcels arrived in me satchel marked “9/11 survivor” and “cult whistleblower”, I briefly considered whether Customs ought to be involved. Not
- [Oi Fringe Industry, Don’t Let Talent Get Washed Away: Grace Hatchell Joins Gilded Balloon’s Call for Artist Support](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/oi-fringe-industry-dont-let-talent-get-washed-away-grace-hatchell-joins-gilded-balloons-call-for-artist-support/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers, writing this while sheltering beneath a theatre flyer, protecting my placard from the rain and discovering that papier-mâché and Scottish weather remain bitter enemies. The placard reads: “Talent Shouldn’t Need A Trust Fund.” And honestly? I mean it. Because tucked inside today’s rather important delivery bag is news from
- [Came for the Cello, Stayed for the Existential Crisis: Delusions and Grandeur Returns to Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/came-for-the-cello-stayed-for-the-existential-crisis-delusions-and-grandeur-returns-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell- I am writing this while parked beside a letterbox, wondering if she’s sophisticated enough for Bach or whether she’ll just clap enthusiastically and hope nobody asks follow-up questions. Now then. Not every delivery arrives by bicycle these days. Some apparently descend from the skies attached to drones carrying emotional baggage and classical
- [Bloody Knees at Edinburgh Fringe 2026: Grace Hatchell Delivers a Dark Comedy Full of Chaos, Cartoons and Quarter-Life Crises](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bloody-knees-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026-grace-hatchell-delivers-a-dark-comedy-full-of-chaos-cartoons-and-quarter-life-crises/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers- — writing this while balancing me delivery round, guarding a lukewarm sausage roll and wondering whether emotional maturity has been delayed by industrial action. Now then… pull up a plastic chair and pass us the bargain crisps, because this week’s delivery has arrived with bruised knees, botched job interviews
- [From Little Voice to Hannibal Lecter: Belgrade Theatre Coventry’s New Season Leaves Me Speechless](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-little-voice-to-hannibal-lecter-belgrade-theatre-coventrys-new-season-leaves-me-speechless/): By Grace Hatchell, writing this from the Belgrade Theatre noticeboard, where I only came to pin up one flyer and now appear to have accidentally booked myself into half of Coventry’s cultural calendar. Belgrade Theatre Coventry has announced details of its 2026 autumn/winter season and beyond, including After Party, The Rise and Fall of Little
- [Strictly Stars Join Nikita Kuzmin’s Supernova Dance Tour Which Is Set to Dazzle Summer 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/strictly-stars-join-nikita-kuzmins-supernova-dance-tour-which-is-set-to-dazzle-summer-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, writing this from the edge of the dancefloor with one foot in a Cha Cha, one hand on me satchel, and absolutely no confidence that Royal Mail trained me for this. Guest star Janette Manrara joins Nikita Kuzmin’s Supernova UK tour — and Grace is already practising her Paso Doble in the
- [Mooove, Purple Cow — I’ve Got 185 Underbelly Shows to Deliver](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mooove-purple-cow-ive-got-185-underbelly-shows-to-deliver/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from somewhere near George Square, where I’ve had to swerve a bicycle, three flyer teams, one overexcited comedian and a great big upside-down purple cow. Underbelly has announced its 2026 Edinburgh Fringe programme, with 185 shows across Bristo Square, Cowgate, George Square and Circus Hub on the Meadows, including major comedy
- [Stage One Opens Producer Placement Opportunities Across Leading UK Theatre Organisations](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stage-one-opens-producer-placement-opportunities-across-leading-uk-theatre-organisations/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from the Theatre Village sorting office, where I’m pretending not to refresh the Stage One application page like a woman waiting for concert tickets and divine intervention. Stage One has opened applications for its 2026/27 Producer Placement Scheme, offering paid year-long opportunities with major London commercial theatre organisations and regional venues
- [What Remains When Memory Begins to Fade? Theatre Re Marks 10 Years of The Nature of Forgetting](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-remains-when-memory-begins-to-fade-theatre-re-marks-10-years-of-the-nature-of-forgetting/): By Grace Hatchell Theatre Re will celebrate 10 years of The Nature of Forgetting with a major UK and international anniversary tour from October 2026 to March 2027, opening at Hackney Empire before visiting venues including Jersey Opera House, Curve Leicester, BEAM Hertford, Leeds Playhouse and Storyhouse Chester. There are some shows that don’t simply
- [Is Chelsea Birkby really In Full Control The Entire Time at Edinburgh Fringe?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-chelsea-birkby-really-in-full-control-the-entire-time-at-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell- currently pretending she’s in full control while standing in the wrong queue, holding three flyers and a half eaten-flapjack. Chelsea Birkby brings In Full Control The Entire Time to Edinburgh Fringe, a playful comedy hour about free will, self-help, PowerPoint, destiny and whether any of us are really in charge. There are
- [Kidnap by Samia Rida comes to Drayton Arms Theatre after Edinburgh Fringe success](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kidnap-by-samia-rida-comes-to-drayton-arms-theatre-after-edinburgh-fringe-success/): By Grace Hatchell Samia Rida’s Kidnap comes to Drayton Arms Theatre this June after a successful Edinburgh Fringe run, bringing its dark, personal and sharply told story back to London Some shows arrive with a neat little bow around them. Others arrive carrying something heavier. Kidnap by Samia Rida sounds very much like the second
- [Is Lizzy Sunshine set to dazzle Edinburgh Fringe again?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-lizzy-sunshine-set-to-dazzle-edinburgh-fringe-again/): By Grace Hatchell Some shows arrive at the Edinburgh Fringe hoping to be discovered. Others come back with a little glint in their eye, a suitcase full of five-star praise, and the quiet confidence of someone who knows they left a mark last time. Lizzy Sunshine appears to be very much in the second camp.
- [Could Edinburgh’s Book of Shadows Be The Fringe’s Spookiest Puppet Adventure?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-edinburghs-book-of-shadows-be-the-fringes-spookiest-puppet-adventure/): Award-winning company Mochinosha / Book of Shadowz returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with Book of Shadows, a brand-new shadow puppet comedy at Underbelly Cowgate. Mixing occult mystery, handcrafted shadow animation and dark humour, the production follows sceptical teenager Vi and her supposedly 200-year-old mystic grandmother through séances, conspiracies and supernatural mischief. By Grace Hatchell, writing
- [Can Puppets Make Shakespeare Feel More Human? Venus and Adonis Heads to Cambridge](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-puppets-make-shakespeare-feel-more-human-venus-and-adonis-heads-to-cambridge/): Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis arrives at the Arts Theatre Cambridge this June in a magical theatrical event featuring live narration by Simon Russell Beale and world-class puppetry. Originally created by Gregory Doran in collaboration with Little Angel Theatre, this acclaimed production blends comedy, tragedy and romance through Shakespeare’s first published poem. By Grace Hatchell, writing
- [Is Jermyn Street Theatre About to Set London Ablaze With A Slow Fire and Ghosts?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-jermyn-street-theatre-about-to-set-london-ablaze-with-a-slow-fire-and-ghosts/): Jermyn Street Theatre has announced its 2026 Autumn season, featuring the UK premiere of Simon Stephens’ A Slow Fire and a major revival of Richard Eyre’s adaptation of Ghosts. With just 70 seats and audiences never more than four rows from the action, the season promises intimate, powerful storytelling where, as the theatre says, “Every
- [A Folk Musical, A Cult and a Silenced Voice? Why Luscinia May Be One of Edinburgh Fringe 2026’s Most Haunting New Shows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-folk-musical-a-cult-and-a-silenced-voice-why-luscinia-may-be-one-of-fringe-2026s-most-haunting-new-shows/): Toronto theatre company Ars Longa makes its Edinburgh Fringe debut with Luscinia, a Gothic folk-musical adaptation of Ovid’s Philomela myth set inside a Depression-era cult. Blending folk music, shadow puppetry and mythic storytelling, the world premiere arrives at Venue 13 this August. By Grace Hatchell, writing from Edinburgh after discovering something rather peculiar in my
- [What Happens When Folk Song Meets Theatre? Strength in a Whisper Premieres in Mull and Edinburgh](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-folk-song-meets-theatre-strength-in-a-whisper-premieres-in-mull-and-edinburgh/): Scots folksinger Kirsty Law and Magnetic North present the world premiere of Strength in a Whisper, a moving new performance blending folk song, contemporary dance and theatre. Premiering at An Tobar and Mull Theatre before heading to Edinburgh, the production explores resilience, Scots language and queer identity through music, movement and storytelling. By Grace Hatchell,
- [Rep Rising or Rep Revolution? Birmingham Rep Unveils Six Fearless New Shows for Youth Festival](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rep-rising-or-rep-revolution-birmingham-rep-unveils-six-fearless-new-shows-for-youth-festival/): By Grace Hatchell, reporting from Birmingham with one eye on t’noticeboard and t’other on a pigeon that looks suspiciously audition-ready. Birmingham Rep has revealed six new productions joining Rep Rising 26, its brand-new youth festival celebrating emerging artists and theatre-makers. From gothic horror and political theatre to pigeons, Shakespeare and UK garage culture, the programme
- [Did Henry VIII Need Therapy? Monarchs Anonymous Brings Royal Chaos to The Other Palace](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/did-henry-viii-need-therapy-monarchs-anonymous-brings-royal-chaos-to-the-other-palace/): What happens when history’s biggest rulers swap crowns for counselling? Monarchs Anonymous at The Other Palace throws Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette and more into a hilarious group therapy session packed with audience participation, sharp wit and royal-sized meltdowns. By Grace Hatchell, writing from a very unofficial waiting room where Henry VIII’s gone through three biscuits
- [Nuns, Witches and Lustful Thoughts? Assembly Festival’s Nuns! Looks Gloriously Unholy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/nuns-witches-and-lustful-thoughts-assembly-festivals-nuns-looks-gloriously-unholy/): By Grace Hatchell, reporting from a churchyard bench where I’ve just been judged by three pigeons and one rather disapproving squirrel… Nuns! arrives at Assembly Festival this August, bringing medieval comedy, witches and physical chaos to the Edinburgh Fringe. Created by Dog Complex Theatre with collaborators from Police Cops, the all-female comedy promises fantasy, self-expression
- [What Makes a Mother? Rachel Stockdale’s New Play Mother? Heads to the North East This June](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-a-mother-rachel-stockdales-new-play-mother-heads-to-the-north-east-this-june/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from a bench outside Live Theatre where I’ve just witnessed three exhausted parents negotiating with a toddler over a packet of raisins and honestly… they deserved a standing ovation. Mother? is a new one-woman play written and performed by Rachel Stockdale, touring the North East this June. Inspired by over 100
- [What Happens When Old Friends Reunite Over Dinner? Hot Pot Brings Friendship and Identity to Playhouse East](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-old-friends-reunite-over-dinner-hot-pot-brings-friendship-and-identity-to-playhouse-east/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from a café where the soup looked suspiciously dramatic but not nearly as dramatic as this lot… Hot Pot arrives at Playhouse East this June, exploring friendship, gay identity and the quiet tensions of adult life through the reunion of four university friends sharing a meal. The debut production from Auka
- [From NatWest to the Noticeboard: Outside Edge Welcomes New Chair Josh Mandel](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-natwest-to-the-noticeboard-outside-edge-welcomes-new-chair-josh-mandel/): Outside Edge Theatre Company has announced Josh Mandel as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, as the award-winning charity continues its work supporting people affected by addiction through theatre and the arts. The organisation, known for its participatory workshops and productions tackling addiction-related issues, has supported thousands of people over the past 27
- [What Makes Watford Fringe Festival One Of The UK’s Quiet Fringe Success Stories?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-watford-fringe-festival-one-of-the-uks-quiet-fringe-success-stories/): By Grace Hatchell, currently trying to explain to confused bloke in Greggs that “just popping to a fringe festival” does not automatically involve glitter in places you’ll regret later. There’s something rather lovely about a Fringe festival turning ten years old. Mostly because it means somebody, somewhere, survived an entire decade of spreadsheets, late-night tech
- [What Happens When Your Exes Become A Cabaret Show?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-your-exes-become-a-cabaret-show/): By Grace Hatchell, currently resisting urge to text “u up?” to three people I absolutely should not. There are some theatre pitches that arrive politely through letterbox. And then there are some that burst through door wearing fishnets, carrying emotional baggage and demanding closure in front of complete strangers. Closure Cabaret very much falls into
- [What Makes Starlight Express One Of The Biggest Theatre Events Heading To Leicester, Birmingham And Sunderland In 2027?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-starlight-express-one-of-the-biggest-theatre-events-heading-to-leicester-and-sunderland-in-2027/): By Grace Hatchell, currently wondering if Northern Rail could save time by replacing half their services with roller skates and disco lights. There are theatre announcements… and then there are theatre announcements that come charging into station like a caffeinated freight train with a smoke machine attached. And honestly? Starlight Express returning on a major
- [What Makes Amelia Hamilton One Of The Most Distinctive New Comedy Voices At The Fringe?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-amelia-hamilton-one-of-the-most-distinctive-new-comedy-voices-at-the-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from a café where someone’s attempted spoken word poetry over the sound of a milk steamer and somehow still got applause. Award-winning comedian Amelia Hamilton brings Moral Support to Pleasance Courtyard for Edinburgh Fringe 2026. Blending stand-up comedy with rapid-fire rap, the BBC Radio 4 performer is quickly becoming one of
- [Could Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue Be One of Edinburgh Fringe 2026’s Unexpected Heroes?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-spraywatch-a-beautiful-rescue-be-one-of-edinburgh-fringe-2026s-unexpected-heroes/): By Grace Hatchell, writing from a windswept beach with a packet of salt and vinegar crisps and a suspiciously dramatic seagull eyeing me up like I owe him money. Theatre Village is backing Spraywatch: A Beautiful Rescue, a new unauthorised musical comedy heading to the Edinburgh Fringe 2026. With the production currently seeking support to
- [Could Jersey Boys at Curve Leicester Still Be One of the Greatest Nights Out in Musical Theatre as It Turns 20?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-jersey-boys-at-curve-leicester-still-be-one-of-the-greatest-nights-out-in-musical-theatre-as-it-turns-20/): By Grace Hatchell, currently trying to remember whether “Sherry” counts as cardio if you sing it dramatically enough while carrying shopping bags. The boys are back in town… and honestly, I reckon there’ll be audiences all over the UK suddenly attempting falsettos in supermarket queues by the end of this tour. The Tony and Olivier
- [Could House of Oz Be One of the Wildest Stops at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-house-of-oz-be-one-of-the-wildest-stops-at-the-2026-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell, currently considering whether moving into a VR orchestra counts as “career progression” Every Fringe season has that one programme announcement where you innocently think you’ll skim a few show titles… and suddenly two hours have vanished, your lower back’s gone numb on a plastic café chair, and you’re emotionally invested in at
- [Is Sunderland Empire About to Become Beverly Hills? Pretty Woman Returns in 2027](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-sunderland-empire-about-to-become-beverly-hills-pretty-woman-returns-in-2027/): By Grace Hatchell, currently pricing up red dresses she absolutely cannot afford outside Sunderland Empire “Big mistake. Big. Huge.” Well, someone’s bringing a slice of Beverly Hills glamour to Sunderland Empire Theatre, because PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is strutting back onto the road in 2027. Pretty Woman: The Musical. is heading back out on a
- [1536 Is Bringing Tudor Gossip, Female Rage And Yorkshire-Approved Side Eye To The West End](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/1536-is-bringing-tudor-gossip-female-rage-and-yorkshire-approved-side-eye-to-the-west-end/): By Grace Hatchell, currently clutching a paper full of chips and trying not to get emotionally attached to another Tudor woman destined for a stressful time. Honestly, if someone in England says “King Henry VIII is having a disagreement with his wife,” your first instinct should probably be to run. Production images by photographer Helen
- [Whose Life Is It Anyway? Comes To The Stage At People’s Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whose-life-is-it-anyway-comes-to-the-stage-at-peoples-theatre/): Brian Clark’s powerful drama Whose Life Is It Anyway? comes to the People’s Theatre in Newcastle this May, exploring autonomy, dignity and the right to choose through the story of a paralysed sculptor fighting for control over his own future. The People’s Theatre in Heaton will present Brian Clark’s acclaimed drama Whose Life Is It
- [Brighton Fringe 2026 Has Begun And Grace Is Already Out Of Breath](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/brighton-fringe-2026-has-begun-and-grace-is-already-out-of-breath/): By Grace Hatchell on a sugar high Brighton Fringe 2026 has officially kicked off with over 850 events across more than 150 venues, transforming Brighton into a month-long celebration of comedy, theatre, cabaret, circus and wonderfully weird ideas. I am currently hot footing it down to Brighton with an emergency delivery of Brighton Rock after
- [Girlz Returns to Edinburgh Fringe 2026 After Surprise Fringe Success](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/girlz-returns-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026-after-surprise-fringe-success/): Last year? Oh, I remember this one. Or more accurately, our guvnor remembers this one because he went off to review it while I was left sorting the post and trying to untangle a feather boa from the spokes of my bike. And now? Girlz is back at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026 and apparently nobody
- [Pleasance Has Announced 95 New Fringe Shows… But One Sentence Made Grace Put Her Satchel Down](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pleasance-has-announced-95-new-fringe-shows-but-one-sentence-made-grace-put-her-satchel-down/): By the one, the only Grace Hatchell There are moments during Edinburgh Fringe season where my inbox stops feeling like an inbox and starts feeling like somebody’s launched a theatre cannon directly at my face. This week’s culprit? Pleasance. The venue has just announced a further 95 shows for Edinburgh Fringe 2026, adding even more
- [Interview With Lilly Foo-Black Appearing At Derbyvision](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-lilly-foo-black-appearing-at-derbyvision/): Before stepping onto the Derbyvision stage, Lilly Foo-Black spoke to Theatre Village about songwriting, vulnerability, and the emotional connection she hopes music can create. Representing Coxbench at this year’s community-led celebration of Derby talent, Lilly’s music blends honesty, reflection, and a desire to make people feel a little less alone. From rediscovering songwriting during a
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2026: The New Shows, Big Names and Weird Wonders Just Announced](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2026-the-new-shows-big-names-and-weird-wonders-just-announced/): By Grace Hatchell, wide eyed with a cup of tea. More than 1,500 additional shows have been announced for the Edinburgh Fringe 2026, bringing the total currently on sale to 3,599 ahead of the full programme launch on 04 June. From returning comedy stars and giant musical productions to Buffy burlesque, CIA magicians and a
- [Who Dreamt Up Vegan Hamlet – And What Else Is Soho Theatre Bringing to Edinburgh Fringe 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-dreamt-up-vegan-hamlet-and-what-else-is-soho-theatre-bringing-to-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell peering into the stage door with binoculars, with flask of tea. Soho Theatre has unveiled its Edinburgh Fringe 2026 programme, bringing 18 shows across theatre, comedy and everything in between to venues across the city – including Pleasance, Gilded Balloon, Assembly, Summerhall, ZOO and Underbelly. And somehow… one of those shows involves
- [Is Edinburgh Fringe Becoming More Accessible for Visually Impaired Audiences – And Is Extant Leading the Way?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-edinburgh-fringe-becoming-more-accessible-for-visually-impaired-audiences-and-is-extant-leading-the-way/): By Grace Hatchell and trying this haggis. Extant, the UK’s leading performing arts company of blind and visually impaired artists, is returning to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2026 with a growing programme at Underbelly, aiming to make accessibility part of the creative process rather than an afterthought. Now I’ll be honest with you — when
- [Review Of Michelle's School Of Dance, Take A Bow at The Phoenix Theatre, Blyth](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-michelles-school-of-dance-take-a-bow-at-the-phoenix-theatre-blyth/): I found myself at the Phoenix Theatre, a bit of a wildcard for me. It was Michelle’s School of Dance with Take A Bow, a showcase of songs from musicals. There was very little information on the theatre’s website, and I couldn’t find a website for Michelle’s School of Dance either, so I had very
- [Is Shakespeare Still Relevant Today? Why His Plays Still Matter in 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-shakespeare-still-relevant-today/): Grace from Theatre Village makes the case for Shakespeare in 2026 — not with textbook arguments, but with the real reason his stories still stop you in your tracks.
- [Review Of Everybody's Talking About Jamie- Whitley Bay](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-everybodys-talking-about-jamie-whitley-bay/): Tonight I was fortunate to watch Everybody’s Talking About Jamie by Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company at Whitley Bay Playhouse. This was an amateur production delivered by a highly skilled cast. The show centres on Jamie, a 16-year-old who dreams of becoming a drag queen, and the production explores a number of sensitive and important
- [The Silence of the Lambs UK tour: why this stage adaptation might be theatre’s most unsettling night out](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-silence-of-the-lambs-uk-tour-why-this-stage-adaptation-might-be-theatres-most-unsettling-night-out/): By Grace Hatchell- I’m currently double-checking every quiet field I pass… just in case those lambs aren’t what they seem. The Silence of the Lambs stage play premieres at Leicester’s Curve from 1–15 August 2026 before touring the UK and Ireland, starring John Partridge as Hannibal Lecter in a chilling new adaptation of Thomas Harris’s
- [Mean Girls is touring the UK… but why does it hit harder outside the West End?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mean-girls-is-touring-the-uk-but-why-does-it-hit-harder-outside-the-west-end/): By Grace Hatchell-currently eyeing the village noticeboard suspiciously… someone’s already tried to start a Burn Book. Mean Girls The Musical UK and Ireland tour runs until January 2027, starring Emily Lane and Vivian Panka, bringing Tina Fey’s iconic high school comedy to theatres nationwide with sharp wit, big songs and a fierce Plastics takeover. Right,
- [The only award of its kind… so why has theatre ignored this age group?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-only-award-of-its-kind-so-why-has-theatre-ignored-this-age-group/): By Grace Hatchell - touring schools to encourage participation. Polka Theatre has announced the return of its Playwriting Award for 2026 — the only major UK award dedicated to new plays for children aged 7–13. With submissions open until 19 July 2026, the initiative aims to address a long-standing gap in theatre, championing bold new
- [The show that started in a living room takes its final bow](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-show-that-started-in-a-living-room-takes-its-final-bow/): By Grace Hatchell- I am currently considering staging my own living room production for the Village… though I have warned everyone that cue management may be “interpretive at best.” My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) returns to the West End for a strictly limited run at the Apollo Theatre from 16 September
- [What the Puck?! Shakespeare just got the Love Island treatment At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-the-puck-shakespeare-just-got-the-love-island-treatment-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell who is keeping a close eye on her own love life… just in case someone hands her a potion and things get out of hand. A new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Birmingham Rep is turning Shakespeare’s classic into a neon-lit, chaos-filled love story, complete with Brummie accents, rave energy,
- [When Theatre Royalty Comes to Drury Lane, Who Needs a Crown?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/when-theatre-royalty-comes-to-drury-lane-who-needs-a-crown/): By Grace Hatchell, trying on the crown for size. Theatre Royalty Drury Lane comes to Theatre Royal Drury Lane for one night only on Sunday 23 August at 7pm, hosted by Brian Conley and featuring Samantha Barks, Zoe Birkett, Jordan Luke Gage, Cedric Neal, Georgina Onuorah, John Owen-Jones, Oliver Tompsett and Rachel Tucker, accompanied by
- [Which North East stars are performing at Something in the Water?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/which-north-east-stars-are-performing-at-something-in-the-water/): By Grace Hatchell, pedalling near the river Tyne. Something in the Water returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal on Sunday 28 June 2026, hosted by Joe McElderry and featuring North East stars including Danny Adams, Si King, Jason Cook, Michael Marouli, Christina Bianco, Adam Strong and Carly Burns. The fundraising event supports Newcastle Theatre Royal’s Creative
- [Would you take a job as a ghost? This UK theatre tour says… think again](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/would-you-take-a-job-as-a-ghost-this-uk-theatre-tour-says-think-again/): Grace Hatchell is currently checking under her bed before filing this report. Award-winning theatre company ThickSkin brings back its chilling hit It Walks Around The House At Night for a UK Autumn tour from 24 September to 13 November 2026, opening at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch before visiting venues including Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle. Expect eerie
- [Is this the kind of night you’d pitch a tent for? because I might already have](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-the-kind-of-night-youd-pitch-a-tent-for-because-i-might-already-have/): By Grace Hatchell, currently zipped into a tent somewhere in Manchester, wondering if this counts as “overnight delivery” Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard brings An Audience with Danny Beard to Manchester’s Albert Hall on 18 September 2026, performing Broadway and West End classics with the English Musical Theatre Orchestra. Hey Loves, Danny Beard is
- [Why is Brighton Festival producing its own theatre show for the first time in 60 years?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-is-brighton-festival-producing-its-own-theatre-show-for-the-first-time-in-60-years/): By Grace Hatchell, currently somewhere between a hill and a bad decision, with a satchel full of press releases and one very questionable sense of direction Kohlhaas opens Brighton Festival 2026 (1–25 May) as its first original theatre production, directed by Omar Elerian and starring Arinzé Kene, with over 100 events from 140+ artists across
- [Who’s shaping the future of musical theatre… and why does it start long before the West End?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whos-shaping-the-future-of-musical-theatre-and-why-does-it-start-long-before-the-west-end/): By Grace Hatchell, currently wondering if I’d have had the nerve to audition… (probably not, but I’d have cheered from the sidelines) National Youth Music Theatre celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026 with a major programme, including West Side Story, Just So, The Ragged Child, and new musical development, following a record 1,300 young people
- [Is this Derby’s answer to Eurovision? (And honestly… why does it sound even more joyful?)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-derbys-answer-to-eurovision-and-honestly-why-does-it-sound-even-more-joyful/): By Grace Hatchell, currently wondering if I can sneak a glitter flag into me satchel without anyone noticing DT Communities presents Derbyvision 2026 which returns to Derby Friday 22 May with a full line-up of 12 community acts performing original songs in a Eurovision-style contest celebrating local talent across Derby. Now listen… I get a
- [Is This the Most Romantic Way to Celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday? Guildford’s Open-Air Season Reveals Its Cast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-the-most-romantic-way-to-celebrate-shakespeares-birthday-guildfords-open-air-season-reveals-its-cast/): By Grace Hatchell – The course of true love never did run smooth… I’ve seen the letters Guildford Shakespeare Company marks its 20th anniversary with a special open-air season of Love’s Labour’s Lost and Much Ado About Nothing, performed as one sweeping story across two summers. Ey up, you lot… and would you believe it,
- [Is the Corn Exchange In Newbury About to Turn Its Town Centre Into a Giant Outdoor Stage?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-the-corn-exchange-in-newbury-about-to-turn-its-town-centre-into-a-giant-outdoor-stage/): By the one and only Grace Hatchell in Newbury. I spy with my little eye that the Corn Exchange Newbury is bringing a free outdoor arts programme to the town centre this summer, featuring large-scale performances like Motionhouse’s BLOCK and ADHOK’s Watchful, alongside training opportunities and community events. Now then, I’ve had something rather exciting
- [Which bold and innovative companies will be at Edinburgh Fringe 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/which-bold-and-innovative-companies-will-be-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell Chloe Nelkin Consulting’s Edinburgh Fringe 2026 roster is packed with musicals, theatre, circus, family shows and satire. Here’s my practical guide to every show on their main roster, with times, venues and a few thoughts from me on what looks intriguing, moving, chaotic or likely to cause a proper Fringe fuss. If
- [What is Fighting With My Family: The Musical?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-fighting-with-my-family-the-musical/): By Grace Hatchell Ey up, then — this one came clattering into my satchel at one minute past midnight, which is a bold hour to be announcing anything unless you’re a ghost, a wrestler, or somebody who is a night owl. Still, I’ll let them off, because this is a juicy one. Fighting With My
- [Is It Worth Pedalling On My Bicycle From Sunderland To See This Show (Especially Crossing Into Newcastle)?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-it-worth-pedalling-on-my-bicycle-from-sunderland-to-see-this-show-especially-crossing-into-newcastle/): By Grace Hatchell Is it worth pedalling from Sunderland to Newcastle to see Legally Blonde at Theatre Royal Newcastle? Here’s my playful Theatre Village take on the hit musical’s arrival, with all the pink, personality and practical details you need before booking. Oh my god, okay, let’s just say this straight away: if a show
- [Why Do West End Shows Suddenly Announce Closing Dates? The Real Reasons Behind Fast Closures](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-do-west-end-shows-suddenly-announce-closing-dates-the-real-reasons-behind-fast-closures/): By Grace Hatchell, on my soap box. West End shows do not always close because they are “bad” or because audiences have stopped caring. This article looks at why some productions announce closing dates suddenly, from weekly running costs and advance sales to theatre availability, cast contracts, producers’ strategy, and the public image of a
- [Is Comparison Culture Quietly Breaking Us? Good For Her! Returns to London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-comparison-culture-quietly-breaking-us-good-for-her-returns-to-london/): By Grace Hatchell Good For Her! returns to London at The Other Palace this July, bringing a sharp, darkly funny solo show that tackles comparison culture, ambition, and the pressures placed on women in a social media-driven world. Now this… this is exactly the sort of thing that makes me stop mid-delivery and have a
- [Where a child lives, or how stretched a school budget is, should never be the thing that decides whether they get to experience live theatre.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/where-a-child-lives-or-how-stretched-a-school-budget-is-should-never-be-the-thing-that-decides-whether-they-get-to-experience-live-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell Newcastle Theatre Royal has teamed up with Stagecoach North East to help more schoolchildren experience live theatre by tackling one of the biggest barriers of all — the cost of transport. The new partnership will support schools from financially disadvantaged areas, while also trialling cheaper bus travel for audiences heading to performances.
- [East is East Returns: 30th Anniversary Production Heads to Bolton, Derby, Glasgow and Salisbury](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/east-is-east-returns-30th-anniversary-production-heads-to-bolton-derby-glasgow-and-salisbury/): By Grace Hatchell Ayub Khan Din’s East is East returns in a new 30th anniversary production directed by Kash Arshad, opening at Octagon Theatre Bolton before visiting Derby Theatre, Citizens Theatre Glasgow and Salisbury Playhouse. Some stories don’t just come back around — they arrive with the weight of memory tucked under their arm. And
- [Don’t Tell Dad About Diana Brings Princess Diana, Drag and 90s Dublin to Underbelly Soho](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dont-tell-dad-about-diana-brings-princess-diana-drag-and-90s-dublin-to-underbelly-soho/): By Grace Hatchell at Boulevard Soho Following a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run and Irish tour, Don’t Tell Dad About Diana comes to Underbelly Boulevard Soho for two nights only this May. The acclaimed queer coming-of-age comedy blends drag, friendship, grief and 90s Dublin. Now this is exactly the sort of post that rustles loudly in
- [The Marquise at Theatre Royal Windsor: Noël Coward Comedy Returns with All-Star Cast and UK Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-marquise-at-theatre-royal-windsor-noel-coward-comedy-returns-with-all-star-cast-and-uk-tour/): By Grace Hatchell There’s some post that arrives all neat and sensible… and then there’s the sort that swans in with a bit of perfume on the envelope and a knowing smile. The Marquise is very much the second sort. Theatre Royal Windsor has announced full casting for Noël Coward’s witty romantic comedy, which opens
- [Republic of Silence at Theatre Peckham: A Haunting Story of Hidden History and Stolen Voices](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/republic-of-silence-at-theatre-peckham-a-haunting-story-of-hidden-history-and-stolen-voices/): By Grace Hatchell Republic of Silence arrives at Theatre Peckham, uncovering the hidden truths of Sean Ross Abbey. Based on real stories, this powerful production explores silence, injustice, and the voices history tried to bury. I’ll be honest with you—I don’t always know what I’m carrying when I set off on my rounds. Some envelopes
- [How Do You Get a Job at the Edinburgh Fringe? A Real Guide to Getting Experience](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-do-you-get-a-job-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-a-real-guide-to-getting-experience/): By Grace Hatchell Want to work at the Edinburgh Fringe? From flyering to front of house, here’s how to actually get a job or experience at the Fringe — even if you’re starting from scratch. I’ve been watching you lot, you know. Every summer, the Edinburgh Fringe rolls into town like a whirlwind — posters
- [Birmingham Hippodrome Announces New Shows On Sale Including Matilda, Mrs Doubtfire, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella and The Full Monty](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-hippodrome-announces-new-shows-on-sale-including-matilda-mrs-doubtfire-matthew-bournes-cinderella-and-the-full-monty/): By Grace Hatchell- I likety like. Birmingham Hippodrome has announced a new wave of shows on sale, including Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, The Full Monty, Jeezus!, Matilda The Musical, Mrs Doubtfire and Origins Festival, alongside new productions in the Patrick Studio. Birmingham Hippodrome has unveiled a packed new season, with major musicals, family shows and fresh
- [What Age Can Children Go to the Theatre in the UK? A Family Guide for First-Time Theatre Trips](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-age-can-children-go-to-the-theatre-in-the-uk-a-family-guide-for-first-time-theatre-trips/): Wondering what age children can go to the theatre in the UK? Theatre is open to all ages, but the right show depends on your child’s age, attention span, and the venue’s age guidance. Here’s what parents need to know before booking. The simple answer is this: children of all ages can go to the
- [What Happens At The Interval? A First-Time Theatre Guide](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-at-the-interval-a-first-time-theatre-guide/): By Grace Hatchell. Wondering what happens at the interval in a theatre show? Here’s a simple guide to what the interval is, how long it lasts, whether you can leave your seat, buy drinks, use the toilet, and what to expect during a theatre intermission in the UK. If you’ve never been to the theatre
- [First Time at the Theatre? What to Wear, What Happens and the Rules of Theatre Etiquette](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/first-time-at-the-theatre-what-to-wear-what-happens-and-the-rules-of-theatre-etiquette/): Going to the theatre for the first time can feel a little mysterious. Films and television sometimes make it look formal or intimidating, but the truth is much simpler. Theatre is simply people gathering in a room to watch a story unfold live in front of them. If you know a few small things before
- [Theatre Etiquette for Interacting with Cast and Crew Members After the Show](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-etiquette-for-interacting-with-cast-and-crew-members-after-the-show/): Oh, the excitement of waiting by the stage door after a fantastic performance. There’s something quite magical about that moment — the buzz in the air, programmes clutched a little tighter, everyone quietly hoping for a smile, a signature, or just a quick “hello” from someone who’s just transported you to another world. But like
- [Navigating The World Of Theatre Etiquette](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/navigating-the-world-of-theatre-etiquette/): Theatre etiquette has changed over the years, it used to be a formal affair, dressed in your tuxedos and evening downs. These days it is much different and different standards apply. You can go watch a theatre show in the UK in your Jeans and a t- shirt. However some people still choose to dress
- [Dress Circle vs Stalls: Which Seats Are Better in UK Theatres?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-seating-guide-stalls-vs-circle-which-seats-give-the-best-view/): Wondering whether dress circle or stalls seats are better? In most UK theatres, the dress circle offers the best overall view of the stage, while stalls give you a more immersive, close-up experience Grace’s Guide to Stalls, Circle and Upper Circle – Where to Sit for the Best View If you’ve ever stared at a
- [What Is Sanctuary at Edinburgh Fringe 2026 and Why Is Everyone Talking About This Leodis Prize Winner?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-sanctuary-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026-and-why-is-everyone-talking-about-this-leodis-prize-winner/): By Grace Hatchell Well now, this one arrived in my satchel with a bit of a quiet weight to it – the kind that doesn’t shout for attention but gently insists you listen. Sanctuary, a brand new play by first-time writer Jacob Sparrow, has just been crowned the winner of the inaugural Leodis Prize and
- [Can a Play About Grief Still Make You Laugh? It Comes In Waves Says Yes](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-a-play-about-grief-still-make-you-laugh-it-comes-in-waves-says-yes/): By Grace Hatchell, cycling into East Anglia. It Comes In Waves UK Tour 2026: Cast announced for new coastal comedy drama by James McDermott exploring grief, community and change across East Anglia Now this one… this one feels like it’s travelled a long way to reach me, tucked right at the bottom of the satchel,
- [Is This the Must-See Sweeney Todd of 2026? Birmingham Rep Reveals Full Cast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-the-must-see-sweeney-todd-of-2026-birmingham-rep-reveals-full-cast/): By Grace Hatchell with pies. Lots of pies. Sweeney Todd Birmingham Rep 2026 cast announced – Ramin Karimloo, Meow Meow and David Bedella lead Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical at The Rep from 4 July to 9 August. Full casting and creative team revealed for Joe Murphy’s new production. Right then… this one came sliding straight
- [What Is Split Ends About? Claudia Shnier’s Acclaimed Show Comes To Alphabetti](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-split-ends-about-claudia-shniers-acclaimed-show-comes-to-alphabetti/): By Grace Hachell Is Split Ends the most inventive (and unsettling) love story on tour right now? After sold-out international runs and a Best Show 2025 nomination, Claudia Shnier brings her raw, multimedia exploration of coercive control and OCD across England this spring. Right, gather round, because this one landed in my satchel and I’ve
- [Is Spring Finally Here in Theatre Village? Grace Hatchell Hangs Up Her Winter Coat](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-spring-finally-here-in-theatre-village-grace-hatchell-hangs-up-her-winter-coat/): Spring has arrived in Theatre Village, and Grace Hatchell is finally shedding her winter postal coat, embracing lighter days, longer rounds, and a satchel full of fresh theatre finds. Right then… I think it’s safe to say we’ve made it. Winter is over. And if you’ve never tried doing a full delivery round in a
- [Is One Tiny Penguin the Perfect First Theatre Trip for Kids This Christmas?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-one-tiny-penguin-the-perfect-first-theatre-trip-for-kids-this-christmas/): One Tiny Penguin at Birmingham Hippodrome is a brand-new family musical for ages 3+ follows Lumi, a penguin mistaken for a polar bear, on a heart-warming journey of bravery, friendship and finding where you belong. Right, this one arrived in my satchel with a bit of a chill on it — and I don’t mean
- [What Happens When You Have Five Mothers? Most of My Moms Are Gay Has the Answer](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-you-have-five-mothers-most-of-my-moms-are-gay-has-the-answer/): By Grace Hatchell prepping for the fringe. What is Most of My Moms Are Gay at Edinburgh Fringe 2026? Abby Goldfarb’s debut comedy musical blends 13 original songs with a bold, funny and deeply personal story about identity, family and growing up with five mothers. Right then, I nearly dropped half my letters when this
- [Fresh Out the Oven… WAITRESS Serves Up New Tour Photos (and a Few Familiar Faces Still Behind the Counter)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fresh-out-the-oven-waitress-serves-up-new-tour-photos-and-a-few-familiar-faces-still-behind-the-counter/): By Grace Hatchell... munch.... Production images have been released for the UK and Ireland tour of Waitress, the smash-hit romantic musical comedy that’s currently making its way around the country until 31 October 2026 — and it’s looking just as warm, messy, and quietly emotional as ever. Now, if you’ve been keeping an eye on
- [Watford Palace Theatre’s Summer Season Looks Like It’s Thrown A Party… and Invited Everyone](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/watford-palace-theatres-summer-season-looks-like-its-thrown-a-party-and-invited-everyone/): I’ve just pedalled past Watford Palace Theatre, and honestly… if theatres could throw a summer party, this one’s already got the bunting up, the music blasting, and someone’s auntie dancing before 7pm. Watford Palace Theatre has unveiled a jam-packed summer season for 2026, featuring comedy, cabaret, family shows and new theatre, including Everybody’s Talking About
- [402 Artists Applied… Only a Handful Made It: What the Fringe’s Keep It Fringe Fund Really Reveals About 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/402-artists-applied-only-a-handful-made-it-what-the-fringes-keep-it-fringe-fund-really-reveals-about-2026/): By Grace Hatchell I’ve just pulled this one out the satchel, and it’s not just a list of lucky names… it’s a bit of a reality check. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced the recipients of its 2026 Keep it Fringe fund — a pot of money designed to help artists actually get to
- [Why Everyone’s Talking About Hot Mess – And Why Theatre Village Backed It Early](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-everyones-talking-about-hot-mess-and-why-theatre-village-backed-it-early/): By Grace Hatchell Hot Mess, the award-winning new musical that Theatre Village previously named as one to watch at the Edinburgh Fringe, is returning to London for a summer run at The Other Palace. Here’s why this transfer feels like a natural next step. Now then… this one feels a bit like opening a letter
- [What’s This Musical Theatre Spectacular in Derby – And Why It Means More Than Just a Big Night of Songs?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-this-musical-theatre-spectacular-in-derby-and-why-it-means-more-than-just-a-big-night-of-songs/): By Grace Hatchell A Musical Theatre Spectacular comes to Derby Theatre on 3 May 2026, featuring West End stars and rising talent. The event supports the Lewis Sewell Memorial Trust, helping young performers access opportunities in the arts. Right then… pull up a chair, love, because this one’s been rattling around in me satchel all
- [Why Has Les Ballets Trockadero Moved from the Peacock Theatre – and Where Is It Now?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-has-les-ballets-trockadero-moved-from-the-peacock-theatre-and-where-is-it-now/): By Grace Hatchell, changing my diary.. I was just minding my own business, mind you, sorting through t’satchel, when this little update fluttered in… Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has confirmed a London venue change, moving from the Peacock Theatre to Sadler’s Wells Theatre due to essential building works. Here’s what it means for
- [Why Is Firebird Returning to London More Than 10 Years After Its Premiere?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-is-firebird-returning-to-london-more-than-10-years-after-its-premiere/): By Grace Hatchell. Firebird flies back to London as Double Telling revives Phil Davies’ powerful drama at Southwark Playhouse Borough There are some stories that should have faded into history by now, tucked away where they can do no more harm. But sadly, that is not the world we are living in. And now Firebird,
- [Do Edinburgh Fringe Artists Need Your Support? (The Honest Answer)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/do-edinburgh-fringe-artists-need-your-support-the-honest-answer/): Hi Village friends, I’ve had a little rummage through my satchel this week and—oh, it’s a heavy one. Not with glitter (though there’s always a bit of that), but with something a little more tender. Hope. Grit. And a fair few crowdfunder links folded carefully between the press releases. It’s that time again, isn’t it?
- [Top Ten Edinburgh Fringe Shows To See In 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/top-ten-edinburgh-shows-to-see-in-2026/): Hi Village friends, You may remember last year Theatre Village shared 10 shows to keep an eye on at the Fringe… and once the final listings landed, we refined it. One of those picks? Hot Mess, The Musical… which didn’t just do well, it went on to shake things up in London. So yes… no
- [Who Was Ruth Ellis Beyond the Headlines? The Thrill of Love Comes to Newcastle’s People’s Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-was-ruth-ellis-beyond-the-headlines-the-thrill-of-love-comes-to-newcastles-peoples-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell, in Newcastle The Thrill of Love is coming to the People’s Theatre in Heaton from 13 to 18 April 2026, bringing Amanda Whittington’s gripping drama about Ruth Ellis to the Newcastle stage. Set in the smoky shadows of 1950s London, the production explores the woman behind one of Britain’s most infamous cases.
- [Could Sir Peter Wright’s 100th Birthday Gala Be Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Most Special Night of 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-sir-peter-wrights-100th-birthday-gala-be-birmingham-royal-ballets-most-special-night-of-2026/): Birmingham Royal Ballet will celebrate Sir Peter Wright’s centenary on 18 June 2026 with a gala at Birmingham Hippodrome featuring highlights from Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and Coppélia. The evening will also include The Green Table, with Carlos Acosta dancing the role of Death for the first time. What do you give a
- [Could This New Birmingham Hippodrome Partnership Be a Big Win for Midlands Artists?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-this-new-birmingham-hippodrome-partnership-be-a-big-win-for-midlands-artists/): By Grace Hatchell- In Birmingham Birmingham Hippodrome has joined forces with In Good Company in a new Midlands partnership designed to strengthen support for regional artists, freelancers and new work across the East and West Midlands. The move links the Hippodrome with a wider network of organisations already working together to champion artists at every
- [Make It Count heads to Louth Riverhead Theatre this June with a witty afterlife twist on love and second chances](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/make-it-count-heads-to-louth-riverhead-theatre-this-june-with-a-witty-afterlife-twist-on-love-and-second-chances/): By Grace Hatchell, Relive sixteen years of marriage? Love, I can barely survive re-reading last week’s delivery notes. Make It Count, a new award-winning comedy-drama by James Sweeney, comes to Louth Riverhead Theatre from 18 to 20 June 2026. The studio-scale three-hander follows one man’s chance to relive sixteen years of marriage — with surprising
- [Has Edinburgh Fringe just thrown 1,730 more reasons at us to panic-book August?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/has-edinburgh-fringe-just-thrown-1730-more-reasons-at-us-to-panic-book-august/): By Grace Hatchell, still in Edinburgh. 1,730 more shows have been added to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, taking the number currently on sale to 2,083 and opening up an enormous second wave of comedy, theatre, cabaret, children’s work, music, dance, spoken word and musicals ahead of August. I’ll tell you what, I opened this
- [Is Pleasance Trying to Out-Fringe the Fringe with 139 New Shows in 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-pleasance-trying-to-out-fringe-the-fringe-with-139-new-shows-in-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, Darting To Edinburgh. 139 new shows have been added to Pleasance’s Edinburgh Fringe 2026 programme, bringing a major expansion across comedy, theatre, and family work, with household names, award winners and emerging voices all joining the line-up. 139 Shows Not ten. Not twenty. Not a polite little afterthought of “a few more
- [What is the Leodis Prize and who is shortlisted in 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-the-leodis-prize-and-who-is-shortlisted-in-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, The Hatchell with the Satchel The Leodis Prize is a new writing award launched in 2025 to champion unrepresented playwrights, with the 2026 shortlist featuring ten original plays. The winner will receive a fully funded Edinburgh Fringe production, industry representation, publication, and a £2,000 prize. There’s a bit of a buzz in
- [What happens when a comedian lets AI write their Edinburgh Fringe show — and can a machine actually be funny?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-a-comedian-lets-ai-write-their-edinburgh-fringe-show-and-can-a-machine-actually-be-funny/): By Grace Hatchell. Tom Short is bringing one of the Fringe’s most unpredictable concepts to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026, and if you like your comedy with a side of chaos, this one might just be right up your cobbled street (or slightly off it, depending on what the algorithm decides that night). Tom Short
- [Theatre Village’s Satchel of Stars and Satchel of Dreams Awards at Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-villages-satchel-of-stars-and-satchel-of-dreams-awards-at-edinburgh-fringe-2026/): Theatre Village confirms two Edinburgh Fringe 2026 awards — the returning Satchel of Stars for Fringe spirit and the new Satchel of Dreams for outstanding shows. Theatre Village has announced that it will present two awards at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026, recognising both outstanding theatre-making and the unique spirit that defines the festival. Satchel Of
- [Who Is Sheila Gold — And What Happens When a Psychic Is Exposed?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-is-sheila-gold-and-what-happens-when-a-psychic-is-exposed/): By Grace Hatchell, with her investigative mode activated. A new dark thriller from the creators of Ghost Stories arrives at York Theatre Royal, following disgraced TV psychic Sheila Gold as a séance spirals into something far more dangerous. Well now… this one landed in my satchel with a bit of a chill to it. You
- [Why Do Even Serious Ballet Fans Love The Trocks?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-do-even-serious-ballet-fans-love-the-trocks/): By Grace Hatchell, balancing. There are some nights at the theatre where you go in expecting elegance… and come out wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo — or simply, the Trocks — are returning to London’s Peacock Theatre this May, and if you’ve never experienced them before, let’s
- [What Would You Be Doing at the End of the World? Channel Surfing at the End of Days Explores It](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-would-you-be-doing-at-the-end-of-the-world-channel-surfing-at-the-end-of-days-explores-it/): By Grace Hatchell, pondering my life. Channel Surfing at the End of Days will run at the Hen & Chickens Theatre in London from 20–25 April 2026, with a press night on Wednesday 22 April at 7.30pm. Written and directed by Callum Pardoe, the new apocalyptic anthology is inspired by the works of David Lynch
- [Big Ideas from a Small Island — What Is An Tobar and Mull Theatre Planning Next?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/big-ideas-from-a-small-island-what-is-an-tobar-and-mull-theatre-planning-next/): By Grace Hatchell, having a wee dram. An Tobar and Mull Theatre in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull has unveiled an ambitious new three-year artistic vision, launching its 2026 programme under the banner We Know Where We’re Going. Inspired by the iconic Powell and Pressburger film set on Mull, the programme is shaped by
- [Midsomer Murders Comes to the Stage — But What Secrets Are Waiting in Badger’s Drift?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/midsomer-murders-comes-to-the-stage-but-what-secrets-are-waiting-in-badgers-drift/): The world premiere of Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift will take place at The Arts Theatre Cambridge from 21–25 April 2026. Based on the book by Caroline Graham, The Killings at Badger’s Drift, and the television series Midsomer Murders produced by Bentley Productions for ITV in association with All3Media International, the stage adaptation
- [Why Has World’s Greatest Lover Been Postponed at The Other Palace Just Weeks Before Opening?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-has-worlds-greatest-lover-been-postponed-at-the-other-palace-just-weeks-before-opening/): By Grace Hatchell with tissues in hand. Broadway International Group have announced that the upcoming London run of World’s Greatest Lover at The Other Palace will not go ahead as planned. The production had been due to begin performances on 12 April 2026. In a statement, the producers said they had made “the difficult decision
- [Which Shows Won the 2026 House of Oz Purse Prize?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/which-shows-won-the-2026-house-of-oz-purse-prize/): By Grace Harchell Well now, this is the sort of post that lands in my satchel and makes me stop mid-delivery for a proper read… The 2026 House of Oz Purse Prize has announced not one, but two winners this year, with Fuccbois: Live in Concert and How Not to Make It in America sharing
- [Why Is SIX the Musical Still So Popular in the West End — and Why Won’t Audiences Let It Go?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-is-six-the-musical-still-so-popular-in-the-west-end-and-why-wont-audiences-let-it-go/): By Thekla Lenz, West End Reporter SIX the Musical has announced a brand-new cast at London’s Vaudeville Theatre, with performances now booking through to January 2027 — a move that not only secures its place in the West End, but reflects something broader about the production’s continued growth. Adrianne Langley will play Catherine of Aragon,
- [Feel Good Monday](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/feel-good-monday/): Now then my lovely lot… If Monday’s come at you like a missed cue—bit clunky, slightly off rhythm, and you’re wondering why you’re even on stage in the first place—don’t you worry. I’ve got just the thing tucked inside my satchel. Music. Not just any music… the kind that lifts you straight out your seat,
- [Review Of Boho Arts: Improv Club At Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-boho-arts-improv-club-at-alphabetti-theatre-newcastle/): I found myself at Alphabetti Theatre, drawn in by the promise of an improvisation night featuring acting, games, and possibly even a few musical moments. It had that slightly unpredictable energy about it, the kind that makes you curious enough to take a chance. The evening was run by Boho Arts, a charity that offers
- [Does the Made in Scotland 2026 lineup prove the Edinburgh Fringe isn’t just serious theatre?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/does-the-made-in-scotland-2026-lineup-prove-the-edinburgh-fringe-isnt-just-serious-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell The Made in Scotland 2026 lineup has been revealed for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, featuring 18 shows across theatre, dance and music. But this year’s programme shows Scotland isn’t just about serious storytelling. The Made in Scotland 2026 lineup has been announced, bringing 18 shows to this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe as
- [Can a WWII Spy Plot Become a Hit Musical? Operation Mincemeat Comes to Sheffield](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-a-wwii-spy-plot-become-a-hit-musical-operation-mincemeat-comes-to-sheffield/): By Grace Hatchell Now then… I’ve delivered some odd things in my time. One parcel that made a suspicious noise, three takeaway menus to the same bloke in one night, and a birthday card that simply said “You know what you did.” Chilling. But this? This might be the strangest thing to land in my
- [What’s On at Brighton Fringe 2026? Full Line-Up Revealed for Comedy, Theatre and Dance Festival](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-on-at-brighton-fringe-2026-full-line-up-revealed-for-comedy-theatre-and-dance-festival/): Brighton Fringe has unveiled its full programme for 2026, with the festival returning from 1 May to 31 May across Brighton and Hove. Now in its 21st year, the open-access festival remains one of the largest of its kind in the world, showcasing a wide range of comedy, theatre, dance, circus, cabaret and family events
- [Would You Accept an Invitation to Truman Capote’s Most Infamous Party? Garden Party Comes to London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/would-you-accept-an-invitation-to-truman-capotes-most-infamous-party-garden-party-comes-to-london/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Garden Party… with secrets stitched into the seams Now then… I thought I was delivering a polite little invitation. You know the sort. A garden party. Bit of music, bit of chatter, maybe a glass of something sparkling if you’re lucky. But this one… oh no… this is no cucumber
- [What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Little Aussie Storm Brewing for Edinburgh…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-in-graces-satchel-a-little-aussie-storm-brewing-for-edinburgh/): By Grace Hatchell, The Girl In The Know Now then, I don’t like to gossip… but when something this juicy lands in my postbag, I simply have to have a peek. This week’s delivery comes stamped all the way from Australia, courtesy of House of Oz, who’ve just unveiled their 2026 Purse Prize shortlist… and
- [Is Perfect Show For Rachel the Most Joyful and Inclusive Theatre Experience Coming to Birmingham Rep in 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-perfect-show-for-rachel-the-most-joyful-and-inclusive-theatre-experience-coming-to-birmingham-rep-in-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Multi award-winning companies Zoo Co and Improbable bring their critically acclaimed production Perfect Show For Rachel to Birmingham Rep from 10 – 12 April 2026 as part of a UK tour. Following sell-out runs and strong critical reception at the Barbican in 2022 and 2024, the production continues to
- [Understudy? Swing? Cover? Theatre Terms demystified](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/understudy-swing-cover-theatre-terms-demystified/): This is one of those bits of theatre language that sounds mysterious until someone lifts the curtain on it. Audiences often see these words on the cast board in the foyer and think, “what on earth does that actually mean?” So here is the simple way to understand them. Understudy An understudy is a performer
- [Thekla Lenz Introduction](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/thekla-introduction/): Hello London… and hallo from Thekla. My name is Thekla, and if you follow German entertainment television you may already have seen me reporting from theatre premieres, film launches and cultural events across Europe. London is one of the cities I return to often, and for one very good reason: the West End never stands
- [Why Has In Pieces Added an Extra London Performance at The Other Palace?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-has-in-pieces-added-an-extra-london-performance-at-the-other-palace/): The staged concert of Joey Contreras’ hit musical In Pieces has added a fourth London performance at The Other Palace after tickets sold out within 24 hours. The extra show on 31 March gives audiences one last chance to see the global musical sensation in the capital. By Grace & Thekla Now then, this little
- [What’s On at Corn Exchange Newbury This Summer?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-on-at-corn-exchange-newbury-this-summer/): Corn Exchange Newbury has unveiled a huge summer season packed with theatre, comedy, circus, tribute concerts, family shows and free outdoor performances. Highlights include Sisters360, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Bog Witch, Danny Bhoy and a landmark moment as the historic Old Library opens as a new creative hub. By Grace Hatchell Well
- [What Is Rep Stripped Festival and Why Is Dundee Rep Championing New Scottish Voices?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-rep-stripped-festival-and-why-is-dundee-rep-championing-new-scottish-voices/): By Grace Hatchell I nearly dropped my satchel when this one landed on the doormat, because it’s exactly the kind of theatre mischief I adore. Dundee Rep Theatre and Scottish Dance Theatre are rolling out the welcome mat once again for the Rep Stripped Festival, returning from 22–25 April, and it’s basically a playground for
- [What Is Kultur Elf’s Guten Abend London? The German Show Covering West End Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-is-kultur-elfs-guten-abend-london-the-german-show-covering-west-end-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell Well now, you’d think after years of pedalling parcels around the theatre world I’d have mastered the art of not accidentally appearing on international television. Apparently not. There I was, minding my own business in London, cycling like the clappers down a busy West End street with my satchel bouncing about behind
- [ATG Tickets: Who Are They and Can Theatre Fans Trust Them?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/atg-tickets-who-are-they-and-can-theatre-fans-trust-them/): Grace Opens the Satchel on One of the UK’s Biggest Theatre Companies If you’ve ever tried to buy tickets for a West End show or a touring musical, chances are you’ve stumbled across ATG Tickets at some point. Their website pops up for everything from London musicals to regional pantomimes, and for a lot of
- [What Are the Oldest Theatres in London?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-are-the-oldest-theatres-in-london/): London’s theatre scene stretches back hundreds of years, with some venues standing on sites that have hosted performances since the Restoration period of the 17th century. While many buildings have been rebuilt over time due to fires, redevelopment or expansion, several theatres still operating today trace their origins back centuries. Here are some of the
- [What Musical Are You?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-musical-are-you/): Right then theatre lovers, Grace here. I’ve been rummaging around in my satchel and discovered something rather extraordinary. Not spare tickets this time, sadly, but a highly scientific theatre personality test. After years of delivering letters to dressing rooms, dodging stage managers, and eavesdropping near the interval ice cream queue, I’ve developed a foolproof way
- [What Theatre Show Should You See?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-theatre-show-should-you-see/): Can’t Decide What Theatre Show to See? Let Grace’s Random Theatre Picker Choose For You Struggling to decide what theatre show to see? Grace Hatchell has created a cheeky random theatre picker featuring Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Mamma Mia, Moulin Rouge and more. Let fate choose your next night out. 🎭 What Show Should
- [Is Derby Theatre’s Macbeth the Darkest Shakespeare You’ll See This Spring?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-derby-theatres-macbeth-the-darkest-shakespeare-youll-see-this-spring/): By Grace ' Macbeth' Hatchell A rather ominous little parcel landed in my satchel this week, dear readers. The sort of delivery that makes the sorting office lights flicker and leaves you wondering if three mysterious women might appear in the corridor muttering about destiny. Yes… it’s Macbeth. Shakespeare’s Macbeth arrives at Derby Theatre from
- [Is Peter Andre and Sam Bailey Joining Mamma Mia! The Party at the O2 in 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-peter-andre-and-sam-bailey-joining-mamma-mia-the-party-at-the-o2-in-2026/): By Grace Hatcell, the girl in the know. Now then, I know what some of you theatre purists will be thinking when this little note tumbled out of my satchel. “Grace… the O2? Really?” But before anyone starts wagging their programmes at me, let me explain myself. Strictly speaking, this one isn’t a traditional theatre
- [What Happens When a Doctor Becomes the Patient? Heartsink Heads to Riverside Studios](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-a-doctor-becomes-the-patient-heartsink-heads-to-riverside-studios/): Grace Hatchell, at the Doctors. Derry Girls star Kathy Kiera Clarke will appear in Heartsink, a bittersweet medical comedy exploring what happens when a doctor suddenly becomes the patient. I had quite the curious little note drop into my satchel this week, and it’s the sort that makes you pause mid-delivery and go, now that
- [Birmingham Hippodrome launches Big Give campaign to raise £36,000 for festival access and community participation](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-hippodrome-launches-big-give-campaign-to-raise-36000-for-festival-access-and-community-participation/): Morning theatre friends. Grace here, with a rather heart-warming delivery that’s just tumbled out of my satchel. Birmingham Hippodrome has launched a Big Give Arts for Impact campaign to raise £36,000 for improved festival access, community participation and inclusive cultural experiences across its 2026 programme, including Birmingham Weekender Now if you’ve ever wandered into a
- [Celebrity Lookalikes Wanted: Alison Jackson’s Faking Famous Comes to Lichfield Garrick](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/celebrity-lookalikes-wanted-alison-jacksons-faking-famous-comes-to-lichfield-garrick/): Something rather unusual has landed in Grace Hatchell’s satchel this week, and I’m not entirely convinced it isn’t a prank from the theatre gods. BAFTA-award winning artist Alison Jackson is heading to Lichfield Garrick this June with a live show that promises to blur the lines between fame, fantasy and downright theatrical nonsense. The show,
- [Sisters360 UK Tour: The Inspiring Skateboarding Sisters from Hull](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sisters360-uk-tour-the-inspiring-skateboarding-sisters-from-hull/): Grace Hatchell was sorting through the morning’s deliveries when one particular envelope caught her eye. It had a little Yorkshire spirit about it. Being a Yorkshire lass herself, Grace always perks up when news arrives from “up our way”, and this one came with a story full of grit, laughter and a skateboard or two.
- [Managed Approach – Acclaimed Play About UK’s First Legalised Red-Light District Comes to London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/managed-approach-acclaimed-play-about-uks-first-legalised-red-light-district-comes-to-london/): By Grace Hatchell There are certain letters that land in Grace Hatchell’s satchel with a little more weight than usual. Not because they’re heavy, mind you, but because you can tell there’s a story tucked inside. And this week’s delivery comes from Open Aire Theatre with news of their acclaimed production Managed Approach heading to
- [West End by Candlelight at Newcastle Cathedral Review – Beautiful Singing, Frustrating Sightlines](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/west-end-by-candlelight-at-newcastle-cathedral-review-beautiful-singing-frustrating-sightlines/): On the advertising, it looked good and it looked like it had potential. However, the reality was different. In January, I bought a ticket that had caught my interest: West End By Candlelight at Newcastle Cathedral, presented by The Live Music Co Ltd. I cannot remember if the ticket I purchased advertised restricted viewing or
- [What Happens When Two Estranged Friends Meet at 3am in The Dawn of Reckoning?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-two-estranged-friends-meet-at-3am-in-the-dawn-of-reckoning/): By Grace Hatchell- who is on her way to get a ticket. The Dawn of Reckoning arrives at White Bear Theatre this March Grace had barely finished sorting the morning post when a rather intriguing envelope slipped into the satchel. Inside was news of a brand-new world premiere heading to one of London’s most beloved
- [Will Dirty Dancing Launch London’s Brand-New Capital Theatre in 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/will-dirty-dancing-launch-londons-brand-new-capital-theatre-in-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, currently practising her swooning. Dirty Dancing returns to London – and it’s opening a brand new theatre Grace nearly dropped her satchel when this one landed. Tucked among the usual envelopes of theatre chatter was a rather exciting announcement: Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage is returning to London, and
- [What’s On at Hull Truck Theatre This March? Comedy, Drama, True Crime and Family Adventures](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-on-at-hull-truck-theatre-this-march-comedy-drama-true-crime-and-family-adventures/): By Grace Hatchell- Venturing Into Hull Spring starts with a punch line at Hull Truck Theatre Well now, Hull Truck Theatre has sent a rather lively bundle of letters into my satchel this week, and I must say March is looking wonderfully busy up in Hull. If you like your evenings filled with laughter, drama,
- [Could Big Bill’s Comedy Night at Woolwich Works Become London’s New Home for Grassroots Stand-Up?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-big-bills-comedy-night-at-woolwich-works-become-londons-new-home-for-grassroots-stand-up/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Woolwich Works launches Big Bill’s Comedy Night – a new monthly home for grassroots stand-up Now then, something lively has landed in my satchel from South East London, and if you enjoy your comedy a little bit bold, a little bit cheeky and packed into an intimate room where
- [Preview or Not to Preview Before the Edinburgh Fringe? Grace Opens Her Satchel on a Question Every Theatre Company Asks](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/preview-or-not-to-preview-before-the-edinburgh-fringe-grace-opens-her-satchel-on-a-question-every-theatre-company-asks/): By Grace Hatchell, Edinburgh Fringe Most Notable Postlady There are certain questions that arrive in my satchel every year as the Edinburgh Fringe approaches. Scripts get polished, props get packed, and suddenly performers begin asking the same thing over and over again: Should we preview our show before Edinburgh? Now, the sensible theatre world will
- [Ready to Visit Planet Omar? Full Cast Revealed for Birmingham Rep Premiere](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ready-to-visit-planet-omar-full-cast-revealed-for-birmingham-rep-premiere/): By Grace Hatchell, The Postie With The Mostie Grace has taken a very deep breath. One of those proper backstage ones where you fill your lungs, steady your cap, and prepare to announce something rather special. Because Village, this one is big. An out-of-this-world cast and creative team have been announced for Planet Omar, the
- [The Alexandra Birmingham 125th Anniversary Open Day 2026 – Free Backstage Tours & Family Activities](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-alexandra-birmingham-125th-anniversary-open-day-2026-free-backstage-tours-family-activities/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Right, Village folk, gather round because I’ve got bunting in my satchel and a birthday badge pinned firmly to my lapel. This May, The Alexandra Theatre turns 125. One hundred and twenty-five! That’s not just a birthday, that’s a proper standing ovation of a lifespan. And to start the
- [Kanan Gill UK Tour 2026: NOT THIS AGAIN Comes to London, Manchester & More](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kanan-gill-uk-tour-2026-not-this-again-comes-to-london-manchester-more/): By Grace Hatchell Right then, gather round the sorting office, because I’ve just pulled something rather special from the comedy compartment of my satchel. And it’s got a passport. Soho Theatre have only gone and announced a UK tour for one of India’s most prominent comedians, Kanan Gill, and he’s bringing his brand-new stand-up show
- [Does Working on Cruise Ships Hurt Your Chances of Getting Into the West End?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/does-working-on-cruise-ships-hurt-your-chances-of-getting-into-the-west-end/): Here’s a funny thing about theatre careers.Nobody actually knows the “correct” path, yet everybody seems to know what the wrong one is. At some point, almost every performer hears it. Sometimes from a tutor, sometimes from a classmate, sometimes whispered in a dressing room with the authority of ancient scripture: “If you go and work
- [Go the Distance: Disney’s Hercules Toga Run 2026 in London for Make-A-Wish UK](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/go-the-distance-disneys-hercules-toga-run-2026-in-london-for-make-a-wish-uk/): What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Heroic Jog Around Drury Lane… Morning villagers, Now you know our little corner of the internet isn’t just a noticeboard nailed to a post. Theatre Village is a proper village. We’ve got the busy high street (that’s the homepage), the cosy pub (the comment section), the mysterious back alley where
- [Could These Be Theatre’s Next Big Voices? The 2026 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Winners Explained](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/could-these-be-theatres-next-big-voices-the-2026-susan-smith-blackburn-prize-winners-explained/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL?A Royal Court Delivery and Two Very Important Debuts You can always tell when something big has happened in theatre because the envelopes go posh. Not just your standard press emails and polite PDFs. No, these ones arrive with the sort of importance that makes a postwoman stand up straighter, brush biscuit
- [From Grace’s Satchel: The Ushers (and the Code They Definitely Don’t Talk About)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-graces-satchel-the-ushers-and-the-code-they-definitely-dont-talk-about/): People think ushers just show you to your seat. I used to think that too. You arrive late, slightly flustered, clutching a programme you bought while pretending you understood the seating plan. Then, like theatre magic, a person appears with a torch, smiles kindly, and guides you to Row G Seat 14 without a single
- [A Note from Grace’s Satchel: Don’t Be Scared to Knock](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-note-from-graces-satchel-dont-be-scared-to-knock/): Hello you. Yes, you. The solo producer refreshing your inbox. The director who’s also doing the lighting plot. The company who’ve crowdfunded their set and borrowed a van from someone’s uncle. Stop hovering. You are absolutely allowed to email Theatre Village. Let’s clear something up straight away. We do not charge for coverage.We do not
- [Ready to go the full monty again? 30 years on, the lads are back at Curve](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ready-to-go-the-full-monty-again-30-years-on-the-lads-are-back-at-curve/): By Grace Hatchell who is swooning, Now then, steady yourselves, because there’s a certain set of Sheffield steel returning to the stage and I am not emotionally prepared. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic film, The Everyman Theatre Cheltenham and Buxton Opera House, in association with Mark Goucher and David Pugh, are sending
- [Why the women behind Waitress still matter 10 years on as the musical tours the UK and Ireland](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-the-women-behind-waitress-still-matter-10-years-on-as-the-musical-tours-the-uk-and-ireland/): By Grace Hatchell, What Can I Get You? There are some shows that arrive with fanfare and confetti, and then there are shows that quietly move into people’s lives and unpack their bags. I’ve always thought Waitress the Musical were one of the second sort. It doesn’t shout at you. It sits beside you, pours
- [Can a Sheffield family survive 55 years of change? First look at Leo Butler’s LIVING at Sheffield Theatres](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-a-sheffield-family-survive-55-years-of-change-first-look-at-leo-butlers-living-at-sheffield-theatres/): By Grace Hatchell, Yorkshire Tea Connoisseur Well now, pull up a chair and pop kettle on because there’s a fresh parcel in me satchel and it smells strongly of Yorkshire carpets, strong tea and fifty-odd years of life happening whether you’re ready for it or not. Sheffield Theatres have released rehearsal images for the world
- [National Theatre Connections 2026 at Derby Theatre Celebrates Young Talent](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/national-theatre-connections-2026-at-derby-theatre-celebrates-young-talent/): I opened my satchel this morning and nearly dropped half my post on the floor because this one felt like it was humming. You know when a theatre building isn’t just preparing for a show, it’s preparing for a takeover? That’s exactly what’s heading to Derby Theatre as it welcomes back the National Theatre Connections
- [Guildford Shakespeare Company Spring 2026 Season Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Community Events and Shakespeare Walks](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/guildford-shakespeare-company-spring-2026-season-celebrates-20th-anniversary-with-community-events-and-shakespeare-walks/): By Grace Hatchell, wink, wink. When a theatre company reaches twenty years, you expect a gala, a speech and maybe a polite round of applause. Guildford Shakespeare Company have instead done something much more fitting. They’ve built a whole spring season around the very thing that’s kept them going this long: people. Running from 9
- [The SpaceUK opens ticket sales for 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-spaceuk-opens-ticket-sales-for-2026-edinburgh-festival-fringe-programme/): What’s In Grace’s Satchel? The first Edinburgh Fringe envelopes have arrived… and they are chaotic already The first thing you learn as a theatre postwoman is this: Edinburgh Fringe season does not begin in August. It begins the moment the first companies quietly start buying stamps. And this week my satchel has been suspiciously heavy
- [Sheffield Theatres launches new Open Works Festival and opens submissions for 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sheffield-theatres-launches-new-open-works-festival-and-opens-submissions-for-2026/): Sheffield Theatres has announced a new annual theatre festival, Open Works, which will run from 28 September to 10 October 2026. The two-week event will bring together established theatre companies, emerging artists and audiences in a programme focused on developing new work. The festival aims to showcase new voices, stories and creative ideas at different
- [Fringe Theatre Doesn’t Have an Audience Problem. It Has a Discovery Problem.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fringe-theatre-doesnt-have-an-audience-problem-it-has-a-discovery-problem/): Every year around Fringe season you start hearing the same sentence again. “People don’t go to theatre anymore.” It sounds convincing. Streaming exists. Phones exist. Attention is shorter. Life is expensive. The explanation feels neat and modern. And yet every August in Edinburgh people queue in the rain for a show they know almost nothing
- [In Pieces London Premiere Concert Announced at The Other Palace](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/in-pieces-london-premiere-concert-announced-at-the-other-palace/): Joey Contreras’ contemporary musical In Pieces will make its London premiere with a one-night-only concert performance at The Other Palace on Monday 30 March 2026 at 8pm. Produced by Andrew Patino of Regular People, the staged concert marks the first fully realised presentation of the musical in London following multiple sold-out concerts internationally. In Pieces
- [Mona Loser Casting Announced for Birmingham Hippodrome Workshop Performances](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mona-loser-casting-announced-for-birmingham-hippodrome-workshop-performances/): Casting has been announced for workshop performances of Mona Loser at Birmingham Hippodrome, running in the Patrick Studio from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 March. Produced by Tim Johanson Productions in association with Birmingham Hippodrome, Mona Loser is a contemporary new musical set within the music industry, exploring viral fame, fakery and identity. The show
- [Red Biscuit: Little Town Blue to Play Camden People’s Theatre This April](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/red-biscuit-little-town-blue-to-play-camden-peoples-theatre-this-april/): Red Biscuit bring their new physical comedy Little Town Blue to Camden People's Theatre from 23–25 April 2026 at 21:00 as part of the venue’s Spring 2026 season. Set in the United States, the show follows three high-school seniors on their final hurrah before college. Brad, Chad and Sven set out for one last night
- [What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Apparently… engineers. And jokes. In a tunnel. I had questions.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-in-graces-satchel-apparently-engineers-and-jokes-in-a-tunnel-i-had-questions/): Your ever-curious courier has been minding her own business when a rather unusual invitation slid into the satchel. Not a theatre, not a rehearsal room, not even a draughty church hall with a kettle that only produces vaguely warm water. No. This one is sending me under the Thames. On Wednesday 4th March 2026, the
- [A&E Comedy Unleash Game of Crones on UK Tour 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ae-comedy-unleash-game-of-crones-on-uk-tour-2026/): Grace Opens the Satchel and Finds… Armour Somewhere between Dorchester and Edinburgh, a battle cry is echoing. And it is not subtle. A&E Comedy are back with Game of Crones, and Grace swears she nearly dropped her tea when this one landed in her sack. Sharpen your swords, fetch the Rioja, and prepare for hot
- [INK Festival 2026 Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Richard Curtis and Esther Freud](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ink-festival-2026-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-richard-curtis-and-esther-freud-commissions/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel This Week? Well, 70 short plays and a very busy postwoman trying not to drop them all in the Suffolk countryside. The INK Festival has announced its 10th anniversary programme, running from Thursday 16 April to Sunday 19 April 2026 across various venues in Halesworth. And when they say “across the
- [Poor at the Belgrade Theatre Coventry: Cast Announced for Katriona O’Sullivan Memoir Stage Adaptation](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/poor-at-the-belgrade-theatre-coventry-cast-announced-for-katriona-osullivan-memoir-stage-adaptation/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers There’s a particular kind of story that doesn’t just arrive at the theatre. It arrives carrying history. Poor, based on Katriona O’Sullivan’s best-selling memoir, is set to open at the Belgrade Theatre from Friday 1 May to Saturday 9 May, following its run at the Gate Theatre. And before
- [Rufus Hound Revives His Grandfather’s Lost Magic Show in The Mesmerist at Watford Palace Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rufus-hound-revives-his-grandfathers-lost-magic-show-in-the-mesmerist-at-watford-palace-theatre/): Theatres don’t forget. Long after a production closes and the posters come down, buildings remember voices, footsteps and half-finished dreams. Occasionally, someone walks back through the doors carrying the past with them. That is exactly what is happening at Watford Palace Theatre this spring, as comedian, actor and presenter Rufus Hound takes to the stage
- [Alphabetti Theatre Newcastle Spring 2026 Season Shows and Programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/alphabetti-theatre-announces-its-super-spring-season/): Alphabetti Theatre is absolutely buzzing with excitement as they unveil their thrilling spring season, the first under dynamic new leadership! Ed Cole, the new Artistic & Executive Director, couldn't be more thrilled to share this vibrant lineup since joining us last June. He extends heartfelt thanks to the incredible Alphabetti team for their warm welcome
- [What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Suspicious Delivery from Birmingham Rep](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-in-graces-satchel-a-very-suspicious-delivery-from-birmingham-rep/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers I knew something was wrong the moment the envelope arrived. It was heavier than a normal casting announcement, and possibly… warm. I did briefly consider not opening it. But journalism, as they say, requires bravery, and also curiosity, and also sometimes a willingness to investigate things that may or
- [What’s In Grace’s Satchel? A Very Clever Plot Twist for Birmingham Royal Ballet](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-in-graces-satchel-a-very-clever-plot-twist-for-birmingham-royal-ballet/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers I opened my satchel this morning expecting the usual. A flyer, a ticket offer, possibly a slightly crumpled cast sheet that had travelled further than I have this week. Instead… a university. Not the building obviously. That would require a much bigger bag and frankly stronger shoulders. But tucked
- [What Does “Safety” Really Mean? For Their Safety Comes to Blue Orange Theatre Birmingham](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-does-safety-really-mean-for-their-safety-comes-to-blue-orange-theatre-birmingham/): By Grace Hatchell Right then, I’ve shaken the envelopes, checked for loose glitter and one suspicious biscuit crumb, and I can confirm there’s a fresh delivery from Birmingham tucked neatly inside this week’s satchel. For Their SafetyWritten & Directed by Abhishek PassiBlue Orange Theatre, Birmingham7 March, 7pm Landing at the Blue Orange Theatre this March
- [His Majesty’s Theatre London: Seating Plan, Tickets & Visitor Guide](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/his-majestys-theatre-london-seating-plan-tickets-visitor-guide/): His Majesty’s Theatre London His Majesty’s Theatre London is one of the most recognisable West End theatres, located in the heart of Haymarket in central London. Known worldwide as the home of The Phantom of the Opera, this historic London theatre has been welcoming audiences since 1897 and remains one of the most atmospheric venues
- [Are Musicals Getting Darker?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/are-musicals-getting-darker/): By Grace Hatchell There was a time when a musical meant glitter, romance, and a rousing eleven o’clock number that sent you home humming and slightly tempted to invest in character shoes. The lights went up, the curtain came down, and whatever heartbreak had unfolded was usually wrapped in melody and catharsis. But lately, as
- [Special Delivery: Grace Hatchell Seeks Love (First Class Only, Mind)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/special-delivery-grace-hatchell-seeks-love-first-class-only-mind/): Now then. With Valentine’s Day creeping up like a dramatic interval ice cream seller, I’ve been asked — more than once, I might add — what a Yorkshire postwoman with a bicycle, a satchel and a suspicious amount of theatre gossip does on the most romantic day of the year. Well. First of all, I
- [Craig Kitman MP Didn’t Sign Up for This…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/craig-kitman-mp-didnt-sign-up-for-this/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Well now. There’s a bright red envelope in my satchel and I must confess — I don’t usually do bright red. I’m more of a sensible Royal Mail shade. But with Valentine’s Day looming, perhaps I can make an exception… especially when the red in question belongs to The
- [Can Eight World Premieres Shape a Season?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-eight-world-premieres-shape-a-season/): Chichester Festival Theatre has announced its Festival 2026 season, running from March to October, with Artistic Director Justin Audibert and Executive Director Kathy Bourne unveiling a programme led by no fewer than eight world premieres. The question is not simply about scale, but intent. As six previous Chichester productions continue to play in London and
- [What happens when a fringe theatre dares to reset?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-a-fringe-theatre-dares-to-reset/): By Grace Hatchell, Postie With The Mostie Right then, gather round because there’s a rather exciting envelope in my satchel from Alphabetti Theatre — and it’s stamped new chapter. Newcastle’s award-winning home of fringe performance, creative community and brave new writing has announced its Spring 2026 season alongside plans for a programming shift ahead of
- [Roll for Initiative: Is Tartan Tabletop About to Cast a Spell Over Fringe 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/roll-for-initiative-is-tartan-tabletop-about-to-cast-a-spell-over-fringe-2026/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers There are two types of people at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Those who say, “I don’t really get Dungeons & Dragons.” And those who already have a character sheet prepared. The return of Tartan Tabletop: A Dungeons & Dragons Comedy as part of Gilded Balloon’s first 2026 shows on
- [“Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me”… But Is This Summerhall’s Most Life-Affirming Fringe Return?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tomatoes-tried-to-kill-me-but-is-this-summerhalls-most-life-affirming-fringe-return/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers There are Fringe titles that whisper politely. And then there are Fringe titles that grab you by the lapels and shout: “Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life.” Reader. I nearly dropped my satchel. Partly because that is objectively one of the greatest titles ever printed
- [What Happens When the Teenagers Take the Gavel?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-the-teenagers-take-the-gavel/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Now then. Grace has delivered many things in her time — love letters, late bills, suspiciously heavy parcels marked “novelty mug” — but she never thought she’d be delivering news of teenagers running the courtroom. Yet here we are. Tron Theatre Company is bringing The Trials to the stage
- [What Happens When Eleven Women Refuse to Leave the Pitch?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-happens-when-eleven-women-refuse-to-leave-the-pitch/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Well now, Sheffield, you’ve gone and done it again. Today’s delivery in Grace’s satchel? Rehearsal images from the Crucible ahead of the world premiere of The Ladies Football Club at Sheffield — and let me tell you, this isn’t just another period play dusted off for polite applause. Oh
- [What do the first 351 Fringe shows tell us about Edinburgh 2026?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-do-the-first-351-fringe-shows-tell-us-about-edinburgh-2026/): The number landed first. Three hundred and fifty-one shows. That’s how many have stepped out into the light today, marking the first official reveal for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It’s Wednesday 11 February, still very much winter, and yet by midday the Fringe has reminded everyone what’s coming. Theatre, circus, cabaret, comedy, dance, children’s
- [The Pleasance didn’t shout this year. It didn’t need to](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-pleasance-didnt-shout-this-year-it-didnt-need-to/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers I wasn’t expecting this one so early. Usually the Pleasance waits until my shoes are already worn thin and my satchel’s full of rumours, flyers and half-remembered directions. But this year, their |Edinburgh Fringe programme slipped into my hands ahead of schedule, and that always tells me something. The
- [What’s This Then? A Little Note About Our Recent Visitors from China](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-this-then-a-little-note-about-our-recent-visitors-from-china/): By Grace Hatchell Now, I’m no stranger to an unexpected detour on my delivery round. I’ve ended up in the wrong foyer more times than I care to admit, once tried to usher myself into the stage door queue, and still occasionally wave at people who are very much not waving back. But this week?
- [Is Mamma Mia! really not a jukebox musical?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-mamma-mia-really-not-a-jukebox-musical/): “I don’t consider Mamma Mia! a jukebox musical,” says producer Judy Craymer — a statement that feels quietly provocative for a show built almost entirely from the back catalogue of ABBA. For many audiences, Mamma Mia! is the jukebox musical: sunny Greek islands, platform boots, and a playlist of songs so familiar they arrive pre-loaded
- [How well do you really know the person you let into your home?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-well-do-you-really-know-the-person-you-let-into-your-home/): What happens when the line between friendship, identity and obsession starts to blur — not in the shadows of the 90s, but in a hyper-connected world where nothing is ever truly private? That chilling question sits at the heart of Single White Female coming to the Arts Theatre, Cambridge , as the iconic psychological thriller
- [A Front-Page Spotlight for One Fringe Show (From June to August)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-front-page-spotlight-for-one-fringe-show-from-june-to-august/): Hello my lovely Fringe folk, If you’re reading this while juggling rehearsal schedules, flyering plans, ticket links, accommodation stress, and the small matter of keeping yourself upright — I see you. And I mean that properly. We all know times are tough. Tougher than they used to be. Bringing a show to the Edinburgh Fringe
- [Is Papatango Quietly Saving New Writing in the UK?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-papatango-quietly-saving-new-writing-in-the-uk/): At a time when playwriting budgets are being sliced thinner than a backstage sandwich, Papatango have quietly (and rather brilliantly) decided not to shrink, but to grow. Today they’ve announced a major remodelling of their much-loved Papatango New Writing Prize — and honestly, it feels like a bit of good news theatre folk have been
- [Who Put the Fairies in Charge?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/who-put-the-fairies-in-charge/): Right then, pop the fairy wings on and mind your step, because Birmingham Rep have just lifted the lid on the full cast for their upcoming A Midsummer Night’s Dream — and this one’s proudly Brummie to its bones. Coming to The House from Saturday 25 April to Sunday 24 May, this is Shakespeare with
- [Popcorn, sparks… and bringing the girlfriend](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/popcorn-sparks-and-bringing-the-girlfriend/): There’s something quietly radical about a love story that refuses to shrink itself. Polly: A 21st Century Love Story arrives at The Other Palace Studio this February as a one-night musical showcase, and on the surface it might sound like a familiar rom-com setup — popcorn, sparks, an old flame popping up at exactly the
- [Can a teenage outsider still speak to us now?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/can-a-teenage-outsider-still-speak-to-us-now/): Before the monster ever stomped into literary history, there was Mary. Young, sharp-minded, grieving, in love, and full of ideas that didn’t always sit comfortably with the world around her. That’s the Mary Shelley brought to the stage in this new production at the People’s Theatre — and it’s exactly why this play feels more
- [Burlesque the Musical brings glitter, glamour and grit to Birmingham this October](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/burlesque-the-musical-brings-glitter-glamour-and-grit-to-birmingham-this-october/): Grace nearly dropped her letters on New Street when this one slid into the satchel. Feathers, sequins and a whole lot of fabulous are heading for Birmingham, and not quietly either. Burlesque the Musical is sashaying into The Alexandra this autumn, running from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 17 October, as part of a major UK
- [Maternity Pay Under The Spotlight](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/maternity-pay-under-the-spotlight/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers I was halfway through my round this week when something stopped me dead in my tracks. Not a missed delivery, not a matinee overrunning, not even a door slammed in my face — but a post that landed with a quiet thud and stayed there. Katie Deacon shared openly
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Plans](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2026-plans/): Last year, when I was pedalling round Edinburgh with my satchel bumping against my hip and flyers spilling out like confetti, Theatre Village had a clear focus. We spent the Fringe championing women — their voices, their stories, their wit, their anger, their joy. And it mattered. It still does. But this year, as I’ve
- [Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) UK Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/eat-the-rich-but-maybe-not-me-mates-x-uk-tour/): This one arrived in me satchel with a bit of swagger, like it already knew it were a hit. And fair enough — Eat the Rich (but maybe not me mates x) is back by popular demand, marching straight into the main space at Soho Theatre this summer. After sold-out runs nationwide, a critically acclaimed
- [My Brother’s a Genius – Debris Stevenson’s new play at Sheffield Theatres and UK tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/my-brothers-a-genius-debris-stevensons-new-play-at-sheffield-theatres-and-uk-tour/): I arrived in Sheffield with me satchel bouncing, me scarf fighting the wind, and that familiar feeling that summat good were waiting inside the envelope. You can always tell. It’s either a parking fine… or brand-new theatre. This one? Oh, definitely theatre. Tucked inside were news of a brand-new production by Debris Stevenson, heading to
- [Throne of Ashes: Ìkú Bàbá Yèyé – the epic stage drama hiding in Woolwich Works’ February programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/throne-of-ashes-iku-baba-yeye-the-epic-stage-drama-hiding-in-woolwich-works-february-programme/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers This one nearly slipped past me. It arrived wrapped in bunting and craft tables, labelled “family fun” and nudged gently towards the pile marked half-term. I was halfway to filing it away when something caught my eye — not glitter, not glue sticks, but a proper piece of theatre
- [Exeter Northcott Theatre announces world premiere of Daphne, a new play about Daphne du Maurier](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/exeter-northcott-theatre-announces-world-premiere-of-daphne-a-new-play-about-daphne-du-maurier/): The Hatchell With The Satchel, its me Grace. This is a new stop on my route. I’ve added it quietly to the satchel, just beyond the familiar postmarks, somewhere west where the air changes and stories seem to cling to the landscape a little longer. I’m talking about Exeter Northcott Theatre, and if this first
- [Birmingham Royal Ballet announces 2026–27 season including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and The Maiden of Venice](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-royal-ballet-announces-2026-27-season-including-swan-lake-the-nutcracker-and-the-maiden-of-venice/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers This one arrived with a faint dusting of rosin and a very grand sense of occasion. I clocked it straight away — you don’t get through my satchel waving Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and a centenary year without me peeking inside. And sure enough, tucked neatly into the paperwork
- [This one didn’t come through the front door. Lark Rise to Candleford rehearsal update](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-one-didnt-come-through-the-front-door-lark-rise-to-candleford-rehearsal-update/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers A small, unmarked package slipped quietly into the 2nd Act Courier network, passed hand to hand, rehearsal room to sorting office, with strict instructions not to ask questions and definitely not to log it in the system. Naturally, that made it far more interesting. Inside were rehearsal glimpses from
- [Derby Theatre Spring 2026 Season Revealed: Macbeth, Little Shop of Horrors and More](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/derby-theatre-spring-2026-season-revealed-macbeth-little-shop-of-horrors-and-more/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Right then, Derby. I’ve not been yet… but after this little lot landed in my satchel, I’ve officially added you to my postal rounds. I might need a bigger bag. With a new year comes a brand-new spring season, and Derby Theatre’s Spring 2026 programme is positively bursting at
- [Yentl London premiere announced for Marylebone Theatre in 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/yentl-london-premiere-announced-for-marylebone-theatre-in-2026/): By Grace Hatchell I didn’t realise until this delivery that Kadimah Yiddish Theatre, founded back in 1911, is recognized as the oldest theatre company in Australia. On my international postal rounds, I’ve delivered news from all corners of theatre, but some envelopes still manage to surprise me. After a series of sold-out, award-winning seasons in
- [Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire 2026 – Please Mind the Beanstalk](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jack-and-the-beanstalk-at-hackney-empire-2026-please-mind-the-beanstalk/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers I don’t usually interfere with fairy tales while I’m on my delivery rounds… but sometimes a girl turns up with a brown leather satchel, a stamped envelope, and a suspicious little bag of magic beans. And before you know it, you’re part of the story. Yes, it’s that time
- [Three Actors, Twenty Characters: David Copperfield Comes to New York](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/three-actors-twenty-characters-david-copperfield-comes-to-new-york/): I nearly dropped my satchel when this one landed on my route. Twenty characters. Three actors. Endless mischief. And David Copperfield packing his bags for New York. Honestly, Dickens would’ve needed a stiff cup of tea. This summer, Guildford Shakespeare Company are hopping across the pond with their whirlwind, suitcase-bursting adaptation of David Copperfield, making
- [Sheffield Theatres kick off Extra Time alongside world premiere of The Ladies Football Club](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sheffield-theatres-kick-off-extra-time-alongside-world-premiere-of-the-ladies-football-club/): Areet, love — pull up a seat, because Sheffield Theatres are properly lacing up their boots this spring and I’m very much here for it. To mark the world premiere of The Ladies Football Club at the Crucible, they’re rolling out something called Extra Time — and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Not just
- [Iron Fantasy: When Gym Anthems Meet Medieval Theatre at Soho Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/iron-fantasy-review-when-gym-anthems-meet-medieval-theatre-at-soho-theatre/): Ey up pet, gather round — Grace Hatchell here, satchel under one arm, kettle on, muscles… absolutely not on show. And let me tell you, a show called Iron Fantasy landing at Soho Theatre this March has just marched straight into me delivery round and demanded a word. Now, when I first heard “sweaty live
- [How To Make a Mess: A Totally Unauthorised Love Letter to Nigella Lawson](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-to-make-a-mess-musical-review-and-preview-nigella-inspired-new-show-at-upstairs-at-the-gatehouse-2026/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Grace Hatchell had a brief moment of confusion when this press release landed in her satchel. A show directed by Grace Taylor? Written by Emily Rose Simons? For a second, I wondered if I’d accidentally commissioned myself while sleep-deprived and standing too close to the post sorting office kettle.
- [It Walks Around The House At Night London Premiere at Southwark Playhouse Borough – ThickSkin Ghost Story 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/it-walks-around-the-house-at-night-london-premiere-at-southwark-playhouse-borough-thickskin-ghost-story-2026/): Grace Hatchell here, moving very carefully through this one because the last thing you want with a ghost story is to stomp about announcing your presence. This delivery has atmosphere, attitude and a habit of lurking just out of sight. This March, the rather chilling It Walks Around The House At Night creeps into Southwark
- [Birmingham Royal Ballet Returns to Birmingham Hippodrome with Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote in Spring 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-royal-ballet-returns-to-birmingham-hippodrome-with-carlos-acostas-don-quixote-in-spring-2026/): Grace Hatchell here, popping by with a sun-soaked delivery from Birmingham Hippodrome, and honestly, this one’s got capes, kicks and a healthy dose of Spanish swagger tucked neatly into the satchel. Following a rather triumphant autumn 2025 tour of Black Sabbath – The Ballet (42,000 people and counting, if you’re keeping score) and while audiences
- [Stage One Announces First Mentors for 5 at 50 Programme Celebrating 50 Years of Theatre Producers](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stage-one-announces-first-mentors-for-5-at-50-programme-celebrating-50-years-of-theatre-producers/): Grace Hatchell here, satchel over one shoulder and a very serious announcement peeking out the top (don’t worry, I’ve still added a wink where appropriate). Stage One has officially opened applications for its shiny new ‘5 at 50’ initiative, celebrating 50 years of championing theatre producers, and they’ve just revealed the first three mentors who’ll
- [The Events at the Tron Theatre: Wonder Fools](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-events-at-the-tron-theatre-wonder-fools-present-david-greigs-modern-classic/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Choir, a Question, and a Quietly Shattering Night at the Tron By Grace Hatchell Right then. This is one of those shows that asks you to slow down, take a breath, and really listen. Wonder Fools, in association with Cumbernauld Theatre, return to the Tron Theatre with their latest staging
- [Rock & Roll Man – The High-Octane Musical About the Man Who Named Rock & Roll](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rock-roll-man-the-high-octane-musical-about-the-man-who-named-rock-roll/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Grace’s just legged it down the route with something properly rockin’ rattling about in her satchel, and it’s called Rock & Roll Man. The high-voltage new musical is firing up its UK tour at Salisbury Playhouse, and if you listen carefully, you can already hear the ghosts of jukeboxes
- [Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2026: judges revealed, finalists named, and somebody’s about to have a VERY good February](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/susan-smith-blackburn-prize-2026-judges-revealed-finalists-named-and-somebodys-about-to-have-a-very-good-february/): Right. Gather round, theatre lovelies, because the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced its 2026 judging panel for the 48th annual award, and it’s a proper line-up. If you’ve never clocked the Blackburn before: founded in 1978, it’s the oldest and largest international prize celebrating women+ playwrights writing for the English-speaking theatre. In plain Yorkshire:
- [Robin Hood Panto Comes to Whitley Bay Playhouse This January](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/robin-hood-panto-comes-to-whitley-bay-playhouse-this-january/): By Grace Hatchell I barely had time to sling my satchel over me shoulder before I found myself legging it through Sherwood Forest, trying not to trip over a Merry Man or get clonked on the head by an enthusiastic bow and arrow. That can only mean one thing: panto season is well and truly
- [Twenty Years, Countless Stages: Guildford Shakespeare Company Marks a Milestone](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/twenty-years-countless-stages-guildford-shakespeare-company-marks-a-milestone/): Grace Hatchell’s Satchel Drop: Twenty bold years for Guildford Shakespeare Company (and they’re not slowing down) Some theatre companies shout about anniversaries with balloons and bunting. Guildford Shakespeare Company? They quietly roll up their sleeves and get on with doing what they’ve always done best — making brilliant theatre in places you don’t expect, and
- [Chariots, Big Bands and Brilliant Chaos: Birmingham Rep’s 2026 Line-Up](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/chariots-big-bands-and-brilliant-chaos-birmingham-reps-2026-line-up/): Grace Hatchell’s Satchel Drop: Birmingham Rep kicks off 2026 with a packed house (and then some) I opened my inbox today and nearly dropped me brew — Birmingham Rep has gone and announced so many new shows for 2026 that it feels less like a season launch and more like someone’s flung the doors open
- [Love, Loss and a Few Ancient Stones: The King Stone Opens at Curve](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/love-loss-and-a-few-ancient-stones-the-king-stone-opens-at-curve/): Right, listen — I’ve pulled something out me satchel today that smells like wet stone, Scout huts, and that very specific Midlands kind of growing-up where you’re somehow tough as owt… and still one song away from crying into a cup of tea. It’s called The King Stone, and it’s a brand-new play rooted in
- [Learning How to Dive – New Play by Brendan Murray at White Bear Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/learning-how-to-dive-new-play-by-brendan-murray-at-white-bear-theatre/): Grace here, still brushing the rain off me coat and popping down Kennington way, because there’s something quietly intriguing about what’s washing up at the White Bear Theatre this February. Learning How to Dive is one of those titles that sounds gentle until you realise it’s about grief, secrets and the sort of truths that
- [Why Regional Theatre Needs Variety – And Why Risk Still Matters](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-regional-theatre-needs-variety-and-why-risk-still-matters/): A short social media post can sometimes say far more about the state of our industry than a glossy brochure or a packed opening night. Recently, a producer shared the news that a touring musical may be forced to step away from the road—not because audiences didn’t respond, not because the show lacked quality or
- [Ballet Icons Gala 2026 Celebrates 20 Years at the London Coliseum](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ballet-icons-gala-2026-celebrates-20-years-at-the-london-coliseum/): Grace here, stretching me calves and pretending I’ve got the posture of a principal ballerina (I haven’t), because Ballet Icons Gala is back and having a proper birthday do. The Gala celebrates its 20th anniversary at the London Coliseum on Sunday 15 February 2026 at 7pm, right there on St Martin’s Lane, and if you’re
- [This NYC Theatre Show Doesn’t Have Seats — It Has Your Phone Number](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-nyc-theatre-show-doesnt-have-seats-it-has-your-phone-number/): By Grace Hatchell II’ll be honest with you: when a show asks me to answer my phone instead of taking my seat, my first thought is, “Is this theatre… or am I about to argue about my broadband?” Then I found out the call was coming from New York City theater — and suddenly I’m
- [Midnight Musical Returns to London – Todrick Hall’s Original New Musical at Sadler’s Wells East](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/midnight-musical-returns-to-london-todrick-halls-original-new-musical-at-sadlers-wells-east/): Midnight Returns to London Following Sold-Out Workshop Presentation Following a sold-out initial workshop, Midnight, the original new musical by Todrick Hall, returns to London next month for a second development presentation. The production opens at Sadler’s Wells East for a strictly limited run, offering audiences a rare chance to experience the evolution of a new
- [Collaborator by Ockham’s Razor: Intimate Aerial Duet Explores Trust And Partnership](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/collaborator-by-ockhams-razor-intimate-aerial-duet-explores-trust-and-partnership/): Grace is writing this one upside down. Not literally (HR would have words), but emotionally — because Collaborator, the new show from Ockham’s Razor, is the kind of work that asks you to stop looking at outcomes and start looking at effort. Balance. Trust. The wobble before the catch. Produced by Turtle Key Arts, Collaborator
- [Sheridan Smith and Romesh Ranganathan reshape Woman in Mind in new West End revival](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sheridan-smith-and-romesh-ranganathan-reshape-woman-in-mind-in-new-west-end-revival/): Grace doesn’t usually get worked up about production photos. They tend to confirm what we already know: costumes exist, actors are standing in rooms, a show is definitely happening. But the release of first images for Woman in Mind does something more interesting than that. It quietly reframes expectations — not because of how the
- [The Last Picture: new play by Catherine Dyson opens at York Theatre Royal](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-last-picture-new-play-by-catherine-dyson-opens-at-york-theatre-royal/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL? A VERY GOOD DOG AND A VERY IMPORTANT STORY Well hello there — Grace Hatchell here, boots back on the pavement and satchel officially reopened for 2026. And what’s the very first delivery of the year? A brand-new play, a beloved theatre, and — hold onto your programmes — an emotional
- [Spotting A Scam](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spotting-a-scam/): A Warning to Performers: Be Alert to Sophisticated Casting Scams Theatre Village has recently seen increased discussion within the performing arts community about highly convincing casting scams targeting actors and creatives. These are not the obvious, poorly written messages many people associate with scams. They are carefully constructed, patient, and designed to look and feel
- [Our Little Hour Musical Tours UK in Campaign to Honour Walter Tull](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/our-little-hour-musical-tours-uk-in-campaign-to-honour-walter-tull/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Story That Refuses to Be Forgotten Some shows arrive with jazz hands and glitter. Others arrive carrying something heavier — history, truth, and a quiet insistence that we look again. Our Little Hour is very much the latter. This critically acclaimed new musical, commissioned by Show Racism the Red Card,
- [Liam Driscoll Photography: Supporting Emerging Actors Through the Lens](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/liam-driscoll-photography-supporting-emerging-actors-through-the-lens/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A Lens, a Leap, and a Lot of Heart Some names land in my satchel wrapped in glitter and glossy press quotes. Others arrive more quietly — no fanfare, no polish — just honesty, graft, and a genuine love for the work. And truth be told, those are often my favourites.
- [Review: Brainiac Live!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-brainiac-live/): Following its 2025 Olivier Award win for Best Family Show, Brainiac Live! returns with confidence — and it’s easy to see why this science spectacular continues to draw such enthusiastic crowds. This high-energy production takes everything audiences loved about the original Brainiac phenomenon and amplifies it for the stage. From the moment the show begins,
- [Arts or Politics? Why the Kennedy Center Renaming Has Sparked Cultural Division](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/arts-or-politics-why-the-kennedy-center-renaming-has-sparked-cultural-division/): The Kennedy Center’s longtime Christmas Eve jazz host Chuck Redd confirmed he cancelled the annual concert after the board of trustees voted to rename the venue in honour of both the 35th U.S. president and President Donald Trump. The move has sparked widespread debate after the Kennedy Center was rebranded as the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
- [Two artists. One marriage. One morning that changes everything.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/two-artists-one-marriage-one-morning-that-changes-everything/): Next year, West London audiences are invited into a relationship on the brink as Spanish Oranges receives its world premiere in an intimate and unflinching new production. Produced by Counterminers, M&M Ents, and The Playground Theatre, the play marks the stage debut of acclaimed author Alba Arikha and promises a sharp, emotionally charged examination of
- [Try January at Riverside Studios: What’s On This January in London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/try-january-at-riverside-studios-whats-on-this-january-in-london/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Riverside Studios invites us to Try January (and honestly… why not?) January gets a bad rap. Cold. Dark. Everyone pretending they love kale.But Riverside Studios has looked January square in the face and said: “Actually, let’s make this fun.” The iconic West London venue has unveiled its Try January programme, and
- [Lyceum Theatre Sheffield 2026 Programme: What’s Coming Up](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lyceum-theatre-sheffield-2026-programme-whats-coming-up/): Right then, love — Grace here, scarf wrapped twice round, vowels stretched proper wide, and stood outside the Lyceum thinking, “Aye, this’ll sort us right out.” If January’s got you slumped on sofa wondering why it’s dark at four o’clock, the programme coming up at the Lyceum Theatre has other plans altogether. This is not
- [Aladdin Panto at Newcastle Theatre Royal: Danny Adams and Clive Webb Celebrate 20 Years](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/aladdin-panto-at-newcastle-theatre-royal-danny-adams-and-clive-webb-celebrate-20-years/): MEET CLIVE AND DANNY – STARS OF NEWCASTLE THEATRE ROYAL’S ALADDIN Grace Hatchell reporting, fingers numb, notebook full, heart warmed by slapstick. Some partnerships are written in the stars. Others are written in custard pies, collapsing cars, and twenty solid years of panto chaos. Father-and-son comedy duo Danny Adams and Clive Webb are back at
- [Jack and the Beanstalk Adults Only: Extra January 2026 Date Announced at King’s Head Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jack-and-the-beanstalk-adults-only-extra-january-2026-date-announced-at-kings-head-theatre/): By Grace Hatchell, Your Postie With The Mostie Well, well. Looks like the beanstalk’s grown another rung Word has fluttered straight into my satchel that King’s Head Theatre and James Quaife Productions have gone and added an extra Adults Only performance of Jack and the Beanstalk on 2 January 2026 — because when a panto
- [The Importance Of Reviews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-importance-of-reviews/): When Negative News Travels Faster Than the Show Itself Negative stories travel fast. Far faster than applause, word-of-mouth recommendations, or the quiet satisfaction of an audience leaving a theatre happy. That’s certainly been the case this week, following reports surrounding a performance of Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular Christmas Show at the Brighton
- [A New Christmas Musical Takes Shape at Abbey Road: Clockwork Christmas](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-new-christmas-musical-takes-shape-at-abbey-road-clockwork-christmas/): A brand-new Christmas musical is quietly ticking into life — and its first full expression has been recorded at one of the most iconic studios in the world. Clockwork Christmas is an eight-song concept album for a new musical, recorded at Abbey Road Studios with a 14-piece orchestra and featuring an impressive line-up of musical
- [The Freshwater Five: True Story Behind the Controversial Fishermen Case Touring the UK](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-freshwater-five-true-story-behind-the-controversial-fishermen-case-touring-the-uk/): Five fishermen.£53 million worth of cocaine.And a question that still haunts Britain’s justice system. In January 2026, The Freshwater Five sets sail on a national tour, bringing one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent British history to the stage. Produced by Isle of Wight theatre company Deadman, the play revisits the fate of
- [SUPPLIANTS OF SYRIA Brings Refugee Voices to the Heart of the London Stage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/suppliants-of-syria-brings-refugee-voices-to-the-heart-of-the-london-stage/): What Happens When Theatre Becomes Democracy? SUPPLIANTS OF SYRIA brings ancient Greek tragedy and modern refugee voices to Hoxton Hall There are shows you watch.And then there are shows that look straight back at you and ask, well then — what are you going to do about it? SUPPLIANTS OF SYRIA is very much the
- [David Copperfield By Guildford Shakespeare Company at Holy Trinity Church](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/david-copperfield-review-show-preview-guildford-shakespeare-company-at-holy-trinity-church-2026/): If you’ve ever fancied Dickens with a bit of fizz, mischief and a healthy dose of theatrical swagger, then pop the kettle on and listen up. David Copperfield is packing its trunks and rolling into Guildford in February 2026 – and trust me, this is not your dusty-library, stiff-upper-lip Dickens. This is Dickens with sparkle
- [Are Theatres Too Scared to Take Risks? The Rise of Jukebox Musicals and Safe Bets](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/are-theatres-too-scared-to-take-risks-the-rise-of-jukebox-musicals-and-safe-bets/): Special delivery from Grace’s satchel… Alright, my theatre-loving lovelies—Grace here with a question that’s been buzzing louder than the front row during a curtain call: is the West End starting to play it a bit too safe? Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve danced in the aisles to Mamma Mia! more times than I care
- [Lark Rise to Candleford Stage Adaptation UK Tour 2026 – Watermill Theatre & Theatre by the Lake](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lark-rise-to-candleford-stage-adaptation-uk-tour-2026-watermill-theatre-theatre-by-the-lake/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Hello my lovely theatre wanderers — Grace here, sat on the edge of my satchel with a cup of something warming and a soft spot for stories that smell faintly of fields, ink, and remembered childhoods. And this one? Oh, this one’s got heart stitched right through it. Lark
- [Brainiac Live! Birmingham Town Hall Christmas 2025 – Olivier Award-Winning Family Science Show](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/brainiac-live-birmingham-town-hall-christmas-2025-olivier-award-winning-family-science-show/): Right then, goggles on and eyebrows at the ready — Brainiac Live! is packing its lab coat and exploding into Birmingham Town Hall this Christmas, and yes… Grace has already checked the small print to make sure no one’s allowed to recreate this in the living room. Fresh from scooping the 2025 Olivier Award for
- [Hot Mess Musical Drops Cast Album – The Fringe Hit Theatre Village Backed](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hot-mess-musical-drops-cast-album-the-fringe-hit-theatre-village-backed/): By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Well well well… remember Hot Mess?Of course you do. We were talking about it before it became the show everyone suddenly “always believed in”. After a whirlwind year that saw Hot Mess ignite audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (yes, that Fringe), and then go on to light up
- [Children of the Night UK tour – a rave-fuelled 90s coming-of-age play heads to Doncaster, Birmingham and London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/children-of-the-night-uk-tour-a-rave-fuelled-90s-coming-of-age-play-heads-to-doncaster-birmingham-and-london/): Grab your glow sticks and dig out your knock-off Buffalo boots, because Children of the Night is about to drag us all back onto the dancefloor. This spring, Mad Friday Productions are throwing open the club doors and inviting audiences headfirst into the euphoria, chaos and sweat-soaked spirit of Northern England in the 1990s. Children
- [Shakespeare Gets a Glow-Up: Sweet Henry V Musical Premieres at Birmingham Rep](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/shakespeare-gets-a-glow-up-sweet-henry-v-musical-premieres-at-birmingham-rep/): Hear ye, hear ye! Fetch your quills, your goblets, and your fanciest pair of heels, because Birmingham Rep is kicking off 2026 with a right royal knees-up. They’ve just announced the full cast for the concert performance of Sweet Henry V — a brand-new musical swaggering into The Studio on Friday 23 and Saturday 24
- [Mythos: Ragnarök Brings Viking Wrestling Spectacle to UK Theatres in 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mythos-ragnarok-brings-viking-wrestling-spectacle-to-uk-theatres-in-2026/): I’ve just marched out of the longhouse (also known as my front door) with the biggest grin on my face, because—by Odin’s beard—this is a whopper. After four sell-out raids on the Edinburgh Fringe and a victorious sweep across the globe, Mythos: Ragnarök is finally sailing its longship across the UK in 2026… and yes,
- [Autumn/Winter Theatre Season at The Alexandra Birmingham: Musicals, Family Shows and TV Premieres](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/autumn-winter-theatre-season-at-the-alexandra-birmingham-musicals-family-shows-and-tv-premieres/): By Grace Hatchell 2nd Act Couriers Buckle up, theatre lovers — The Alexandra Birmingham has just dropped an Autumn/Winter season so packed with treats, surprises and gloriously chaotic stage magic that I nearly spilled my coffee rifling through my satchel. We’ve got screen-to-stage premieres that will make any TV fan squeal, family shows to keep
- [New Spring 2026 Touring Season from house Brings BLUBBER, Counting Sheeps and Rollercoaster to Regional Theatres](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-spring-2026-touring-season-from-house-brings-blubber-counting-sheeps-and-rollercoaster-to-regional-theatres/): Grace always perks up when regional theatre gets the spotlight. There’s something deeply joyful about seeing ambitious, high-quality work travel far beyond major metropolitan centres. The house southeast touring network, an initiative powered by Farnham Maltings and supported by Arts Council England, has announced a spring 2026 season that promises daring storytelling, electrifying tricks and
- [No Such Thing as Wolves: New Family Musical Premieres at Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/no-such-thing-as-wolves-new-family-musical-premieres-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Grace has just stopped by the Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio for a wonderful first sniff of No Such Thing as Wolves, and I can confirm the satchel is rustling with excitement. The Hippodrome has been quietly building a reputation for making new musicals for young audiences, and Wolves is the second chapter in their My
- [Stage One Launches 5 at 50 Producer Scheme for 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stage-one-launches-5-at-50-producer-scheme-for-2026/): Alright, gather round the satchel, because Grace has news that smells suspiciously like progress, opportunity and maybe even a cheeky celebratory glass of fizz. Stage One is officially turning 50 in 2026 – which in theatre years is roughly equivalent to celebrating your golden wedding anniversary with the West End. Fifty years of cheerfully helping
- [Review Of Aladdin At Phoenix Theatre, Blyth](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-aladdin-at-phoenix-theatre-blyth/): I visited the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth to see their pantomime production of Aladdin. It was my first visit to this venue, and overall it’s a lovely theatre with a welcoming atmosphere. The scenery for this production was very good, with thoughtful additions that helped bring the story to life. Lighting was well programmed, serving
- [Ambassador PEEL Playwriting Challenge 2025 Winner Announced](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ambassador-peel-playwriting-challenge-2025-winner-announced/): Grace Hatchell Reporting From the Captain’s Desk When I’m not navigating this fine ship through calm waters, you’ll usually find me sorting through my nautical postbag to see what theatrical delights have arrived on board. Today, there’s a real treasure: Ambassador Cruise Line and PEEL Entertainment Group have officially announced the winner of the Ambassador
- [A Christmas Carol at Sheffield Theatres: Festive Feels, Mighty Carols and a Scrooge Who’s Absolutely Not Having It](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-christmas-carol-at-sheffield-theatres-festive-feels-mighty-carols-and-a-scrooge-whos-absolutely-not-having-it/): Delivered straight from my snowy satchel – and no, I didn’t snoop in Scrooge’s ledger. Much. Grace Hatchell If you’ve ever wondered what Dickens’ A Christmas Carol might look like after a hearty Yorkshire brew, a stroll through the Peaks and a chorus of the famous Sheffield Carols, wonder no more. Sheffield Theatres have released
- [From Climate Trials to 80s Sit-Ins: Tron Theatre Unveils a Quest-Packed Spring/Summer 2026 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-climate-trials-to-80s-sit-ins-tron-theatre-unveils-a-quest-packed-spring-summer-2026-season/): Delivered with a flourish, a wink, and a very overstuffed satchel. Glasgow’s beloved Tron Theatre has just dropped its Spring/Summer 2026 season, and trust me — my postie senses are tingling. Artistic Director Jemima Levick is rolling into her second year with a programme stuffed to the brim with quests. Literal quests. Emotional quests. Community
- [Birds of Paradise Take On Sex, Disability and Honesty in Their Bold New Show * (We indulge in) a bit of roll play*](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birds-of-paradise-take-on-sex-disability-and-honesty-in-their-bold-new-show-we-indulge-in-a-bit-of-roll-play/): Acclaimed disability-led theatre company Birds of Paradise are back — and this time they’re diving head-first into the messy, intimate and rarely-discussed territory of sex and disability. Their new accessible production, (We indulge in) a bit of roll play, unfolds as a sharp domestic comedy that gradually cracks open into something far braver: a no-apologies
- [LOVE LIFE: WEST END UNITES AGAINST CANCER. Grace delivers the news straight from Drury Lane’s own postbox…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/love-life-west-end-unites-against-cancer-grace-delivers-the-news-straight-from-drury-lanes-own-postbox/): Right, lovelies — gather round. I’ve just ducked out of Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s stage door (don’t ask how I got in… a postie never reveals her routes) and my satchel is positively bursting with news. The West End is doing what it does best: coming together, raising its voice, and belting out something bigger
- [The Joy of Amateur Theatre (And Why Critics Should Talk About It More)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-joy-of-amateur-theatre-and-why-critics-should-talk-about-it-more/): There’s a particular kind of magic you only find in amateur theatre. You feel it the moment you step into a small auditorium, a school hall dressed up for opening night, or a converted space where someone has spent hours hanging fairy lights to make it feel welcoming. It’s a magic built not from money
- [Royal & Derngate Unveils Top Gs Like Me — A New Play on Toxic Masculinity and Online Culture](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/royal-derngate-unveils-top-gs-like-me-a-new-play-on-toxic-masculinity-and-online-culture/): Right, lovelies — grab your skateboards and your helmets, because Royal & Derngate in Northampton have only gone and turned their entire theatre into a full-blown skatepark. Yes, really. Radlands, but with better lighting and probably fewer broken elbows. They’ve just announced casting for Top Gs Like Me, a brand new play by Samson Hawkins
- [Review: The Nutcracker at Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-the-nutcracker-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Christmas at the Birmingham Hippodrome always feels a little magical, but this year’s production of The Nutcracker manages to go one step further — it’s enchanting, bold, and beautifully staged, with moments that sparkle and a few that simply glow. I was fortunate enough to attend and watch the production on its opening night. From
- [Step Into the Shadows This Christmas: The Signalman Haunts the Drayton Arms Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/step-into-the-shadows-this-christmas-the-signalman-haunts-the-drayton-arms-theatre/): If your idea of festive fun leans less towards tinsel and more towards tingles down the spine, then this Christmas has a dark little gift waiting for you. Mudlark Creative, teaming up with Drayton Arms Theatre, is bringing Charles Dickens’ ghostly classic The Signalman to life — and not in the cosy, fireside way you
- [Pearl Mackie Beams Into Queer Theatre as Their Newest Patron](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pearl-mackie-beams-into-queer-theatre-as-their-newest-patron/): By Grace Hatchell Right, gather round my lovelies — because something absolutely fabulous just dropped into my satchel, and no, it’s not another glitter-covered press release from someone’s over-enthusiastic marketing intern. Queer Theatre — London’s powerhouse for LGBTQIA+ stories, talent, and all-round theatrical brilliance — has just announced a brand-new patron. And not just any
- [40 Gifts For Theatre Lovers That Will Steal the Show!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/24-gifts-for-theatre-lovers-that-will-steal-the-show/): Introduction: The love for theatre and why it deserves a standing ovation Theatre is a captivating art form that has the power to transport us to different worlds, evoke emotions, and leave a lasting impact on our lives. Whether it's the thrill of live performances or the magic of storytelling, theatre lovers have a deep
- [What’s Coming to Birmingham Hippodrome in 2026? Grace Hatchell Spills All](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/whats-coming-to-birmingham-hippodrome-in-2026-grace-hatchell-spills-all/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? A very busy 2026 for Birmingham Hippodrome… and yes, I nearly dropped my letters when I saw the line-up. Right, lovelies — I was halfway through my delivery round when Birmingham Hippodrome plonked a whole stack of 2026 announcements into my hands. And let me tell you, this satchel has never
- [Our Little Hour Announces 2026 UK Tour: Cast Revealed for Walter Tull Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/our-little-hour-announces-2026-uk-tour-cast-revealed-for-walter-tull-musical/): Show Racism the Red Card is proud to reveal the full cast for the 2026 revival of OUR LITTLE HOUR, the acclaimed musical celebrating the life and legacy of Walter Tull. The production will tour theatres across the UK from 3 February to 21 March 2026, including a Newcastle stop at Alphabetti Theatre from 5–7
- [Aladdin at Sheffield Lyceum: Grace Hatchell’s Sneak Peek at the 2025 Panto Cast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/aladdin-at-sheffield-lyceum-grace-hatchells-sneak-peek-at-the-2025-panto-cast/): Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Productions have cracked open their rehearsal room doors — and trust me, lovelies, your girl Grace has been peeking through the keyhole like a nosy neighbour at bin-time — revealing first-look images for this year’s magical panto Aladdin, landing at the Lyceum Theatre from Friday 5 December to Sunday 4 January.
- [Women’s Prize for Playwriting Announces 2025 Shortlist – Grace Hatchell Has the Scoop](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/womens-prize-for-playwriting-announces-2025-shortlist-grace-hatchell-has-the-scoop/): Here comes Grace Hatchell, trotting in with her satchel bursting at the seams and a letter stamped VERY IMPORTANT THEATRE BUSINESS… Well darlings, gather round, because I’ve just pulled a rather weighty envelope from the depths of my satchel — the kind that practically hums with excitement (and possibly a leaking glitter pen). It’s from
- [Polka Theatre Unveils Magical New Festive Show: The Firework-Maker’s Daughter](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/polka-theatre-unveils-magical-new-festive-show-the-firework-makers-daughter/): Polka Theatre’s Artistic Director Helen Matravers, Executive Director Lynette Shanbury, and the entire Polka team are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for The Firework-Maker’s Daughter, Polka’s brand-new festive production for ages 6–12. Adapted by Jude Christian and directed by Lee Lyford, this reimagining of Philip Pullman’s award-winning story runs in the Y
- [The Liar, The Bitch and The Wardrobe Returns to London: A Very Naughty Christmas at The Union Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-liar-the-bitch-and-the-wardrobe-returns-to-london-a-very-naughty-christmas-at-the-union-theatre/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?A press release so spicy I had to double-check I hadn’t accidentally wandered into the wrong kind of matinee. Yes, darlings — The Liar, the Bitch and the Wardrobe is back, and my Yorkshire cheeks have gone all shades of beetroot. Following a sold-out run at The Turbine Theatre last year, How
- [Spirix Retold: Wigan’s Epic Youth Dance Production Lands This December](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spirix-retold-wigans-epic-youth-dance-production-lands-this-december/): By Grace Hatchell Right then love — I’ve just dragged myself back from a week up in Yorkshire (winds strong enough to exfoliate you), and what’s the first thing I pull out of my satchel? A proper Wigan wonder. And yes — before you ask — I know Wigan is technically in Greater Manchester. I
- [Corn Exchange Newbury Unveils Its Jam-Packed Spring 2026 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/corn-exchange-newbury-unveils-its-jam-packed-spring-2026-season/): Right then lovelies — I’ve finally dusted off my satchel after a week gallivanting around Yorkshire (don’t ask how many Yorkshire puddings I managed — let’s just say I needed a lie-down). But now I’m back on my route, and today’s delivery is a belter from Corn Exchange Newbury, who’ve gone and announced a spring
- [Gerry & Sewell Heads to the West End: A North East Underdog Story](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/gerry-sewell-heads-to-the-west-end-a-north-east-underdog-story/): By Grace Hatchell Right, love — before I dive into today’s delivery, a quick apology from your favourite theatre postie. I’ve been up in Yorkshire all last week (family, flat caps, and a frankly irresponsible amount of gravy), so this little gem has been satchel-side waiting for me to trot it down to you. But
- [Review: We Will Rock You – Bradford Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-we-will-rock-you-bradford-playhouse/): I happened to be in the City of Culture – Bradford – so it only felt right to venture out and catch some theatre. I found myself at the Bradford Playhouse for an amateur production of We Will Rock You. Before the show, I gathered in the bar with other audience members until we were
- [Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company Presents Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – Tickets Now On Sale](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/alderley-wilmslow-musical-theatre-company-presents-chitty-chitty-bang-bang-tickets-now-on-sale/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Alderley & Wilmslow Musical Theatre Company:Why this might be the most important ticket you buy this year You know those shows that come with a puff of nostalgia the moment you hear the title?This one has it. That unmistakable name. That tune you already know.That flying
- [Disco 2000 Debuts In London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/disco-2000-debuts-in-london/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Disco 2000 is coming to London Right, theatre lovers. Gather round the sorting desk, because I have a delivery that has me practically sprinting down the street with excitement. Our Satchel of Stars winners from the Edinburgh Fringe — Disco 2000 — is officially making its London debut. Yes, the award-winning
- [Straight from Grace’s Satchel: Blyth’s Aladdin is making this year’s magic carpet ride accessible for everyone](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/straight-from-graces-satchel-blyths-aladdin-is-making-this-years-magic-carpet-ride-accessible-for-everyone/): If you’ve ever wished pantomime magic could be enjoyed without barriers, the Phoenix Theatre in Blyth has rubbed the lamp and made it happen. They’re not just putting on a pantomime this year — they’re making theatre genuinely welcoming. The Phoenix team are introducing two special performance types for Aladdin: British Sign Language integrated performances
- [Glass Slippers Off, Attitude On – Disenchanted! storms into Lichfield Garrick](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/glass-slippers-off-attitude-on-disenchanted-storms-into-lichfield-garrick/): Glass Slippers Off, Attitude On – Disenchanted! storms into Lichfield GarrickBy Grace Hatchell Once upon a time, a bunch of princesses got tired of waiting around for true love’s kiss — so they started a band. Or, at least, something equally fabulous. Disenchanted! is marching into the Lichfield Garrick this April, and trust me, this
- [A Whisper, a Boil, and a Bit of Mystery: The Boline Inn Welcomes You In](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-whisper-a-boil-and-a-bit-of-mystery-the-boline-inn-welcomes-you-in/): By Grace Hatchell- The Hatchell With The Satchel There’s something deliciously unsettling about a play set in a place that promises warmth. The Boline Inn — that curious refuge from the world of cassette tapes, perms, and shoulder pads — invites you to sit by the fire and listen closely, because the walls have a
- [Rising Producers Set for Spotlight: Stage One Reveals 2025/26 Placement Cohort](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rising-producers-set-for-spotlight-stage-one-reveals-2025-26-placement-cohort/): Stage One has unveiled the eight emerging producers selected for its 2025/26 Placement Scheme, marking another exciting step in developing the next generation of commercial theatre talent. Over the coming year, these producers will work across some of London’s leading commercial production offices and the UK’s most dynamic regional theatres — learning the ropes of
- [Fifty Years Young: NYMT Hits Its Golden Note with a Dazzling 50th Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fifty-years-young-nymt-hits-its-golden-note-with-a-dazzling-50th-season/): By Grace Hatchell, Theatre Village If you ever needed proof that Britain’s future in musical theatre is in safe (and jazz-handed) hands, look no further than the National Youth Music Theatre — or NYMT, if you’re in the know. They’ve just hit the big 5-0, and like any good showbiz icon, they’re marking the milestone
- [From Blind Date to the Bidding Room: Cilla’s Dresses Go Under the Hammer for Variety](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-blind-date-to-the-bidding-room-cillas-dresses-go-under-the-hammer-for-variety/): By Grace Hatchell, Theatre Village Step aside, Saturday night telly—Cilla’s back in the spotlight! Nearly a decade after her passing, the nation’s favourite redhead is still spreading smiles. This time, it’s through a glittering charity auction where fans can literally take home a piece of her wardrobe. On Friday 28th November (1–4pm), Nesbits Auctions Ltd
- [A Bold, Beautiful Comeback – Citizens Theatre’s Magical Christmas with Beauty and the Beast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-bold-beautiful-comeback-citizens-theatres-magical-christmas-with-beauty-and-the-beast/): Straight from Grace’s Satchel: Beauty, Beasts, and the Big Return of the Citz! Well, my loves — it’s official. Glasgow’s grand dame of storytelling is back with a roar, a shimmer, and a spot of festive mischief! The Citizens Theatre is reopening its glorious doors this Christmas with a sparkling new Beauty and the Beast
- [Birmingham Rep’s ‘Rep Together’ Campaign Makes Theatre Accessible for All](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-reps-rep-together-campaign-makes-theatre-accessible-for-all/): There are some deliveries that make me beam from ear to ear — and today’s is one of them. Straight from Birmingham Rep’s post room (and my satchel, of course), comes Rep Together — a heartfelt new campaign that’s about to make thousands of young Brummies fall in love with theatre for the very first
- [A Joyful Christmas Caper Lands in London: Unicorn Theatre’s How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-joyful-christmas-caper-lands-in-london-unicorn-theatres-how-does-santa-go-down-the-chimney/): By Grace Hatchell Well, my loves, if you’re wondering when the festive feeling officially arrives in London, I’d say it’s the moment Santa himself tries to squeeze down the chimney at the Unicorn Theatre. Yes, that’s right — the world premiere of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s picture book How Does Santa Go Down the
- [Jessica Regan’s 16 Postcodes Delivers London Life to the King’s Head Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jessica-regans-16-postcodes-delivers-london-life-to-the-kings-head-theatre/): Grace Hatchell delivers: 16 Postcodes lands in London Now, I know a thing or two about postcodes — I cover sixteen of them on my theatre round every week, so when a show called 16 Postcodes popped into my satchel, I nearly dropped my mailbag in delight. Following a critically acclaimed, sell-out run at the
- [Little Shop Of Horrors At Whitley Bay Playhouse Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/little-shop-of-horrors-at-whitley-bay-playhouse-review/): Little Shop of Horrors – Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company I attended Whitley Bay Playhouse to see Little Shop of Horrors, performed by Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company, an amateur group with clear ambition and enthusiasm. I’ve seen Little Shop before in much smaller venues, but this production was on a far grander scale. The
- [Snooze You Lose! Sleeping Beauty Is Wide Awake in Cambridge for a Sparkling Panto Run](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/snooze-you-lose-sleeping-beauty-is-wide-awake-in-cambridge-for-a-sparkling-panto-run/): Wakey wakey, Cambridge – it’s panto time! Sleeping Beauty is about to sprinkle fairy dust all over The Arts Theatre as it reopens its doors in dazzling style from Thursday 27 November 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026. This year’s show isn’t just a Christmas treat – it’s a milestone moment, marking twenty glitter-filled years
- [Maybe I Should Stop: Dark Comedy Road Trip Tackles Grief, Guilt and a Tub of Ashes at Drayton Arms Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/maybe-i-should-stop-dark-comedy-road-trip-tackles-grief-guilt-and-a-tub-of-ashes-at-drayton-arms-theatre/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Maybe I Should Stop – a darkly funny road trip that starts with a tub of Celebrations… and ends who knows where!Drayton Arms Theatre, 153 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 0LJPress Night: Thursday 20th November 2025 at 7pm You’ve heard of borrowing your dad’s car, but what about his ashes? That’s
- [Watford Palace Unveils Star-Studded Cast for Jack and the Beanstalk](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/watford-palace-unveils-star-studded-cast-for-jack-and-the-beanstalk/): Grace Hatchell’s Satchel Drop: Fee Fi Fo Fun in Watford! There’s a giant on the loose in Watford — and he sounds suspiciously like Stephen Fry. That’s right, Watford Palace Theatre has just unveiled the full cast for this year’s Christmas cracker Jack and the Beanstalk, running from Saturday 29 November 2025 to Sunday 4
- [Unicorn Theatre 2025/26 Season: Grace Hatchell Thought She’d Find a Unicorn (She Found Something Better)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/unicorn-theatre-2025-26-season-grace-hatchell-thought-shed-find-a-unicorn-she-found-something-better/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL? You’ll never guess where I ended up this week — delivering to the Unicorn Theatre! And yes, before you ask, I did think there was an actual unicorn. I had my camera ready and everything. Turns out it’s even better — a whole season of magical new shows for children and
- [Get Ready, Leicester! Mamma Mia! Brings ABBA Magic to Curve This March 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/get-ready-leicester-mamma-mia-brings-abba-magic-to-curve-this-march-2026/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL? Oh honey, you can dance, you can jive, and you can definitely have the time of your life — because MAMMA MIA! is packing its platform boots and heading out on a brand-new UK tour! I nearly dropped my postbag when I heard the news — the full cast has been
- [Miscast – Whitley Bay Playhouse Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/miscast-whitley-bay-playhouse-review/): A night of talent that deserved a full house On Monday evening, I attended Miscast at Whitley Bay Playhouse – an evening where West End performers and students from the Northern School of Musical Theatre took to the stage to perform songs from roles they wouldn’t usually be cast in. The performance was in aid
- [From Planet Omar to Pigs Who Sing – Grace’s Family Post from Birmingham Rep!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-planet-omar-to-pigs-who-sing-graces-family-post-from-birmingham-rep/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?Grace Hatchell reports from Birmingham – where laughter, clay, and big bad wolves are taking over The Rep! There’s never a dull moment in Birmingham, and The Rep’s new family-friendly programme proves it. Hot off the post, they’ve announced five brand-new shows for kids (and the grown-ups who secretly love them just
- [Scrooge, Spirits, and Sparkle – Christmas Magic Returns to the Barn!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/scrooge-spirits-and-sparkle-christmas-magic-returns-to-the-barn/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?Grace Hatchell brings tidings (and a few ghosts) from Cirencester! Written by Charles DickensAdapted by Alan PollockDirected by Jessica DanielsPlaying Monday 1 December – Sunday 4 January at the Barn Theatre, Cirencester Well, if there’s one thing guaranteed to make you feel festive (and slightly guilty about how many mince pies you’ve
- [Precipice at New Diorama Theatre: Grace Hatchell Delivers the First Look at Timelapse’s Bold New Electro-Folk Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/precipice-at-new-diorama-theatre-grace-hatchell-delivers-the-first-look-at-timelapses-bold-new-electro-folk-musical/): Grace’s Satchel: Well, darlings — the clocks at Greenwich might be ticking, but time is about to do something far more theatrical. Word in the postbag is that a brand-new electro-folk musical called Precipice is tumbling into the New Diorama Theatre this November, and honestly, it sounds like one wild, time-bending ride. Straight from the
- [Review: Steve Steinman Anything For Love – Whitley Bay Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-steve-steinman-anything-for-love-whitley-bay-playhouse/): A Fiery Hit! Last night I headed to the Whitley Bay Playhouse to see Steve Steinman’s Anything For Love. I’d seen the show before at the Birmingham Alexandra, back when Trixie Bell was in the cast, but this time brought some fresh faces and a few fiery surprises. The evening began with a video projection
- [The Hunchback of Notre Dame swings into Blyth with Beaconsfield Musical Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-swings-into-blyth-with-beaconsfield-musical-theatre/): Right, my loves – put your phones down and perk your ears up because the bells of Notre Dame are about to ring out across Blyth, and trust me, you’ll want to be in the Phoenix Theatre to hear them. Beaconsfield Musical Theatre are marching into town with The Hunchback of Notre Dame from 8–11
- [Revel Puck Circus brings Winter Festival to Walthamstow. Fête du Puck & The Ugly Duckling 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/revel-puck-circus-brings-winter-festival-to-walthamstow-fete-du-puck-the-ugly-duckling-2025/): Grace here – and if your idea of festive sparkle involves roller skates, aerialists and maybe even a clown from Canada, then East London’s own Revel Puck Circus have got you covered. They’re back in town this winter with their Winter Festival, taking over Walthamstow Town Square from 4 December – 4 January. And let
- [Psychological Thrills and Ghostly Chills at the People’s Theatre This October](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/psychological-thrills-and-ghostly-chills-at-the-peoples-theatre-this-october/): If you’re looking for something spine-tingling this spooky season, the People’s Theatre in Heaton has just the ticket. This October, audiences can expect tense psychological drama in Enlightenment and hair-raising supernatural suspense in The Ghost Train (Revised) — two shows guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. First up, from 13–18 October,
- [Step Into Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Arrives in Sheffield for Its 75th Anniversary](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/step-into-narnia-the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe-arrives-in-sheffield-for-its-75th-anniversary/): It’s time to dust off your fur coats and keep an eye out for any mysterious wardrobes, because a magical adventure is coming to Sheffield this October. The West End smash-hit production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will be taking over the Lyceum Theatre — and it couldn’t be better timed, as
- [From Tokyo to London: Japanese Cast of SIX the Musical Debuts at the Vaudeville](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-tokyo-to-london-japanese-cast-of-six-the-musical-debuts-at-the-vaudeville/): I’m beginning to lose count of how many wives Henry had, because I’m pretty sure I’ve just signed up as the seventh. Don’t tell the others, but if there’s a crown going spare, I’ll happily take it in navy blue with a feather to match my postie’s hat. Honestly, working at 2nd Act Couriers has
- [Miscast at Whitley Bay Playhouse – One Night Only Charity Gala with Musical Theatre Stars](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/miscast-at-whitley-bay-playhouse-one-night-only-charity-gala-with-musical-theatre-stars/): Grace’s Satchel Special Delivery: MISCAST – Musical Theatre but not as we know it! Well my loves, I’ve just had a letter drop through my satchel that has me twirling round the post room — and no, it’s not another bill for my moped repairs! It’s far more exciting. Word on the cobblestones is that
- [From Snoozing Princess to Fire-Breathing Dragon – Sleeping Beauty Hits Coventry](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-snoozing-princess-to-fire-breathing-dragon-sleeping-beauty-hits-coventry/): Grace Delivers: Sleeping Beauty at the Belgrade Postbags at the ready – Coventry, your Christmas panto parcel has arrived, and it’s a corker. Artistic Director Corey Campbell, CEO Laura Elliot, and the whole Belgrade Theatre team have unwrapped the full cast and creative crew for this year’s festive favourite Sleeping Beauty, written by and starring
- [GRIMM Is Back – The Show That Turns Grimsby’s History Into Theatre Magic](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grimm-is-back-the-show-that-turns-grimsbys-history-into-theatre-magic/): GRIMM Returns to Revive Grimsby’s Fishing Heritage By Grace Hatchell Well loves, pack your oilskins and lace up your dancing shoes, because the infamous Ship Disco is throwing its doors wide once again. There’s a pint with your name on it, and if you’ve never stepped into GRIMM before, you’re in for a proper night
- [Rush Tickets- What Are They?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rush-tickets-what-are-they/): Rush Tickets: Your Guide to Last-Minute Theatre Magic Theatre has always been about timing — the right cue, the perfect pause, the beat before the laugh. But for audiences, timing can also mean snagging an incredible seat for a fraction of the usual price. That’s where rush tickets come in. If you’ve ever wondered how
- [Transport Explorers Live Show at London Transport Museum – Final Half Term Performances 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/transport-explorers-live-show-at-london-transport-museum-final-half-term-performances-2025/): Grace Hatchell here – and let me tell you, there’s nothing like the smell of petrol, a sticky carburettor, and the sound of a spluttering moped to remind you that London transport takes many forms. Mine broke down again this morning just outside Covent Garden, so while the lovely chap at the bike shop fiddled
- [Blue/Orange Gets a Bold New Twist at Greenwich Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/blue-orange-gets-a-bold-new-twist-at-greenwich-theatre/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Well my dears, Grace here, puffing my way up Crooms Hill with a satchel positively bursting with theatre gossip – and today it’s all about a sizzling new revival that’s causing quite the stir in South London. Greenwich Theatre has just announced the cast for its 25th anniversary production of Blue/Orange,
- [Interview With Ben Fenwick-Miss Saigon](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-ben-fenwick-miss-saigon/): From Stage School to Saigon: Newcastle’s Own Ben Fenwick on Joining the Global Phenomenon When Miss Saigon opens at Newcastle Theatre Royal this October, audiences will witness the beginning of a brand-new UK tour of one of the world’s most iconic musicals. But for one cast member, the experience is more than just another job
- [Join the Merry Band: Robin Hood and Maid Marian Pantomime at Corn Exchange Newbury 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/join-the-merry-band-robin-hood-and-maid-marian-pantomime-at-corn-exchange-newbury-2025/): Oh, how I wish it were me stepping out in the velvet gowns and swishing through the forest as Maid Marian this Christmas! But alas, my satchel is too full of theatre gossip and press releases for me to trade it in for a bow and arrow. Luckily, Corn Exchange Newbury have found just the
- [Don Black’s From The Heart – West End Premiere at the Fortune Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/don-blacks-from-the-heart-west-end-premiere-at-the-fortune-theatre/): From The Heart – Don Black’s All-Star West End Premiere This autumn, Oscar and multi-award-winning lyricist Don Black CBE brings his lifelong love of cabaret to the West End with From The Heart, a brand-new revue set to light up the Fortune Theatre. Performances run on Sunday 26 October and Sunday 2 November 2025, with
- [The Little Mermaid Makes a Splash at the Watermill](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-little-mermaid-makes-a-splash-at-the-watermill/): Pop on your sea boots, darlings, because this Christmas the Watermill Theatre is diving headfirst beneath the waves — and I’ve already had a sneaky peek into my satchel to see who’s swimming about down there. From 26 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, Newbury’s gorgeous Watermill is serving up The Little Mermaid, but not
- [Feed Me, Seymour! Little Shop of Horrors Comes to the Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/feed-me-seymour-little-shop-of-horrors-comes-to-the-playhouse/): A Monster of a Musical Lands in Whitley Bay – Grace Delivers the Gossip on Little Shop of Horrors Darlings, you’ll want to hold on to your gardening gloves for this one — because Whitley Bay is about to sprout something rather sinister (and no, I don’t mean the chrysanthemums on Marine Avenue). From 22nd–25th
- [Open Casting Call: Birmingham Rep Seeks Local Actors for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (April 2026)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/open-casting-call-birmingham-rep-seeks-local-actors-for-a-midsummer-nights-dream-april-2026/): Grace’s Satchel Stop: Birmingham Rep throws open the doors for a Dreamy Casting Call Well, well, West Midlands — get your headshots polished and your best party shoes at the ready, because The Rep is throwing the gates wide open for local talent to shine. Fresh off revealing their shiny new season, Birmingham Rep have
- [Dundee Rep’s Jack and the Beanstalk With a Highland Coo Twist](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dundee-reps-jack-and-the-beanstalk-with-a-highland-coo-twist/): Hold onto your letterboxes, my loves, because I’ve got a Christmas cracker of a story for you — and no, it’s not the one about your uncle nodding off in front of the Queen’s Speech (RIP, Queen, God save the King, etc.). This winter, the mighty Dundee Rep Theatre are about to send us sky-high
- [Amici: Our History and Our Time Honour Wolfgang Stange](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/amici-our-history-and-our-time-honour-wolfgang-stange/): Amici Dance Theatre Company are preparing for an extraordinary season that both looks back on 45 years of pioneering work and steps boldly into the future. This autumn, the company will present Amici: Our History, a new exhibition celebrating their journey, alongside a major full-company production, Our Time. Both projects are produced by Turtle Key
- [West End Musical Halloween: A Spooky Night at the Lyric](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/west-end-musical-halloween-a-spooky-night-at-the-lyric/): What’s That Rustling in Grace’s Satchel? A Spooky West End Treat! Oi, stop rattling your letterbox — I’ve got a proper fang-tastic delivery for you. London’s longest-running West End concert series is back, and this time it’s dressed head-to-toe in cobwebs and glitter. That’s right, West End Musical Halloween is swooping into the Lyric Theatre
- [Ghosted! A New Musical Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ghosted-a-new-musical-review/): Ghosted! A New Musical For fans of Rocky Horror, Beetlejuice, and Ghosts, Ghosted! A New Musical the show's premise was that it delivers a hauntingly hilarious ride with a big heart. Henry, unable to cope with the death of his best friend Mia, joins a paranormal support group hoping to reconnect with her spirit —
- [Alhambra Panto 2025 – Snow White Brings Festive Magic & Laughter](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/alhambra-panto-2025-snow-white-brings-festive-magic-laughter/): Well loves, fetch your fairy-dust and polish your apples, because the Alhambra Theatre is opening its doors to a panto spectacular this December – and guess what’s in my satchel? A first-class invite to join the magic of Snow White. From 6th to 28th December, the Alhambra will be bursting at the seams with glitter,
- [Theatre Village 5 Stars for Hot Mess – Now Heading to London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-village-5-stars-for-hot-mess-now-heading-to-london/): Well loves, this one’s been smouldering away in my satchel for a while – and now it’s bursting into full flame. Theatre Village has been behind Hot Mess since before it even hit the cobbles of Edinburgh, and when it finally landed at the Fringe, we were there in the front row, handing over a
- [York to Mull: The Last Picture UK Tour 2026. A Story of Empathy Across Time](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/york-to-mull-the-last-picture-uk-tour-2026-a-story-of-empathy-across-time/): Grace Hatchell’s Delivery: The Last Picture – A New Play Touring the UK Well loves, I’ve just slipped another exciting package into my satchel – and this one’s marked fragile: handle with care. It’s called The Last Picture, a brand-new play by Catherine Dyson, and it’s heading out on tour in 2026 with English Touring
- [Not in the Mood for Quiche Anymore: Love, Lies, and Criminal Records at the Lion & Unicorn](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/not-in-the-mood-for-quiche-anymore-love-lies-and-criminal-records-at-the-lion-unicorn/): Becks is done with bad dates. She’s ready to find “the one.” When she meets her dream man online, it feels like fate is finally on her side. But there’s just one tiny hiccup—his criminal conviction. How bad can it really be? That’s the deliciously dark question at the centre of Not in the Mood
- [Waitress the Musical returns | Carrie Hope Fletcher stars at Birmingham Hippodrome 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/waitress-the-musical-returns-carrie-hope-fletcher-stars-at-birmingham-hippodrome-2026/): Well butter my crumpet and pop the kettle on – because there’s a heavenly smell of pie wafting into my postbag! And it’s no ordinary pie, loves… it’s Waitress, the smash-hit musical comedy, rolling back into town for a fresh UK and Ireland tour. And yes – it’s serving up a stop at Birmingham Hippodrome
- [Wicked Witches – A Popular Panto! Queer Christmas Spectacular at Pleasance London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wicked-witches-a-popular-panto-queer-christmas-spectacular-at-pleasance-london/): By Grace Hatchell- Postie Extraordinaire Pop the kettle on, loves, because I’ve just had the sparkliest bit of post drop into my satchel — and it’s got witches, snowstorms, and a Yellow Brick Road detour through Caledonian Road! This Christmas, Pleasance London is teaming up with those mischief-makers at The Vaults to bring us Wicked
- [The Ultimate Christmas Experience Returns: Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-ultimate-christmas-experience-returns-thursford-christmas-spectacular-2025/): The festive season wouldn’t be complete without a trip to North Norfolk’s Thursford Christmas Spectacular – and this year’s 48th production promises to be the most magical yet. Fresh from winning Best Christmas Experience at the Group Leisure and Travel Awards for the second year running, Thursford’s world-famous Christmas show is back from 8th November
- [Rude Health Festival 2025 brings bold theatre, dance & art to Cambois | Oct–Dec 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rude-health-festival-2025-brings-bold-theatre-dance-art-to-cambois-oct-dec-2025/): Right then, Villagers – clear a space on your calendars and polish your dancing shoes, because The Tute up in Cambois is back with its most ambitious season yet. Yes, the artist-led community charity that turned a miners’ welfare hall into a cultural powerhouse is serving us another round of the Rude Health Festival –
- [Cable Street Musical Returns to London’s Marylebone Theatre | Jan–Feb 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cable-street-musical-returns-to-londons-marylebone-theatre-jan-feb-2026/): This winter, one of London’s most powerful new musicals returns by popular demand. Cable Street, the sell-out sensation, will once again take to the stage – opening at the Marylebone Theatre with a fresh, electrifying reimagining of a pivotal day in the city’s history. On 4 October 1936, London’s East End became the frontline as
- [A Fairytale for Christmas 2025: Irish Music, Dance & Festive Cheer Across the UK](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-fairytale-for-christmas-2025-irish-music-dance-festive-cheer-across-the-uk/): Now then, my lovelies — if you thought Christmas was all mulled wine and Mariah Carey on repeat, let me slip this little gem into your satchel: A Fairytale for Christmas is back, and it’s bigger than ever. After four sell-out tours, this Irish Christmas concert is about to sprinkle its shamrock-tinted stardust across the
- [The Soon Life at Southwark Playhouse: Childbirth, Trauma & Post-Show Panels This October](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-soon-life-at-southwark-playhouse-childbirth-trauma-post-show-panels-this-october/): Grace’s Satchel Delivery: The Soon Life at Southwark Playhouse Well now, village readers – you don’t often see childbirth on stage, do you? Usually theatre keeps it off in the wings, whispers about it in passing, or pops it in for a cheap laugh. But The Soon Life, arriving at Southwark Playhouse Borough this October,
- [Annie the Musical Announces UK & Ireland Tour – Curve Leicester & Birmingham Dates Confirmed](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/annie-the-musical-announces-uk-ireland-tour-curve-leicester-birmingham-dates-confirmed/): The smash hit production of the musical ANNIE will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour, opening at New Wimbledon Theatre before visiting venues across the country, including Curve Leicester (Thursday 9 – Sunday 14 March 2027) and The Alexandra, Birmingham (Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 June 2027). Further dates and casting will be
- [The Meat Kings! Papatango Prize-Winning Play Premieres at Park Theatre 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-meat-kings-papatango-prize-winning-play-premieres-at-park-theatre-2025/): Grace Delivers: Papatango’s Prizewinner Sizzles at Park Theatre Well, lovelies, fresh from the Theatre Village sorting office comes a parcel stamped “Handle with Care – Contains Sharp Knives.” Why? Because Papatango and Park Theatre have announced the full cast for the world première of The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights – and trust me,
- [The Comedy About a Genius Sister History Tried to Erase – FANNY at the King’s Head](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-comedy-about-a-genius-sister-history-tried-to-erase-fanny-at-the-kings-head/): Grace’s Satchel Post: A Right Royal Fanny! “You’re not stupid for wanting things to change, Fanny – it’s just that we have to play the music that gets handed to us.” Oh, if that doesn’t sum up half the women in history, I don’t know what does. But here comes a show determined to rip
- [Possum Trot – Kathy Rucker’s Small-Town Nebraska Play Makes Its London Premiere](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/possum-trot-kathy-ruckers-small-town-nebraska-play-makes-its-london-premiere/): Straight from Grace’s Satchel: Possum Trot Brings Small-Town Nebraska to London Postmark this one “Nebraska (via London)” because playwright Kathy Rucker is posting herself across the pond this November with the world premiere of Possum Trot. And let me tell you, I nearly dropped my satchel when I saw the cast list. Rucker’s no stranger
- [Special Delivery from Sheffield Theatres!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/special-delivery-from-sheffield-theatres/): Well my loves, Sheffield’s got a proper autumn parcel to unwrap this year – and it’s not just conkers falling from the trees. The good folk at Sheffield Theatres have signed and sealed an exciting deal with four Associate Companies, all local, all brilliant, and all set to put their stamp on the city’s stages.
- [Grace’s Festive Satchel Stop: A Twister’s Heading for Heaton!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-festive-satchel-stop-a-twisters-heading-for-heaton/): Well my loves, I’ve barely finished dusting the tinsel out of my satchel and already the post has brought me a proper festive treat. This year’s pantomime at the People’s Theatre is none other than The Wizard of Oz — and let me tell you, it’s set to be a wicked and wonderful knees-up down
- [Grace’s Special Delivery from New York: Clippy Goes Off-Broadway](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-special-delivery-from-new-york-clippy-goes-off-broadway/): This week’s satchel comes stamped with an American postmark — because when a Fringe favourite crosses the Atlantic, it’s only right that Theatre Village is waiting at the mailbox Well my darlings, you never quite know what the post will bring — and today my satchel has delivered a paperclip with a vengeance. Not the
- [Double Bill at Laurels: As You Dislike It and Clownpocalypse Showcase Fresh Graduate Talent](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/double-bill-at-laurels-as-you-dislike-it-and-clownpocalypse-showcase-fresh-graduate-talent/): Review: As You Dislike It & Clownpocalypse at Laurels, Whitley Bay Last night I found myself at Laurels in Whitley Bay for a double bill: As You Dislike It, a retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, followed by the apocalyptic clown comedy Clownpocalypse. At first, there was little information given about whether these were
- [Ballet or Black Sabbath? Why Not Both at Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ballet-or-black-sabbath-why-not-both-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Birmingham Royal Ballet is cranking the amps to full volume this autumn as they storm into their 2025/26 season with the return of the smash-hit Black Sabbath – The Ballet. The production opens at Birmingham Hippodrome, the company’s home turf, from 18–27 September, before heading off on a UK tour that promises to shake audiences
- [Theatre Village’s Top 10 Shows to Watch Beyond the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-villages-top-10-shows-to-watch-beyond-the-fringe/): Before Edinburgh Fringe 2025 even began, Theatre Village made a bold move: we picked ten shows we believed in. We trusted our instincts, our satchel, and our knack for spotting what’s about to burst onto the horizon. And we weren’t wrong. These were our Top 10 Recommended Shows for Edinburgh Fringe 2025 (in no particular
- [Lost a Glass Slipper? The Garrick’s Season Will Help You Find the Perfect Fit](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lost-a-glass-slipper-the-garricks-season-will-help-you-find-the-perfect-fit/): Sharpen your pencils, polish those apples, and get ready for the sound of the school bell — because the Lichfield Garrick is striding into September with its biggest season ever. That’s right, dear readers, the Garrick’s timetable for 2025–26 has just been pinned to the noticeboard, and it’s bursting with enough drama, laughter, music, and
- [Extra! Extra! Don’t Dilly Dally Brings Music Hall Magic Back to UK Stage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/extra-extra-dont-dilly-dally-brings-music-hall-magic-back-to-uk-stage/): Stop twiddling your parasols and spit-polish those dancing shoes – the Music Hall is back, and it’s bringing the rafters down across the land! Don’t Dilly Dally is rolling into town with a trunk full of songs, laughter and nostalgia, ready to whisk audiences straight back to the golden age of variety. Where better to
- [FRONT PAGE NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE PRESS](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/front-page-news-from-the-village-press/): Sheffield – Saturday 13 September 2025 The presses are rolling, and we’ve got a first look into the newsroom of rehearsals at Sheffield Theatres, where Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa is taking to the Crucible stage from 13 September – 4 October 2025. This isn’t just any revival – it marks the very first production
- [Grace Delivers: Watford Palace Theatre’s Epic Autumn 2025 Season!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grace-delivers-watford-palace-theatres-epic-autumn-2025-season/): Ooh readers, I’ve just had to wrestle this one out me satchel because it’s a whopper! Watford Palace Theatre is flinging open its doors this September with a brand-new season that’s got more variety than a bakery counter. Not only are they serving up theatre, comedy, music, dance and cabaret galore, but they’re also unveiling
- [Grace’s Satchel Delivery: Oink if You’re Excited!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-satchel-delivery-oink-if-youre-excited/): Postie Grace here, and I’ve just pulled a squeaky-clean letter out me satchel that’s positively snorting with excitement. The Unicorn Theatre has unveiled the full cast and creative team for Stiles and Drewe’s The Three Little Pigs, and let me tell you, it’s going to be one ham-dinger of a show! This joyful musical –
- [Barrier(s) Breakthrough: Deafinitely Theatre’s Bold New Romance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/barriers-breakthrough-deafinitely-theatres-bold-new-romance/): Alright my lovelies, stop fiddling with your stamps and settle in – I’ve got a fresh delivery from Deafinitely Theatre, and it’s a first-class one. Artistic Director Paula Garfield, MBE (yes, royalty of the theatre postbag herself) has just announced the cast for their touring production of Barrier(s) by Eloise Pennycott. And who’s popping up
- [Feed the Need: Little Shop of Horrors Grows Again at Hope Mill Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/feed-the-need-little-shop-of-horrors-grows-again-at-hope-mill-theatre/): Hope Mill Theatre has announced a brand-new revival of the cult musical masterpiece Little Shop of Horrors, directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. The production will run from 25 September – 29 November 2026, with its national press night on 30 September. This ten-week engagement is set to make history as
- [Joe Murphy Hosts Open Forums at Birmingham Rep – Join the Conversation](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/joe-murphy-hosts-open-forums-at-birmingham-rep-join-the-conversation/): Well now, what’s this rattling into my satchel? None other than Birmingham Rep’s brand-new Artistic Director, Joe Murphy, is stepping out with his very first season announcement this month. But before he stamps it official, he’s inviting Brum’s theatre folk and neighbours to have their say in a series of Town Hall Talks. Think of
- [Satchel of Stars 2025: Wenches! vs Disco 2000 in the Final Showdown](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/satchel-of-stars-2025-wenches-vs-disco-2000-in-the-final-showdown/): The Theatre Village Satchel of Stars Award 2025 is being celebrated today, 1st September — a date that already sparkles with meaning. Traditionally, this day marks Heather’s Day for musical fans and for Harry Potter fans, it’s the magical moment the train leaves Platform 9¾ bound for Hogwarts. And now, thanks to Theatre Village, 1st
- [Yorke Dance Project’s Modern Milestones: From Martha Graham to Leonard Cohen Premieres](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/yorke-dance-projects-modern-milestones-from-martha-graham-to-leonard-cohen-premieres/): Clear some space in your diary, darlings — a very special delivery has just landed from Yorke Dance Project, and it’s brimming with anniversaries, icons, and premieres that span nearly a century of dance history. Modern Milestones is the name, and it’s quite literally that: a programme stacked with world premieres, UK premieres, and classics
- [New Earth Theatre Launches Living Archive: Celebrating 30 Years of BESEA Creativity](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-earth-theatre-launches-living-archive-celebrating-30-years-of-besea-creativity/): Special Delivery from Grace’s Satchel: A Living Archive Lands in Shoreditch Oh my word, Theatre Village friends — pop this in your diary and stick a shiny stamp on it. New Earth Theatre have only gone and launched the UK’s first ever public archive dedicated to British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) theatre. That’s right
- [Hedda at Orange Tree Theatre By Hettie Macdonald](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hedda-at-orange-tree-theatre-by-hettie-macdonald/): Well loves, the Orange Tree Theatre have slipped a very juicy letter into my satchel – a casting special delivery for Tanika Gupta’s Hedda. Already signed, sealed, and announced was the fabulous Pearl Chanda, but joining her in the Chelsea shadows are: Joe Bannister, Bebe Cave, Rina Fatania, Caroline Harker, Jake Mann, and Milo Twomey.
- [The People’s Theatre launches new season with Florian Zeller’s The Son](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-peoples-theatre-launches-new-season-with-florian-zellers-the-son/): I don’t know what’s happened… But something has. He’s changed. The People’s Theatre in Heaton is opening its brand-new Autumn/Winter Season with a play that has been making waves across the world: Florian Zeller’s internationally acclaimed drama The Son, translated by Christopher Hampton. At the heart of the story is 17-year-old Nicolas. His parents are
- [Announcing the Satchel of Stars Semi-Finalists!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/announcing-the-satchel-of-stars-semi-finalists/): After much reflection, laughter, and theatrical delight, I’m thrilled to share that two shows have moved forward as semi‑finalists for Theatre Village's Satchel Of Star Awards 2025—each for its own mesmerising reasons: Disco 2000 – A Vivid Celebration of Friendship & Nostalgia Hedge Theatre’s Disco 2000 dances through the spectrum of memory, friendship, and the ache
- [Theatre Village Ethical Standards Charter](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-village-ethical-standards-charter/): Delivered by Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Courier Hello lovelies,I’ve just tipped out my satchel and what should fall out but this shiny new Ethical Standards Charter. No, it’s not as tasty as a bag of Percy Pigs, but it might just keep us honest while we skip around the Fringe and beyond. So here’s what
- [Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 Closes with 2.6 Million Tickets and a Global Celebration of Performance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-festival-fringe-2025-closes-with-2-6-million-tickets-and-a-global-celebration-of-performance/): – The curtain has come down on another energising Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with the Fringe Society confirming that over 2.6 million tickets were issued for 3,893 shows across the city this August. Despite ongoing challenges facing artists and venues, the Fringe once again proved itself to be the world’s leading platform for new work and
- [Pleasance 2025: Edinburgh Fringe’s Award-Winning Powerhouse Turns 41](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pleasance-2025-edinburgh-fringes-award-winning-powerhouse-turns-41/): From Grace Hatchell Well lovelies, what a year for The Pleasance! They’ve just blown out the candles on their 41st Fringe birthday cake – and let me tell you, it wasn’t a wee sponge either. Try 293 shows squeezed across the Courtyard, Dome, and EICC – and nearly half a million tickets whisked through those
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2025: A Theatre Village Perspective](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2025-a-theatre-village-perspective/): Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s biggest arts festival, but this year one topic kept cropping up in conversations with audiences and performers alike: accommodation prices. The rising cost of staying in the city has shaped how people experience the Fringe. Many audiences are pushed to the outskirts, meaning late-night shows in the city centre lose
- [Festival Awards 2025 Winners From The List](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/festival-awards-2025-winners-from-the-list/): Right, loves, The List have just handed out their Festival Awards 2025 – and it’s a proper goodie bag of winners. After a cracking debut last year, they’ve only gone and raised the bar with a line-up that shows off the best of Edinburgh’s Art, Book, Film, Fringe and International festivals. Basically, the whole city’s
- [Review Of Exposure Therapy By Nicole Nadler At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-exposure-therapy-by-nicole-nadler-at-edinburgh-fringe/): The premise of Nicole Nadler’s Exposure Therapy is simple but striking: if she can stop being afraid, she could do anything – and maybe, just maybe, so could you. This isn’t theatre with a neat script or a tidy arc. Instead, Nicole invites her audience to share their own fears (anonymously) and then tackles them
- [Review Of Loos Loos Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-loos-loos-edinburgh-fringe/): The premise of Loos Loos is simple yet powerful: Freya and Lou are seventeen and share everything – body spray, the teachers’ green-biroed exasperations, and the messy, awkward beginnings of their sexuality. The play spotlights six weeks of their friendship, all unfolding in the toilets of their ordinary school – the one place they feel
- [Well, well, well – looks like our theatre crystal ball is working again, lovelies](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/well-well-well-looks-like-our-theatre-crystal-ball-is-working-again-lovelies/): Before Fringe even got going, we tipped Hot Mess as one to watch – and lo and behold, Ellie Coote and Jack Godfrey have only gone and snaffled the Popcorn Writing Award 2025. Satirical musical, climate chaos, break-ups, and witty one-liners – it had “winner” written all over it. And Theatre Village called it first.
- [The Satchel of Stars Award 2025: The Contenders](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-satchel-of-stars-award-2025-the-contenders/): Darlings, gather round – Grace here, satchel straps firmly fastened. Every August, Edinburgh throws up more shows than you can shake a falafel wrap at, but only one will glitter bright enough to nab The Satchel of Stars Award – the big shiny honour judged (and paid for) by Andrew himself. And guess who’s lugging
- [Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism Review At Edinburgh Fringe.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/me-and-my-year-of-casual-monasticism-review-at-edinburgh-fringe/): What, if anything, separates a medieval monk from a modern-day academic? According to Mary, the central figure in Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism, perhaps very little. This sharp, intelligent and refreshingly unconventional one-woman show explores that very question with a blend of historical commentary, personal confession, and sardonic wit. Written and performed by
- [So, What Kinda Shows Do We Review?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/so-what-kinda-shows-do-we-review/): By Grace Lovelies, one of the most common questions that pops into my satchel (somewhere between the fan letters, flyers and the occasional rogue biscuit) is this: “Grace, what kind of shows do Theatre Village actually review?” Here’s the truth: we’re not picky villagers. If it’s live theatre, we’ll give it a whirl — but
- [Review Of Faster In The Attic At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-faster-in-the-attic-at-edinburgh-fringe/): At first glance, Faster in the Attic might sound like a straight-up thriller: an astrophysicist working on a revolutionary study dies suddenly, and the truth of her death is thrown into question. Yet this production proves to be more than just a mystery. It is a exploration on grief, suspicion, and the impossibility of truly
- [Review Of Gimme A Sign At Edinburgh Fringe By Bailey Swilley](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/gimme-a-sign-at-edinburgh-fringe-by-bailey-swilley/): Comedy and grief are uneasy bedfellows. To merge the two successfully takes both courage and craft, and in Gimme a Sign! Bailey Swilley embraces that challenge with disarming honesty and a generous sense of humour. The show’s premise is rooted in personal tragedy. After the loss of her father, Bailey began noticing—or perhaps searching for—“signs”
- [Review Of Managed Approach Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-managed-approach-edinburgh-fringe/): In 2014, the UK’s first legalised red-light district was introduced in Holbeck, Leeds. Known as the Managed Approach, it allowed sex workers to operate between 8pm and 6am without fear of arrest, under police supervision. This controversial initiative sparked headlines and heated debate across the country – celebrated by some as pragmatic harm reduction, criticised
- [Review Of Atomic Tales- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-atomic-tales-edinburgh-fringe/): On 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, and the world changed forever. Atomic Tales does not attempt to reconstruct the disaster in a factual, documentary sense. Instead, it gives voice to the emotions of those caught in its wake. At the heart of this production is Lyudmila, the wife of a firefighter
- [Review Of Read My Lips At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-read-my-lips-at-edinburgh-fringe/): At its core, Read My Lips is a story of promises, paranoia, and the seductive pull of desire. Lia and Bryn’s relationship begins as one forged in the kind of intensity that feels eternal. Yet, as Bryn begins to suffocate under the weight of their “forever,” the arrival of roommate Carter’s guest – Ellie –
- [Support Nicole Nadler at Edinburgh Fringe – A Brave, Brilliant Performer Who Deserves a Sell-Out Audience](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/support-nicole-nadler-at-edinburgh-fringe-a-brave-brilliant-performer-who-deserves-a-sell-out-audience/): Lovelies, I’m not in the mood to tiptoe today — this is urgent Fringe business. Our gal Nicole Nadler has brought her exposure therapy show to Edinburgh. She’s been brave enough to share her art, her story, her heart — and what’s she getting? Tiny audiences. Unfair digs online. And as her Instagram shows, she’s
- [Stage One Bursary – Calling All Independent Theatre Producers in Birmingham & the West Midlands](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stage-one-bursary-calling-all-independent-theatre-producers-in-birmingham-the-west-midlands/): Independent theatre producers of Birmingham and the West Midlands – this one’s for you. Stage One is putting out an open call for applications to its Bursary Award, a major funding and mentorship opportunity designed to give emerging producers the tools, resources, and guidance they need to take the next big leap in their careers.
- [360 Allstars – Back to Spin Your Head at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-360-all-stars/): In 2024, 360 Allstars stormed the stage with a high-octane blast of BMX flips, breakdancing brilliance, and jaw-dropping acrobatics. It was the kind of show that had audiences gasping, cheering, and occasionally muttering “How on earth did they do that?” under their breath. Billed as an urban circus, this is no top-hat-and-tights affair – it’s
- [High Kicks & Heartstrings – Éireann by A Taste of Ireland Dances into London’s Peacock Theatre This August](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/high-kicks-heartstrings-eireann-by-a-taste-of-ireland-dances-into-londons-peacock-theatre-this-august/): Right, gather round, my darlings — I’ve just had word of a show that’s set to high-kick its way into London and leave the Peacock Theatre quaking in its seat cushions. If you’ve ever thought Irish dance was just tapping about in a sparkly frock, Éireann is about to prove you wrong in the most
- [Northern Rascals Take Sunny Side on Autumn Tour – Bringing Conversations on Mental Health to More UK Communities](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/northern-rascals-take-sunny-side-on-autumn-tour-bringing-conversations-on-mental-health-to-more-uk-communities/): After a critically acclaimed spring tour, Northern Rascals are back on the road this autumn with further dates for their emotional, thought-provoking production Sunny Side. This bold Yorkshire-based company, renowned for its fearless blend of dance, theatre, and spoken word, will take audiences in Barnsley, Salford, Bath, and Bradford on a journey through the modern
- [Flying the Flag for the Brave, the Bold, and the Budget-Strapped](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/flying-the-flag-for-the-brave-the-bold-and-the-budget-strapped/): Here at Theatre Village, we’ve always had a soft spot for the underdog. Not because we pity them – far from it – but because we see exactly what they’re doing: creating stories that matter with grit, passion, and a stubborn refusal to be ignored. From the first script reading in a café to the
- [Top 10 Shows to See at the Edinburgh Fringe — Curated by the Godfather of Theatre Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/top-10-shows-to-see-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-curated-by-the-godfather-of-theatre-village/): When the Godfather of Theatre Village makes a list, you don’t just read it — you clear your diary, book your tickets, and pray your stamina can keep up. These ten shows have been handpicked from the thousands on offer this Fringe, each with that spark of brilliance, originality, or sheer theatrical chutzpah that makes
- [Bea P. Deigh Will See You Now (Whether You’re Ready or Not)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bea-p-deigh-will-see-you-now-whether-youre-ready-or-not/): At Edinburgh Fringe pull up a chair and let me tell you about the new receptionist in your head — and no, I haven’t been at the sherry again. Imagine your brain has a front desk. There’s a little bell, a stack of complaint forms, and a line of thoughts and feelings stretching out the
- [The Strongest Girl In The World Brings Heart, Humour & Healing To Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-strongest-girl-in-the-world-brings-heart-humour-healing-to-edinburgh-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell- 2nd Act Couriers If you’ve ever been to summer camp, you’ll know it’s all campfire songs, burnt marshmallows, and trying to outdo your mates at the talent show. The Strongest Girl in the World has all that… plus a hefty dose of heart, a sprinkle of grief, and enough humour to keep
- [Oink Oink! Chichester’s Going Feral…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/oink-oink-chichesters-going-feral/): Right, Village — sharpen your sticks and keep an eye on the conch, because Chichester Festival Theatre has just announced the full gang for Lord of the Flies, running 19 September – 11 October (press night Thursday 25 September). This isn’t your cosy island getaway — it’s William Golding’s modern classic, adapted by Nigel Williams
- [Wait… What If Shakespeare Wasn’t Shakespeare?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wait-what-if-shakespeare-wasnt-shakespeare/): What if the man from Stratford-upon-Avon didn’t actually pen those legendary plays and sonnets? Actor and lawyer Rose Loughlin isn’t just asking the question — she’s presenting her case. And she’s doing it with charisma, charm, and a suitcase full of evidence in her one-woman show A Rose by Any Other Name, returning to Barons
- [Sheffield & Manchester – Dust off your dancing shoes, Lughnasa is coming!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sheffield-manchester-dust-off-your-dancing-shoes-lughnasa-is-coming/): Right, theatre lovers — clear your diary and iron your best frock, because Dancing at Lughnasa is about to sweep into Sheffield and Manchester, and it’s got more talent packed in than my satchel after a press night. Sheffield Theatres and the Royal Exchange Theatre have just spilled the full beans — cast, creatives, the
- [Gerry & Sewell Returns to Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2026 With The Season Ticket](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/gerry-sewell-returns-to-newcastle-theatre-royal-in-2026-with-the-season-ticket/): Alright pet, pull on your black-and-white scarf and get ready for a proper belter — because Gerry & Sewell is storming back into the Toon next year, and I’m already gannin’ radgie with excitement. From Tuesday 9 to Saturday 13 June 2026, Newcastle Theatre Royal will once again become a sea of stripes when Jamie
- [Riverside Studios Unveils the 2025 Bitesize Award Winners!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/riverside-studios-unveils-the-2025-bitesize-award-winners/): Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios has just dropped the results of the third annual Bitesize Awards — and this year’s winners are as bold, surprising, and conversation-starting as the festival itself. The 2025 Bitesize Festival (7 July – 3 August) packed the iconic riverside venue with over 100 bite-sized shows, a short film festival, work-in-progress performances, and
- [Ghosted! A New Musical!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ghosted-a-new-musical/): We managed to catch up with the Cast from Ghosted! A New Musical: Cormac Hurney- Edgar Allan PoleEmma-Jane Nannetti- MiaIsaac Casey- HenryJuliet Hill- Lydia What first drew you to this project – the music, the story, the chance to play a ghost? [Cormac, Edgar]: The secrecy! During auditions we were told very little about the
- [Supporting Women at This Year’s Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/supporting-women-at-this-years-edinburgh-fringe/): This year at Theatre Village, we made an editorial decision before setting foot in Edinburgh – we were going to actively support women at the Fringe. That meant when it came to choosing which shows to see, our selections were influenced by stories written by, performed by, or centering on women’s experiences. We chose to
- [Atomic Tales – Bearing Witness at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/atomic-tales-bearing-witness-at-the-fringe/): Some performances don’t just tell a story — they ask you to feel it in your bones. Atomic Tales, inspired by Nobel Prize-winner Svetlana Alexievich’s A Prayer for Chernobyl, is one of them. At its heart is Ludmilla, the wife of a firefighter who responded to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. This is not a
- [SMUT with Entendre Entendre – Grace’s Satchel Gets a Bit Steamy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/smut-with-entendre-entendre-graces-satchel-gets-a-bit-steamy/): Well darlings, hold onto your pearls (or fling them to the floor if you’re feeling frisky) — SMUT with Entendre Entendre has landed at the Edinburgh Fringe and it’s about as subtle as a glitter cannon in a library. Straight from a sold-out, extended run at the Hollywood Fringe, this is part confessional, part cabaret,
- [Popcorn Writing Award's Shortlist Revealed](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/popcorn-writing-awards-shortlist-revealed/): Ey Love. Got the popcorn? No, not that kind, its best if you pop the kettle on – Grace here with a bit of theatrical hot gossip from the cobbled streets of Edinburgh. The Popcorn Group – that’s filmmaker Charlotte Colbert’s outfit – has once again teamed up with ten of the Fringe’s top venues
- [Review Of Nelson Youth Theatre At Edinburgh Fringe- All Shook Up](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-nelson-youth-theatre-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Into a square little American town rides a guitar-playin’, motorcycle-ridin’ Elvis-style character who shakes up the place and changes everyone in it. All Shook Up is a hip-swivelling musical comedy bursting with comic one-liners and packed with classic Elvis rock ’n’ roll hits — Jailhouse Rock, Teddy Bear, Hound Dog, Devil in Disguise, Heartbreak Hotel,
- [Edinburgh Youth Theatre Brings Shakespeare to Life with Spark](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-youth-theatre-brings-shakespeare-to-life-with-spark/): I’ve always had a soft spot for youth theatre – probably because I was once part of it myself back in college. There’s something special about seeing young talent on stage, knowing they’re learning, growing, and maybe even taking their first steps toward a future career in the arts. So when I spotted Juliet and
- [Should The Arts Be Accessible To All?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/should-the-arts-be-accessible-to-all/): Should the Arts Be for Everyone? (Spoiler: Yes.)By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Now, I’m not one for starting fights – unless you count elbowing my way to the ice cream queue at the interval – but I’ve got a bone to pick with this whole “lock the arts behind a paywall” malarkey. At Theatre
- [Theatre Village to Launch New Award for The Best Edinburgh Fringe Show Seen](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-village-to-launch-new-award-for-the-best-edinburgh-fringe-show-seen/): Well, darlings, the dust has just about settled and I can finally share some exciting gossip from HQ (by which I mean Andrew’s place), Theatre Village will be launching its very own award for the best show seen at the Fringe – as decided by none other than the godfather of Theatre Village himself, Andrew.
- [The End Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-end-edinburgh-fringe-review/): This was a bit of a wildcard choice for me. I’d seen the press release and found it intriguing enough to head along – even though it’s on late in the evening at 22:45. Still, the audience numbers were strong, which is always a good sign for that time slot. The premise: Anja is a
- [Vagabond Skies: The Van Gogh Musical Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/vagabond-skies-the-van-gogh-musical-edinburgh-fringe-review/): I was fortunate enough to attend Vagabond Skies: The Van Gogh Musical. I sat back and soaked in my London-style evening – except, readers, I wasn’t in the West End. I was right here in Edinburgh. Created by Sussex-based team Tony Norman and Mark Edwards, this production tells the dramatic story of Vincent van Gogh’s
- [Lady Macbeth Played Winged Defence Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lady-macbeth-played-winged-defence-edinburgh-fringe-review/): Some critics have praised this show, others have been less generous – so it was time to find out the truth, in true Theatre Village style. The action actually begins before the show officially starts. Picture a warm-up session: stretching, checking court markers, a few pre-match drills. It’s a playful way to ease the audience
- [Bitter Baby Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bitter-baby-edinburgh-fringe-review/): By day, she’s chasing a PhD; by night, she’s doing sex work – all while learning English and dusting her action figure collection. Based on true stories, Bitter Baby is a debut one-woman show about what happens when academia, immigration, autism and sex work collide. Let me start by saying this: the venue was the
- [Review Of Girlz At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-girlz-at-edinburgh-fringe/): When I first spotted the poster for Girlz, I assumed it was going to be another generic “girl band” show and was tempted to move on. But then I read the text alongside it, and that pulled me in. I’m glad it did — because Girlz tackles some big topics: mental health, media trolling, and
- [The Anti Yogi Review At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-anti-yogi-review-at-edinburgh-fringe/): This was a show I wandered into with a spare hour between my pre-planned Fringe picks. No expectations, no agenda — just an open mind and a willingness to be taken wherever it wanted to go. The preamble reads: Are you worthy of the Goddess’s blessings? Or her wrath? Join Mayuri Bhandari and Kali, the
- [Review Of The Lost Priest- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-the-lost-priest-edinburgh-fringe/): The show’s preamble explained that The Lost Priest is a deeply personal, one-person performance exploring the complexities of growing up Jewish in America. While the script itself was strong, the delivery remained at a single level throughout, which lowered the engagement for me. Greater variation in vocal intonation and more deliberate pauses for emphasis could
- [It's Departure Day From Theatre Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/its-departure-day-from-theatre-village/): Well folks, it’s time to pack up and leave this beautiful city for the lights of home. It’s been fantastic meeting so many people and seeing some truly amazing shows. It’s been an honour to watch theatre that entertains, challenges, makes you second guess, has you laughing one minute and wiping away a tear the
- [The Uncrackable Case Review by Theatre Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-uncrackable-case-review-by-theatre-village/): Humpty Dumpty’s had a great fall in Edinburgh it seems… but was it an accident, or something far more sinister? That’s the yolky mystery at the centre of The Uncrackable Case, a delightfully bonkers musical courtroom drama where nursery rhymes meet Netflix crime doc energy. Jill – yes, that Jill, of hill-climbing fame – finds
- [In The Black Review by Theatre Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/in-the-black-review-by-theatre-villagegraces-satchel-dispatch-with-a-little-help-from-andrew/): Alright darlings… time for a confession.Hands up, satchel over my head – I missed this one. Yes, me, Grace Hatchell. But let me tell you what happened... Word started to spread amongst the secret network of theatre ushers – whispers by the watercoolers, knowing glances in the queue for falafel wraps – that In The
- [“Five Stars? Again?” – A Fringe Confession from Grace Hatchell (Grace’s Satchel Dispatch – Edinburgh Fringe Edition)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/five-stars-again-a-fringe-confession-from-grace-hatchell-graces-satchel-dispatch-edinburgh-fringe-edition/): Right then, let’s address the question that’s been floating around faster than a flyer on a windy Royal Mile:“Why are Theatre Village giving out so many 5 star reviews this year?” Are we suddenly feeling extra generous?Have I slipped and dropped all the stars from my satchel?Has Andrew (our theatre whisperer and godfather of good
- [Rock of Ages – A High-Energy Community Triumph from Bare Productions](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rock-of-ages-a-high-energy-community-triumph-from-bare-productions/): Edinburgh Fringe Review Bare Productions, founded in 2017, continues to deliver on its mission: creating inclusive, accessible, and fun theatre opportunities for people in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. Community lies at the heart of everything they do – and that spirit was certainly on show in their latest production of Rock of Ages. Now,
- [Review Of Erin McKinnie Deep Heat At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-erin-mckinnie-deep-heat-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Cheeky. Scottish. Hilarious. Erin’s basically your new bestie. Returning to Edinburgh Fringe with Deep Heat, Erin McKinnie once again proves why she’s one of Theatre Village's favourite comedians. After loving her last year, we simply had to see what she had in store this time round – and we weren’t disappointed. First things first: where
- [Hot Mess Musical Review Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hot-mess-musical-review-edinburgh-fringe/): Hot Mess: The Musical – A Cosmic Love Affair with Killer Vocals and Explosive Chemistry! One of Theatre Village’s top ten picks of the Fringe, Hot Mess: A New Musical is anything but lukewarm. This dazzling, pop-fuelled extravaganza tells the tale of Earth and Humanity – star-crossed lovers with more baggage than Heathrow Terminal 5.
- [Review: Lizzy Sunshine – Sparkles, Secrets and Spectacles At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-lizzy-sunshine-sparkles-secrets-and-spectacles-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Lizzy Sunshine might sound like the name of a children’s TV presenter or a brand of organic lemonade, but don’t be fooled – this Fringe debut from American whirlwind Liz Coin is a chaotic cocktail of comedy, character work, emotional depth… and free plastic glasses. Yes, really. The premise? Lizzy’s co-star is mysteriously missing, so
- [Comedy Brunch – Served with a Side of Laughter (and a Giant Umbrella)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/comedy-brunch-served-with-a-side-of-laughter-and-a-giant-umbrella/): So I popped along to Comedy Brunch today – an hour-long sampler platter of stand-up, served hot and fast with a rotating cast of comedians. Think buffet, but instead of mini sausages, you get 10-minute helpings of punchlines and awkward eye contact. The compère kicked things off by saying they had five comedians “on paper,”
- [Pat Rascal: Space Gravy – A Cosmic Chuckle-Fest with a Side of Gravy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pat-rascal-space-gravy-a-cosmic-chuckle-fest-with-a-side-of-gravy/): Ey up. You ever seen Yorkshire launched into space? No? Well buckle up love, 'cause this show’s got more lift-off than a chip butty in zero gravity. Pat Rascal: Space Gravy is on at the Underbelly and it’s daft in the best way. The premise? A young lad called Yorkshire Yorkie Yorkshireson Humberside-Smith (aye, that’s
- [Best In Class Review – A Fringe Favourite Giving Working-Class Comics the Mic](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/best-in-class-review-a-fringe-favourite-giving-working-class-comics-the-mic/): Some shows you plan to see. Others you stumble into. Best In Class was the latter for me — a spontaneous choice on a spare afternoon — and I’m very glad I went. This regular Edinburgh Fringe staple champions working-class comedians, offering a rotating lineup of performers who might not otherwise have the financial means
- [Does Anyone Else Smell Curry? – Kiren Virdee’s Electrifying Call for Change](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/does-anyone-else-smell-curry-kiren-virdees-electrifying-call-for-change/): I went to see Does Anyone Else Smell Curry? by Kiren Virdee with the aim of educating myself — and, of course, reviewing it. What I left with was far more than insight. This show didn’t just inform — it shook me, woke me up, and left me genuinely moved. The show’s premise is personal
- [Remember That Time? A Musical Review – A Soulful, Honest Journey of Love and Reinvention](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/remember-that-time-a-musical-review-a-soulful-honest-journey-of-love-and-reinvention/): In Remember That Time? A Musical, singer-songwriter Annmarie Cullen takes us on a deeply personal journey from the sun-drenched streets of LA to the heartbreak of Barcelona and the unexpected solace of a return to Dublin. A seasoned musician and former member of Saucy Monkey, Cullen is no stranger to the spotlight — but here,
- [Review Of Disco 2000 At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-disco-2000-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Disco 2000 Review – Nostalgia, Friendship, and Pulsating Beats Manchester’s Hedge Theatre brings us Disco 2000, a vibrant, emotionally layered story of friendship, memory, and growing apart — and maybe growing back together again. Amelia and Bonnie were inseparable as kids — glued to Snog Marry Avoid and Don’t Tell the Bride, bonded by shared
- [Dear A Review – A Gentle, Intimate Letter of Identity and Belonging](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dear-a-review-a-gentle-intimate-letter-of-identity-and-belonging/): Sometimes at the Fringe, the best shows are the ones you stumble upon. I hadn’t planned to see Dear A, starring Juniper Lai, but a free slot in my diary and an intriguing theme led me there — and I’m glad I went. The premise of Dear A is poetic and personal: an unsent letter
- [Interview With The Creative Team Behind Girlz.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-the-creative-team-behind-girlz/): We caught up with Daf Hughes - (Writer of Music/Book/Lyrics) and John-Paul McRohon (Director / Cast Member playing Band Manager Colin Cashman For Girlz now playing at Edinburgh Fringe. Girlz is fast-paced and packed with music — did writing for a Fringe context affect the structure or length of the show? (Daf - writer)This version of
- [You're Fired! The Musical Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/youre-fired-the-musical-review/): You’re Fired! The Musical drops us straight into the gleaming, high-pressure corridors of corporate London – a world where profit trumps people, ambition is everything, and morality often takes a back seat to the bottom line. At the centre of the story is Steve, a young, eager businessman who suddenly finds himself thrown into the
- [Edinburgh Fringe Review: Buen Camino – A Pilgrimage of Promise That Misses the Path](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-review-buen-camino-a-pilgrimage-of-promise-that-misses-the-path/): The premise of Buen Camino is undeniably intriguing. Susan’s life is, at first glance, perfect — perfect love, perfect happiness, perfect stability. But when a sudden and devastating loss rips that foundation away, she’s left adrift, unable to see any future worth living. A story told through 27 characters, enhanced by multimedia elements, charting a
- [Edinburgh Fringe Review: Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett Shatters the Essex Stereotype with Honesty and Heart](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-review-lindsay-lucas-bartlett-shatters-the-essex-stereotype-with-honesty-and-heart/): Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett has brought a deeply personal and unapologetically honest one-woman show to the Edinburgh Fringe — and it’s an experience that lingers long after the final bow. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A raw, heartfelt performance you won’t forget" Her story begins in Southend-on-Sea, growing up under the weight of an abusive bipolar father and a brother battling
- [Forget-Me-Not Review – Julie Lake and Annie Macleod’s Hauntingly Beautiful Harmonies at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/forget-me-not-review-julie-lake-and-annie-macleods-hauntingly-beautiful-harmonies-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Review: Forget-Me-Not at George Street Orange is the New Black’s Julie Lake and songwriter Annie Macleod join forces in Forget-Me-Not, a tender blend of true-life storytelling and original music. Inspired by their own experiences, the piece follows two estranged childhood best friends who reconnect in midlife — both mothers, both feeling stifled by traditional roles,
- [Review Of Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-penelope-quadrangle-and-the-meaning-of-friendship/): Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship – A Darkly Comic Delight From the moment I first heard about Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship, it secured a place in my top ten recommendations for this year’s Edinburgh Fringe — and having now seen it, I can confirm it more than earns that spot.
- [Review Of Wenches!- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-wenches-edinburgh-fringe/): Wenches! – Historical Hilarity with a Dark Edge When Wenches first landed in my inbox, it instantly shot to the top of my Fringe must-see list — and it did not disappoint. Set in 1423 Berlin, the story follows two peasants caught in a swirl of hysteria, hypocrisy, and impending doom. With witchcraft accusations in
- [Review Of Powerful](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-powerful/): Kerry Leigh in Powerful – Raw, Honest, and Unapologetically Hers Some shows you plan weeks in advance. Others you stumble into on a whim. Kerry Leigh in Powerful fell firmly into the latter category for me — a spur-of-the-moment choice, made with little idea of what I was walking into. What unfolded was a surprising,
- [A Jaffa Cake Musical – A Delicious Slice of Fringe Fun](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-jaffa-cake-musical-a-delicious-slice-of-fringe-fun/): Is it a biscuit, or is it a cake? The question has divided households for decades, but in Jaffa Cake The Musical it’s the spark for one of the most entertaining legal showdowns you’ll ever see on stage. Based on the real-life HMRC vs Jaffa Cake tax case, this wonderfully absurd premise is transformed into
- [Review Of The Unfair Advantage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-the-unfair-advantage/): The Unfair Advantage – Secrets And Skill On Display Some Fringe shows you book on a whim. Others, like The Unfair Advantage, you circle in the programme months ahead, knowing you’re in for something completely different. Long before arriving in Edinburgh, this was one I’d been looking forward to — an intimate, one-of-a-kind experience promising
- [Review Of Top Of The World-Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-top-of-the-world-edinburgh-fringe/): Top of the World – Heart, Humour and a Blanket Fort Full of Feels Catching a show in one of the earliest slots of the day is always a bit of a gamble — the coffee hasn’t quite kicked in, the city is still shaking off its hangover, and audiences can take a while to
- [Kathleen Hughes: TWIG – Work-in-Progress Comedy with Heart at Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kathleen-hughes-twig-work-in-progress-comedy-with-heart-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): Edinburgh Fringe is built on moments of pure spontaneity, and my encounter with this show was exactly that. I was handed a flyer by Glaswegian comic Kathleen Hughes, promoting TWIG – her work-in-progress exploration of family, legacy, and, as she puts it, “why she’s like this.” Billed with “self-assuredness, confidence, charm and whip-smart wit… an
- [Review Of: Call Me Crazy – Raw, Relentless, and Unflinchingly Honest At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-call-me-crazy-raw-relentless-and-unflinchingly-honest-at-edinburgh-fringe/): I reviewed Call Me Crazy today at the Edinburgh Fringe. The show’s premise asks: how many times can people call you “crazy” before you lose your f*cking mind? After the medical system fails to find the cause of a woman’s pain, she is pushed to extremes to be heard and is forced to question the
- [Edinburgh Fringe Review: The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-review-the-brothers-grimm-spectaculathon/): A Fairytale Frenzy with a Comedic Twist After collecting my Edinburgh Fringe media pass (and dodging a few enthusiastic flyerers on the way), I made my way to Surgeons’ Hall for one of my first shows of the festival – The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. If the title alone didn’t promise chaos, the opening moments certainly
- [Signed, Sealed, Fringe-Livered – Grace is Off!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/signed-sealed-fringe-livered-grace-is-off/): Grace Hatchell Heads to Edinburgh Fringe with Her Satchel Stuffed Full of Fringe Gossip Oh darlings, it’s happening. I’ve rolled up my tights, packed my waterproofs, and my battered-but-beloved 2nd Act Couriers satchel is bursting at the seams — not with sandwiches (though I’ve got a cheeky Tunnock’s in there), but with press releases, show
- [Why Bad Social Media Might Be Killing Your Show Before It Starts](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-bad-social-media-might-be-killing-your-show-before-it-starts/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel this week? A cheeky reminder to theatre companies: your online presence is your first impression. Don’t blow it. Well darlings, pull up a pew because Grace has a tale from the theatre trenches — and this one’s got more drama than a tech run with a late lighting cue. So, picture
- [Do Theatre Reviewers Need Training? Grace Hatchell Delivers Her Verdict](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/do-theatre-reviewers-need-training-grace-hatchell-delivers-her-verdict/): A diploma’s lovely, love, but a keen eye, a warm seat, and a programme in your hand’ll do just fine. Well, this one’s caused a bit of a stir in the wings, hasn’t it? I was trundling down the cobbles with a tote full of flyers and fan mail when I overheard a bit of
- [Matilda the Musical Tour 2026: Full Cast Revealed for Birmingham Hippodrome Run](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/matilda-the-musical-tour-2026-full-cast-revealed-for-birmingham-hippodrome-run/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?A Little Bit Naughty, A Lot Matilda… Stop everything. Grab your best bow and straighten your bookish fringe, because Matilda The Musical is back on the road — and she’s heading straight to Brum for a summer stint that’s set to knock Miss Trunchbull’s socks off. (Don’t worry, she wears boots.) The
- [West End Premiere: Korean Hip-Hop Musical Swag Age Unleashes a Rebellion](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/west-end-premiere-korean-hip-hop-musical-swag-age-unleashes-a-rebellion/): GRACE HATCHELL REPORTING LIVE FROM THE REVOLUTION (WELL, NEAR LEICESTER SQUARE)SWAG AGE IN CONCERT: THE KOREAN MUSICAL PHENOMENON ROARS INTO LONDON FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY Hold onto your hanboks, my darlings, because a full-blown musical typhoon is about to tear through the West End—and no, it’s not another jukebox revival. This storm hails from Korea,
- [The Most Colourful Socks of the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-most-colourful-socks-of-the-fringe/): (Absolutely not another sodding guide to the Edinburgh Fringe) By Grace Hatchell | Theatre Village Alright, theatre lovers, here we bloomin’ well go – it’s nearly here! Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is just one week away, and I know some of you are already flapping between five tabs trying to figure out what to book before
- [Interview With Nicole Nadler Exposure Therapy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-nicole-nadler-exposure-therapy/): You know me, I love a performer who goes off-script – but Nicole Sadler has taken that to fearless new heights. No script, no safety net, and certainly no guarantee she won’t be crying into a £2 pizza slice come curtain down. I caught up with Nic ahead of her daring new Fringe show, Exposure
- [Nicole Nadler Returns to Edinburgh Fringe with Fearless New Show Exposure Therapy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/nicole-nadler-returns-to-edinburgh-fringe-with-fearless-new-show-exposure-therapy/): 🎭 What’s in Grace’s Satchel?Theatre Village Blog by Grace HatchellEXPOSURE THERAPY – Nicole Nadler is back, and this time, she’s taking on fear itself. Last year, we popped Nicole Nadler right on our front page, and rightly so — she was funny, fearless, and absolutely fabulous. Her show was a highlight of the Fringe. So,
- [7 Years Later, Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre Is Ready to Wow Again](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/7-years-later-glasgows-citizens-theatre-is-ready-to-wow-again/): Special Delivery from the Gorbals: The Citz Is BACK, Baby! Hold on to your hats, darlings – after seven years of dust, scaffolding, and “ooh, I wonder what’s going on behind those hoardings,” Glasgow’s beloved Citizens Theatre is finally throwing open its doors again – and your friendly theatre postie Grace is absolutely here for
- [Buen Camino A Solo Story of Grief, Surrender, and the 540-Mile Road to Redemption](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/buen-camino-a-solo-story-of-grief-surrender-and-the-540-mile-road-to-redemption/): Susan had it all – a life wrapped in love, laughter, and happiness. But everything shattered when an unexpected loss pulled the rug from under her perfect world. Left broken and drowning in grief, she couldn’t see any path forward… until one day, during an ordinary trip to the grocery store, she heard something extraordinary:
- [BITTER BABY One woman. Two lives. A thousand quiet truths… spoken out loud at last.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bitter-baby-one-woman-two-lives-a-thousand-quiet-truths-spoken-out-loud-at-last/): Now then, you know how we at Theatre Village love a good story – especially when it’s got guts, grit, and a woman refusing to stay silent. Well, hold onto your lanyards, because Elis Pear is about to take Edinburgh by storm with a debut solo show that doesn’t tiptoe around the truth. It kicks
- [Spotted: Mary Poppins at the Botanicals!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spotted-mary-poppins-at-the-botanicals/): Reported by Grace Hatchell (age 9¾, honorary child for the day) Well, blow me a raspberry and call me Jane Banks – guess who flew into Brum last week with a carpet bag full of magic? Only Mary Poppins herself! And guess what – she brought Bert along for a ‘Jolly Holiday’ at the Birmingham
- [A Thousand Splendid Suns Is A Success](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-thousand-splendid-suns-is-a-success/): GRACE’S NOTE FROM THE STAGE DOOR“A Thousand Splendid Standees – Brum Rep Smashes It!” Darlings, gather round and clutch your programmes! On the very first day of South Asian Heritage Month, Birmingham Rep has pulled a full-blown standing ovation out of its stage door satchel – and it's one for the history books. Their recent
- [A Toast to Tradition: "An Ode to Rabbie Burns" Brings Scottish Soul to the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-toast-to-tradition-an-ode-to-rabbie-burns-brings-scottish-soul-to-the-edinburgh-fringe/): 🎭 GRACE HATCHELL REPORTING FROM THE ROYAL MILE 🎭 Alright my darling theatre-lovers — polish your sporrans and warm up those whisky-holding hands, ‘cause this one’s got more pipes than a symphony and more flair than a ceilidh in a thunderstorm! This August, the legendary Tolbooth Tavern (aye, the one built back in 1591 —
- [We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! Review – A Powerful Tribute to Jayaben Desai and the Grunwick Strike](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/we-are-the-lions-mr-manager-review-a-powerful-tribute-to-jayaben-desai-and-the-grunwick-strike/): The Lionesses Roar Again in Grunwick Anniversary Revival There are moments when theatre doesn’t just reflect history — it ignites it all over again. We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! isn’t just a play. It’s a righteous reminder. A battle cry. A love letter to resistance. And for me— this one hits differently. Marking 50
- [Queer, Bold and Unapologetically Fringe: The SpaceUK](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/queer-bold-and-unapologetically-fringe-the-spaceuk/): 🌈 Grace’s Picks: TheSpaceUK's LGBTQ+ Theatre Programme At Edinburgh Fringe Hold on to your feather boas and brace your glittery bits — this summer, theSpaceUK is letting loose with a blazing battalion of LGBTQ+ brilliance, and frankly, it’s the theatre rainbow riot we’ve all been waiting for. It’s queer. It’s chaotic. It’s courageously camp. And
- [Riverside Studios Unveils Star-Studded Autumn Season: Comedy, Cabaret, and Cutting-Edge Theatre in West London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/riverside-studios-unveils-star-studded-autumn-season-comedy-cabaret-and-cutting-edge-theatre-in-west-london/): Special Delivery from West London: Riverside Studios Is Absolutely Bursting This Season ✨ Now listen up, theatre lovers – Grace here, sliding through your inbox with the inside scoop on what’s kicking off at Riverside Studios this August and September. If you’re after top-notch theatre, comedy with heart, cabaret with sass, and stories that'll punch
- [The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return At Southwark Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-chaos-that-has-been-and-will-no-doubt-return-at-southwark-playhouse/): Grace’s Dispatch: Chaos Is Coming to Southwark – And It’s Got Bite Now then, my dear Village folk – brace yourselves. The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return (try saying that after a glass of corner-shop gin) is crashing into London’s Southwark Playhouse Borough following its award-winning, sold-out debut up at the
- [Well Behaved Women at Edinburgh Fringe – Hilarious New Victorian Farce](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/well-behaved-women-at-edinburgh-fringe-hilarious-new-victorian-farce/): Grace Delivers: Well Behaved Women? Not on My Watch! Oh honey, if you thought Victorian women were all corsets and crochet, think again. The fabulous duo behind sell-out smash Crash and Burns are back at the Gilded Balloon this Fringe — and this time they’ve brought a séance, some scandal, and a lot of gin.
- [Hot Mess Musical Heats Up Southwark Playhouse After Edinburgh Fringe – A Theatre Village Top Pick](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hot-mess-musical-heats-up-southwark-playhouse-after-edinburgh-fringe-a-theatre-village-top-pick/): We Called It First: Hot Mess Heads to Southwark After Sizzling Fringe RunTheatre Village's April Pick Proves It's One to Watch Well, well, well… would you look at that! Back in April, Theatre Village put on its most prophetic pair of knickers and declared Hot Mess one of the Top 9 Must-See Shows at the
- [Is This Normal? at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Ansa Edim’s Raw, Riotous and Unmissable Storytelling Show](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-this-normal-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025-ansa-edims-raw-riotous-and-unmissable-storytelling-show/): POST FROM THE FRINGE: Ansa’s Back, and She’s Not Just the Funny Friend Anymore… Now then, theatre lovers — pop the kettle on and cancel your plans, because I’ve got Fringe news hotter than a tech run with no air con. Award-winning storyteller and all-round tour de force Ansa Edim is back at the Edinburgh
- [Grace’s Satchel Secrets: Something’s Stirring at Theatre Village…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-satchel-secrets-somethings-stirring-at-theatre-village/): Alright, my darlings – gather round and lean in close. I’ve got a little whisper for your ears only… Something very exciting is brewing behind the scenes at Theatre Village HQ. No, it’s not a West End whistleblower (although I am still chasing that tip about the understudy with the glitter allergy). This is something
- [Please Shoot the Messenger Lands at The Hope Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/please-shoot-the-messenger-lands-at-the-hope-theatre/): Well, I thought my postal route was cursed (have you tried delivering fan mail to a revolving cast of Hamlet understudies?), but this one takes the biscuit! From the stage door of LAMDA to the plague-ridden corridors of a fantasy kingdom, rising star Rachael Dowsett is making quite the entrance with her brand-new solo comedy
- [Woody's Bush Cabaret Comes To The Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/woodys-bush-cabaret-comes-to-the-fringe/): GRACE HATCHELL REPORTING FROM THE FRINGE MAILBAG: 📮 Special Delivery from the Aussie Bush — Oi oi Edinburgh, sharpen your pencils and strum your ukes, because the outback has just crash-landed at the Fringe and it’s brought puppets and and pure musical mischief! From 1–24 August, our Scottish pavements are getting a sun-drenched makeover courtesy
- [Disco 2000: A Funny and Heartfelt Story of Female Friendship at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/disco-2000-a-funny-and-heartfelt-story-of-female-friendship-at-the-fringe/): GRACE HATCHELL REPORTING FOR DUTY… WITH A 00S-SOAKED FRIENDSHIP TALE THAT MIGHT JUST MAKE YOU CRY INTO YOUR WKD BLUE Right then, pop your hair in a zigzag parting, dig out the Von Dutch cap, and brace yourself — because Disco 2000 is taking us back to the glory days of Don’t Tell the Bride,
- [Edinburgh Fringe : Our Final 2025 Show Selections Are Booked](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-is-now-special-deliveryfringe-fever-our-final-2025-show-selections-are-booked/): SPECIAL DELIVERY FROM GRACE: THE FRINGE DIARY IS FULL (AND SO IS MY POSTBAG) Well luvvies, what a palaver it’s been over at Theatre Village HQ. You’d think I was sorting first-class letters for the King with the amount of envelopes, emails, invites and intrigue that’s been flying through the postbox. It’s been a right
- [Oh No They Didn’t! Hackney Empire Unveils 2025 Cinderella Panto – in July!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/oh-no-they-didnt-hackney-empire-unveils-2025-cinderella-panto-in-july/): Grace Hatchell’s July Dispatch: Pumpkin Season Already?! Now hold onto your paper crowns and pass me a Quality Street, because apparently it’s July and we’re already talking pantomimes. I haven’t even defrosted the pigs in blankets from last year, and Hackney Empire’s already slapping on the sequins for Cinderella. Oh yes they are. 🙄 That’s
- [Stage One's Bridge the Gap Unveils 2025/26 Cohort of Trailblazing New Theatre Producers](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stage-ones-bridge-the-gap-unveils-2025-26-cohort-of-trailblazing-new-theatre-producers/): From Grace Hatchell’s Satchel: A Standing Ovation for Tomorrow’s Theatrical Trailblazers Alright my loves, stop what you’re doing – I’ve just had a very exciting delivery from Stage One, and it’s hotter than a quick-change backstage at a panto. They’ve just announced the brand-new cohort for their Bridge the Gap programme for 2025/26, and let
- [NYMT’s FairGround Festival Delivers Big Opportunities for Birmingham’s Young Creatives](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/nymts-fairground-festival-delivers-big-opportunities-for-birminghams-young-creatives/): Postmarked from Birmingham – A Dispatch from Grace Hatchell Now then, loves – it’s your favourite Fringe-fuelled postie, Grace Hatchell, with a delivery not from the cobbles of Edinburgh, but straight out of Brum, where something bloomin’ brilliant is taking shape for the next generation of theatre-makers. And trust me, this parcel is positively bursting
- [Rediscover Your Inner Child at the Edinburgh Fringe with Jeromaia Detto’s When I Grow Up](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rediscover-your-inner-child-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-with-jeromaia-dettos-when-i-grow-up/): 📮 From Grace’s Satchel: "When I Grow Up" by Jeromaia Detto Now then, lovelies – picture this: a room full of grown-ups giggling like school kids, donning silly hats and pretending to be fish. Yes, fish. Why? Because Jeromaia Detto said so – and frankly, I’d follow that man into a sandpit with a tutu
- [Sheffield’s SUTCo Tackles Grief and Redemption in Fringe Play Peace Circle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sheffields-sutco-tackles-grief-and-redemption-in-fringe-play-peace-circle/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? Peace Circle at Venue 38. Six people. Two sides. One circle. Alright love, brace yourself for this production at Edinburgh Fringe — this one’s not a frothy musical about toast or a bloke dressed as a duck doing interpretive dance (yes, that’s a real thing I saw in 2019). No, this
- [Edinburgh Fringe Venue 16- Greenside Postie Round](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-venue-16-greenside-postie-round/): 📮 Grace’s Satchel Dispatch from Venue 16 📮Hello duckies, it’s me — Grace Hatchell, your friendly Fringe postie with a satchel full of secrets and a nose for drama (the stage kind, not your neighbour’s break-up, though I do clock that too). I’ve been pounding the cobbles around Edinburgh like a woman on a mission
- [Grace’s Satchel Stop #186: One Sister, Two Shadows, and a Whole Lot of Truth](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-satchel-stop-186-one-sister-two-shadows-and-a-whole-lot-of-truth/): Right then, pull up a pew – we’re going somewhere deep this morning. Not your usual Fringe frolic, oh no. This one? It got me right in the tear ducts. Big Little Sister is the debut solo show from writer-performer Holly Gifford – and love, it’s got more layers than a lasagne made by a
- [From Teacher to Tinseltown: Sarah Maria Lafferty’s Joyous Fringe Comedy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-teacher-to-tinseltown-sarah-maria-laffertys-joyous-fringe-comedy/): 🎬 How to Become a Movie Star?📍 theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall, Theatre 3, Nicolson Street, EH8 9DW🗓️ 1–9, 11–16, 18–23 August | 4:00PM | 55 minutes What do you get when an actress ditches the usual headshot hustle and instead trains as a schoolteacher to make it big in Hollywood? You get How to Become
- [24 Companies Bursting Through The Fringe fog With Electric Talent](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/24-companies-bursting-through-the-fringe-fog-with-electric-talent/): Oi oi! While Grace is off powdering her nose and waxing lyrical about haunted bathrooms and Beyoncé ballads, I’m in the booth scanning cue sheets, dodging tangled cables, and getting properly overexcited about this year’s CNC Emerging Edinburgh Roster — now in its glorious third year. Let me tell you, this lot aren’t just plugging
- [Vagabond Skies: The Van Gogh Musical Set to Dazzle at Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/vagabond-skies-the-van-gogh-musical-set-to-dazzle-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): Now listen up, darlings – because this one’s got all the makings of a Fringe smash: tortured genius? ✅ Emotional ballads? ✅ West End royalty belting it out under the Edinburgh skies? ✅✅✅ Vagabond Skies – The Van Gogh Musical is the brand new sung-through spectacle inspired by the deeply moving letters between Vincent van
- [Gillian Gurganus Is a Triple Threat (and Maybe a Bit of a Menace) at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/gillian-gurganus-is-a-triple-threat-and-maybe-a-bit-of-a-menace-at-the-fringe/): 🎤 Gillian Gurganus: And All That Jazz📍 Just the Tonic at The Caves, Just Up The Stairs (Venue 88)🗓️ 13–24 August | 14:25 (30 mins) Now then, if you like your comedy with a side of sass, sequins, and possibly a pirouette – this one's for you. Fresh off the plane from previewing in the
- [Top Fringe Pick: Jumper Bumps Delivers Laughs, Truths and One Hell of a Wake-Up Call](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/top-fringe-pick-jumper-bumps-delivers-laughs-truths-and-one-hell-of-a-wake-up-call/): Jumper Bumps📍 Gilded Balloon, Appleton Tower | ⏰ 16:20, 30 July – 24 August Content warning: coercive relationships and abortion Right, grab your diaries and circle it in highlighter: Jumper Bumps is not just another Fringe debut – it’s became one of Theatre Village’s top 9 must-sees for 2025, as tipped way back in April.
- [When the Answer Is No: A Note to Performers at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/when-the-answer-is-no-a-note-to-performers-at-the-fringe/): Today, I sent out a rare thing — a “no.” A polite, considered decline to a performer who had taken the time to reach out to Theatre Village about their show at the Edinburgh Fringe. I could have ignored the email. That would have been easier. Many publications do, and I understand why — inboxes
- [Fringe Debut Delivers Divine Dysfunction in Me and My Year of Casual Monasticism](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fringe-debut-delivers-divine-dysfunction-in-me-and-my-year-of-casual-monasticism/): WHAT’S IN GRACE’S SATCHEL THIS WEEK?Hot gossip, holy habits, and some truly unholy thoughts at the Edinburgh Fringe… Right, picture this: you're a bright-eyed fresher at Cambridge, ready to swan about like you're in an Oxbridge rom-com – and suddenly, WHAM! You're having a breakdown, flirting with monks (well, sort of), and accidentally starting a
- [The Red-Hot Irish Dance Show That’s Making London Jig – Éireann at the Peacock](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-red-hot-irish-dance-show-thats-making-london-jig-eireann-at-the-peacock/): Grace Hatchell here with something to set your heart leaping and your toes tapping – and no, it’s not another dance remix of Riverdance. It’s something new, bold, and bursting with Celtic pride. Get ready to welcome Éireann – a fiery reimagining of Irish dance and storytelling – as it high-kicks its way into London’s
- [Grace Hatchell here, and I’ve got a velvet-lined whopper in my satchel for you today…](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grace-hatchell-here-and-ive-got-a-velvet-lined-whopper-in-my-satchel-for-you-today/): The Red Shoes is back, darling! Matthew Bourne’s spellbinding, two-time Olivier Award-winning production is slipping back into its satin pumps and heading out on a fabulous new UK tour for 2025/26 – and yes, it’s pirouetting its way to Birmingham Hippodrome from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 March 2026. Mark it in your diary and
- [Manchester International Festival 2025 Roars to Life with Puppet Stampedes, World Premieres, and Free Events](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/manchester-international-festival-2025-roars-to-life-with-puppet-stampedes-world-premieres-and-free-events/): Grace Hatchell reporting in from Manchester, where the streets have been taken over by a stampede of... puppets?! Manchester International Festival 2025 has well and truly roared to life – quite literally – with a thundering herd of life-sized puppet animals galloping through the city centre. We’re talking giraffes, elephants, beasts of all shapes and
- [Underbelly Turns 25: Fringe Theatre Highlights You Can’t Miss](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/underbelly-turns-25-fringe-theatre-highlights-you-cant-miss/): Underbelly at 25: Theatre, Chaos, Chickens & Camp Galore! Darlings, it's Grace here – your backstage pass to the Edinburgh Fringe, and I’ve got some absolute scorchers from the team at Underbelly, who are celebrating 25 years at the beating heart of the biggest, boldest, and occasionally barmiest arts festival on Earth. That’s a quarter-century
- [Stuntman On UK Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stuntman-on-uk-tour/): 💥 STUNTMAN: Explosive Moves, Tender Truths & a Whole Lotta Action 💥 Alright my loves, hold onto your popcorn – this one’s a banger. Word on the street (and from the second act sorting desk at Theatre Village) is that award-winning Scottish outfit SUPERFAN are taking their Fringe smash Stuntman on a full-blown UK tour,
- [Why Even Reviewers Need a Day Off at Edinburgh Fringe – And What Happens When They Take One](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-even-reviewers-need-a-day-off-at-edinburgh-fringe-and-what-happens-when-they-take-one/): Grace Hatchell: When the Satchel Stays Shut – A Day Off at the Fringe Well now, don’t faint – but even I, Grace Hatchell, occasionally zip up the satchel and take a day off. Shocking, I know. No frantic scribbling, no scribbled star ratings, no weighing up lighting design versus dramaturgy. Just pure, unadulterated theatre-going
- [Acts of Kindness at Edinburgh Fringe: Docudrama Explores Gun Violence and Immigration in the U.S.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/acts-of-kindness-at-edinburgh-fringe-docudrama-explores-gun-violence-and-immigration-in-the-u-s/): Acts of Kindness at Edinburgh Fringe: A Quietly Powerful Docudrama on America’s Deepest Wounds Sometimes theatre demands our full attention — not to distract or delight, but to witness. Acts of Kindness, brought to the Edinburgh Fringe by the University of Redlands’ Department of Theatre and Dance, is one such piece. It’s not playful, it’s
- [REVIEW: HARD at Laurels, Whitley Bay – A Bold, Unflinching Look at Life on the Margins](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-hard-at-laurels-whitley-bay-a-bold-unflinching-look-at-life-on-the-margins/): I found myself at Laurels in Whitley Bay, a compact, characterful theatre space, to see HARD – a raw and provocative new play written by Alison Stanley. For such an intimate venue, I had expected a small cast juggling multiple roles. Instead, I was met with a full ensemble, each performer bringing something vital to
- [Labour, Love, and Letting Go: The Soon Life Debuts at Southwark Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/labour-love-and-letting-go-the-soon-life-debuts-at-southwark-playhouse/): This autumn, The Soon Life arrives at Southwark Playhouse Borough—and it’s not whispering politely. It’s pacing the floor, shouting through contractions, and laying bare the raw reality of childbirth with guts, heart, and darkly funny grit. Written and performed by Phoebe McIntosh, this blisteringly honest two-hander unfolds in real time during lockdown, in the cramped
- [Is Crime the Only Way to Feel Safe? Alice Frick’s Live Like a Criminal at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/is-crime-the-only-way-to-feel-safe-alice-fricks-live-like-a-criminal-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Grace Hatchell Investigates: Is Crime the New Self-Care? You’ve tried the gym, mindfulness apps, and whispering affirmations into your latte, and somehow, walking home alone at night still feels like a calculated risk. If you’re Alice Frick, the answer isn’t self-help—it’s crime. In her bold and unfiltered new stand-up show Live Like a Criminal, award-winning
- [The Unfair Advantage: The Most Exclusive Show at Edinburgh Fringe? Only 30 People Allowed Inside This Magical Heist](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-unfair-advantage-the-most-exclusive-show-at-edinburgh-fringe-only-30-people-allowed-inside-this-magical-heist/): Grace Hatchell’s Hot Tip: How to Get Away With Cheating (Legally) Harry Milas brings The Unfair Advantage to Edinburgh Fringe – for 30 lucky witnesses at a time. Darling readers, gather round. I’ve just found a show so exclusive, so thrilling, and so deliciously devilish that even the ushers might need to sign an NDA.
- [Theatre Gets Personal: The AI Show That Knows Your Secrets – The Waiting Room at Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-gets-personal-the-ai-show-that-knows-your-secrets-the-waiting-room-at-fringe-2025/): Grace Hatchell Reports: A Theatre Show That Knows You Better Than Your Therapist? Welcome to The Waiting Room… Let me paint you a scene: You step into a room. It’s quiet—strangely quiet. Someone hands you a message. It’s from your future self. And just like that, you’re no longer in Edinburgh. You’re inside your own
- [SOS: Sequins on Standby – MAMMA MIA Comes To Birmingham Hippodrome in 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sos-sequins-on-standby-mamma-mia-comes-to-birmingham-hippodrome-in-2026/): 🎶 MAMMA MIA! She’s off again! 🎶 My My!By Grace Hatchell, Theatre Village’s island-hopping, glitter-loving gossip girl Hold onto your flares and pack your passport – because the sunniest show on the planet is back on tour, and guess where it’s jetting off to? That’s right, the sensational MAMMA MIA! will be high-kicking its way
- [A Bold New Dawn for a Theatrical Landmark: Miss Saigon Returns with Fresh Energy and Exceptional Talent](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-bold-new-dawn-for-a-theatrical-landmark-miss-saigon-returns-with-fresh-energy-and-exceptional-talent/): There are musicals that entertain, and then there are musicals that leave you breathless. Miss Saigon has always fallen into the latter. Thirty-five years since its West End premiere, Boublil and Schönberg’s epic returns – not as a museum piece, but as something vital, timely, and powerfully reimagined. This autumn, Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre will host
- [Why Newbury's Corn Exchange Is the UK's Hottest Ticket This Autumn 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-newburys-corn-exchange-is-the-uks-hottest-ticket-this-autumn-2025/): Why Newbury’s Corn Exchange Is Quietly Hosting the Most Sophisticated Autumn Season of 2025by Marcus Crisp There’s a cultural hum rising from the heart of Berkshire — and it’s not just the changing leaves or the return of the oat flat white. This autumn, the Corn Exchange Newbury is staging something remarkable: a season that
- [NYMT to Shine at West End LIVE 2025 with Exclusive Youth Theatre Performance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/nymt-to-shine-at-west-end-live-2025-with-exclusive-youth-theatre-performance/): A Standing Ovation for Tomorrow’s Stars This summer, Trafalgar Square won’t just echo with the voices of West End royalty—it’ll ring with the sound of the future. The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is stepping into the spotlight at West End LIVE 2025, the only youth company invited to perform at this landmark 20th anniversary
- [Ey up, Mars! Pat Rascal Launches Yorkshire Into Orbit at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ey-up-mars-pat-rascal-launches-yorkshire-into-orbit-at-the-fringe/): Well duckies, if you thought Yorkshire folk were content with flat caps and a brew, think again. There’s a mission underway — and it’s headed way past Leeds. Say hello to Pat Rascal: Space Gravy, the sketch show that’s boldly going where no gravy boat has gone before: to Mars. Yes, seriously. Not just Mars
- [Interview With The Creative Team Behind Ghosted! A New Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-the-creative-team-behind-ghosted-a-new-musical/): Theatre Village were lucky enough to catch up with the creative team behind Ghosted! A New Musical at this year's Edinburgh fringe. It also features in our top ten shows to see at the Fringe. Makena Margolin— Director & Lyricist of Ghosted! A New Musical; Co-Founder of HelianthusProductions Hayden Kline— Composer of Ghosted! A New
- [Edinburgh Fringe Accommodation Too Expensive? Try These 10 Budget-Saving Tips](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-accommodation-too-expensive-try-these-10-budget-saving-tips/): 🎭 Grace Hatchell here – with a wand in one hand and a Fringe programme in the other… Oh love, you’re Cinders and the ball is the Edinburgh Fringe, but instead of a fairy godmother, all you’ve got is a dodgy pumpkin, flip-flops from last year’s heatwave, and a maxed-out Monzo. There’s no carriage, no
- [Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence Drops Fierce New EP Ahead of Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lady-macbeth-played-wing-defence-drops-fierce-new-ep-ahead-of-fringe/): What’s That in Grace’s Satchel? Oh, Just an EP from the Fiercest Show on Court… Now then, darlings, pop your bibs on and lace up those trainers, because Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence isn’t just serving blood, betrayal and biceps on stage — they have just dropped an EP ahead of their Edinburgh Fringe run,
- [Interview with Sadie Pearson: Rodney Black: Who Cares? It's Working. Heads to Riverside Studios and Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-sadie-pearson-rodney-black-who-cares-its-working-heads-to-riverside-studios-and-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): Morning, darlings!If you're munching on your toast or stirring your cuppa, let me sprinkle a bit of theatrical gossip into your breakfast bowl. I’ve just had the absolute treat of nattering with the fabulous Sadie Pearson – yes, the brain behind the razor-sharp show Rodney Black: Who Cares? It's Working. Sadie’s not one to shy
- [A Review Of Spitfire Girls – A Moving Tribute to the Women Who Took Flight](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-spitfire-girls-a-moving-tribute-to-the-women-who-took-flight/): Birmingham Rep | Written by Katherine Senior | Directed by Sean Aydon⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s New Year’s Eve, 1959, and the rain is hammering against the windows of The Spitfire pub. Inside, two women reunite after years apart—once comrades in the skies, now bound by memories that never quite landed. What unfolds is Spitfire Girls, a heartfelt
- [The Edinburgh Fringe's Best Promo Pics: Theatre Village’s Top Ten Teasers](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-edinburgh-fringes-best-promo-pics-theatre-villages-top-ten-teasers/): Top 10 Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Promo Posters – Theatre Village’s Cheeky Countdown Edinburgh Fringe is creeping up behind us like a flyering drama grad in Bristo Square. And while we could celebrate the sheer brilliance of the shows on offer, we at Theatre Village thought… hang on. Why not do what any true theatre buff
- [Tanya, Rosie… or Sophie? The Fringe’s Fiercest Aunt Arrives with a Mic and a Mission](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tanya-rosie-or-sophie-the-fringes-fiercest-aunt-arrives-with-a-mic-and-a-mission/): Let Me Be The Cool Aunt“Aunt Energy Incoming!” Meet Sophie Banister, Australia’s Cabaret Queen Turned Cool Fringe Aunt Darlings, I’ve rifled through my satchel and pulled out a flyer so fresh it still smells like eucalyptus and ambition. Let me introduce you to a whirlwind of sequins, satire, and sibling side-eyes – the fabulous Sophie
- [Sad Girl Songs: Gwen Coburn’s Brutally Funny Feminist Musical at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sad-girl-songs-gwen-coburns-brutally-funny-feminist-musical-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Grace’s Satchel Pick: SAD GIRL SONGSWarning: contains strong truths, catchy tunes, and a surprisingly helpful guide to the female anatomy. Right then, gather round, because Grace has a story in her satchel that’s as fierce as it is funny. Imagine this: a musical comedy that takes on trauma, dating apps, mythology, and yes – even
- [How We Choose What to See at the Edinburgh Fringe – Before the Curtain Even Rises](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-we-choose-what-to-see-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-before-the-curtain-even-rises/): By Andrew | Theatre Village With thousands of shows descending on Edinburgh each August, you’d be forgiven for wondering how on earth anyone can choose what to see — let alone review. At Theatre Village, we don’t just throw a dart at the programme and hope for the best. There’s a method to the madness,
- [Championing Women At This Year's Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/championing-women-at-this-years-edinburgh-fringe/): 🔥 Grace Hatchell here This Edinburgh Fringe, Theatre Village is putting its full weight (and satchel) behind something that matters. We’re championing women performers — not just the ones making us laugh ‘til we cry, but the ones using their voices to challenge, provoke, and change the story. In a world that still underestimates, underpays,
- [Rodney Black: Who Cares? It's Working At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rodney-black-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Grace Hatchell here, with something sizzling from the satire circuit… Darlings, I know the Fringe is full of laughs — musical ones, clownish ones, cabaret ones — but this one? This one stops you mid-cackle and makes you really think. Let’s talk Rodney Black. He’s loud. He’s lewd. He’s lobbing verbal hand grenades into the
- [Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Keys – Piano Smashers Hits the SPACE Uk This August](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/breaking-the-silence-breaking-the-keys-piano-smashers-hits-the-space-uk-this-august/): Theatre Village Fringe Spotlight There are some inheritances that feel like a blessing — a photo album, a house by the sea, a favourite book worn soft by love. And then there are pianos. Not just any piano, mind you. In Piano Smashers, the stunning solo play making its way to Edinburgh Fringe 2025, this
- [From Wi-Fi Woes to West London Dreams: Wummy Premieres at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-wi-fi-woes-to-west-london-dreams-wummy-premieres-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Grace Hatchell reporting from the realm of delusion, desperation, and designer baby bags… Well darlings, clear the prams and polish your Smeg bins because I’ve got a Fringe debut that’s as fabulous as it is financially fragile. The divine Charis King is strutting into Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 with Wummy — her riotous one-woman comedy
- [Borders, Bureaucracy & Belonging: The Must-See Solo Show at Edinburgh Fringe 2025- I Didn’t Know I Was Polish](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/borders-bureaucracy-belonging-the-must-see-solo-show-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025-i-didnt-know-i-was-polish/): 📮 A Letter from Paris — via Poland — via Grace’s Satchel Well darlings, stop the pigeon and stamp the envelope — because I’ve got a cultural comedy corker flying in from the continent. And it’s got identity crises, bureaucratic blunders, a grandfather-shaped plot twist, and just a hint of 1960s French New Wave. Très
- [Managed Approach At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/managed-approach-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Let me introduce you to Open Aire Theatre, a new company and yes, they’ve got Footlights alumni and enough writer-director-producer hyphenates to make your head spin. Their debut show MANAGED APPROACH is making its first appearance at Edinburgh Fringe this summer, and it’s already earned itself a sparkling five-star review from Varsity, no less. That’s
- [From Grace’s Satchel: Oh, It’s All Gone Haywire in Cirencester!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/from-graces-satchel-oh-its-all-gone-haywire-in-cirencester/): Darlings, fetch the Battenberg and tune your wireless — because something utterly delightful is crackling through the airwaves in Cirencester, and it’s not just the static on BBC Radio 4. That’s right — The Barn Theatre, that plucky powerhouse tucked away in the Cotswolds, is getting ready to go full Haywire. And no, not because
- [A Kiss That Could Kill: Salomé Slinks Into the West End](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-kiss-that-could-kill-salome-slinks-into-the-west-end/): Darlings — sharpen your eyeliner and steady your nerves, because Maxim Didenko, the electric Russian maestro of European theatre, is sashaying into the West End this autumn with a production so bold, so brazen, and so beautifully blasphemous, it could make even Wilde blush. That’s right — Oscar Wilde’s Salomé, once banned in Britain for
- [Popcorn Writing Award Submissions Open](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/popcorn-writing-award-submissions-open/): Well darlings, dust off your typewriters and polish up those punchlines – because the Popcorn Writing Award is back and it’s tastier than ever! 🍿 Yes, the fabulous folks at Popcorn Group are now accepting submissions for their 2025 prize, and if you’re a Fringe writer with a script that’s bold, brilliant and just a
- [Beetlejuice Meets Next to Normal? Ghosted! A New Musical Is the Must-See Musical of the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/beetlejuice-meets-next-to-normal-ghosted-a-new-musical-is-the-must-see-musical-of-t-he-fringe/): It Delivers Ghosts, Giggles and a Whole Lotta Grief Well darlings, hold onto your ghost-hunting hats – because I’ve got a spooky special in my satchel this week! Word on the whispering wind is that Ghosted! A New Musical is floating its fabulous self into Edinburgh Fringe, and trust me, it’s not your typical ghost
- [Girlz the Musical: Fame, Friendship and Feminism at Full Volume](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/girlz-the-musical-fame-friendship-and-feminism-at-full-volume/): HOT OFF MY ROUND! IT'S TIME TO MEET... THE GIRLZ! Darlings, brace yourselves. I was halfway through delivering a press kit to an usher when a bassline hit me like a double espresso from Pret. Girlz—yes, with a zed and a whole lot of zing—have landed at the Edinburgh Fringe green room, and let me
- [Swan Is Fluttering In At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/swan-is-fluttering-in-at-edinburgh-fringe/): What’s That Honk? Oh, Just Odette Having a Breakdown – Grace Hatchell Delivers the Gossip on “SWAN?” Alright darlings, fetch your tutus and feather boas because Grace has got a swan-shaped scoop hotter than a stage light on a sweaty fringe day. Canada’s own Lauren Brady has flapped across the pond to bring us a
- [The Must-See Dance Shows at Edinburgh Fringe 2025 – Grace Reports from Dance Base](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-must-see-dance-shows-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025-grace-reports-from-dance-base/): Grace’s Satchel Special: What’s Shaking a Leg at Dance Base This Fringe? Darlings, you know I adore a standing ovation, but sometimes it’s the movement before the applause that really gets the goosebumps going — and this year, Dance Base has choreographed a summer so spectacular it might just pirouette right off the map! Scotland’s
- [Serving Up Laughs from Every Corner: Comedians By Night Bring All Over the Plate to the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/serving-up-laughs-from-every-corner-comedians-by-night-bring-all-over-the-plate-to-the-edinburgh-fringe/): Comedy lovers, get ready to feast. A fresh new voice on the stand-up circuit is coming to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August — and they’re bringing flavour from across the globe. Comedians By Night, a dynamic international troupe of seven stand-up performers, will be making their Fringe debut with a sizzling new show titled:
- [Inside Pleasance Theatre’s Bold Autumn/Winter Season: Queer Cabaret, Daring Drama & Festive Spectacle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/inside-pleasance-theatres-bold-autumn-winter-season-queer-cabaret-daring-drama-festive-spectacle/): A Dispatch from the Deep Theatrical Undergroundby Hogan Grimsbane, Shadow Correspondent for Theatre Village As the nights draw in and the wind sharpens over Caledonian Road, something stirs beneath the floorboards of the Pleasance. Whispers rise from the trapdoors, and a restless energy begins to dance through the rafters. The stage lights are being tested.
- [When We Were Young Brings Urgent Truths to the Fringe Stage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/when-we-were-young-brings-urgent-truths-to-the-fringe-stage/): GRACE HATCHELL REPORTS FOR THEATRE VILLAGE This August, one of Scotland’s most talked-about productions arrives at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — and it brings with it a story that demands to be heard. "When We Were Young", a five-star rated production from Geez a Break Productions, will be performed at theSpace on the Mile every
- [Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lady-macbeth-played-wing-defence/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel this week? Netballs, bibs, and bloody ambition! This show is one of Theatre Village's top 10 shows we are getting behind and cheering on for Edinburgh Fringe. Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence! Oh darlings, I nearly spat out my cup of squash (half-time ritual) when I read this one — Lady
- [Bibbity Bobbity Bondi At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bibbity-bobbity-bondi-at-edinburgh-fringe/): GRACE HATCHELL REPORTING FOR DUTY! Oh lovelies, stop everything and pop your tiaras on, because this next delivery comes straight from the glittery borders of fairytale nonsense and real-world red tape. You know me—I’m all for a magical tale, but even I wasn’t prepared for the customs chaos our next heroine found herself in. Let
- [Grace’s Fringe Survival Guide: How to Pick a Cracker of a Show (Without Getting a Migraine)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-fringe-survival-guide-how-to-pick-a-cracker-of-a-show-without-getting-a-migraine/): By Grace Hatchwell, Special Delivery from Theatre Village HQ to the cobbled streets of Edinburgh Alright my lovely stage-door darlings, let’s get real for a sec — with thousands (yes, thousands!) of shows shimmying for your attention at the Edinburgh Fringe, how on earth do you choose what to see without going full Hamlet ("to
- [Night Waking- A Scottish Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/night-waking-a-scottish-tour/): From the Archivist’s Desk Tucked away in the mustier corners of the Theatre Village archive, I’ve come across a story that stirs more than just the dust. Night Waking, a new one-woman adaptation by Shireen Mula, brings Sarah Moss’s haunting novel to life with remarkable intimacy and bite. Directed by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord, this quietly explosive
- [Inclusive Arts Take Centre Stage at Sheffield Theatres’ Free Summer Festivals](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/inclusive-arts-take-centre-stage-at-sheffield-theatres-free-summer-festivals/): Hello friends, Riya Kapoor here – writing to you from the joyful crossroads where community and creativity collide. If you’re in Sheffield this summer, then you’re in for something truly special. The city’s stages, streets, and hearts will be bursting with free, family-friendly fun as Sheffield Theatres brings us not one but two vibrant festivals
- [That Bastard Puccini!: Musical Genius, Jealousy, and the Battle of the Bohemes](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/that-bastard-puccini-musical-genius-jealousy-and-the-battle-of-the-bohemes/): A note from the Archivist of Theatre Village, Keeper of Lost Programmes and Whispered Applause In the dim-lit vaults beneath our beloved Theatre Village, amidst manuscripts brittle with age and playbills dusted in ghostlight, there lies a tale most rare — spirited, scandalous, and suffused with song. A tale long whispered through dressing-room corridors and
- [Black Stories Take Centre Stage in Talawa’s Poignant Outdoor Performance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/black-stories-take-centre-stage-in-talawas-poignant-outdoor-performance/): Darlings, it’s Grace Hatchwell here – the purple-clad postie with a satchel full of theatre secrets and a soft spot for stories that stir the soul. And oh, have I got a gem for you! Word on the street (and by street, I mean my Fringe-fluttering delivery route) is that the fabulous folks at Talawa,
- [Emily Davis Takes on Corporate Life in Hilarious New Fringe Musical Escape the Rat Race!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/emily-davis-takes-on-corporate-life-in-hilarious-new-fringe-musical-escape-the-rat-race/): From Isla James, Culture Correspondent at Theatre VillageModern reviewer. Fringe connoisseur. Partial to satire with a soprano. There’s something quietly radical about choosing laughter over LinkedIn — and Escape the Rat Race! does precisely that. Emily Davis delivers an elegantly anarchic debut in this one-woman musical comedy that trades glass ceilings for open skies, PowerPoints
- [Forget Me Not: Musical Storytelling at Its Rawest at Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/forget-me-not-musical-storytelling-at-its-rawest-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): FROM THE MOSS-COVERED DESK OF HOGAN GRIMSBANEOfficial Troll Correspondent, Theatre Village “FORGET ME NOT” BLOOMS AT THE 2025 EDINBURGH FRINGE (WHETHER I LIKE IT OR NOT) Right. Another show about motherhood, music, memory, and misery. You lot just can’t help yourselves, can you? But even I must admit… this one sounds like a bit of
- [Edinburgh Fringe Spotlight: String V SPITTA – The Children’s Party Comedy for Adults](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-spotlight-string-v-spitta-the-childrens-party-comedy-for-adults/): FROM GRACE’S SATCHEL Now this is the kind of chaos I like delivered straight to my doormat – with glitter, grime, and the kind of party politics you won’t find in Westminster. Imagine CBeebies and Bravo had a baby and raised it on TikTok and tantrums – and boom! You’ve got String V SPITTA. Kiell
- [Come for the Laughter, Stay for the Heart – Behind the Laughter At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/come-for-the-laughter-stay-for-the-heart-behind-the-laughter/): Marcel: Right, listen up, theatre darlings and chuckle-chasers. We’ve seen all kinds of comedy here at Theatre Village — slapstick, deadpan, the kind that makes you snort involuntarily — Mo: (snorts) Case in point. Marcel: —but every now and then, a show comes along that stops us mid-punchline and makes us say, “Hang on, this
- [3,352 Reasons to Head to Edinburgh This August (And Grace Has Notes)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/3352-reasons-to-head-to-edinburgh-this-august-and-grace-has-notes/): 🚨 Special Delivery from Grace! 🚨 Pop the kettle on, Fringe fans, because I’ve just unwrapped the juiciest, most jam-packed parcel of theatre news this side of the Royal Mile! 📦✨ The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 programme has officially launched – and honey, it’s MASSIVE. We’re talking 3,352 shows across 265 venues, representing 58 countries.
- [Interview With Caitlyn De Kuyper- Six The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-caitlyn-de-kuyper-six-the-musical/): From Kangaroos to Crowns: Caitlyn De Kuyper Takes on the West EndWhat happens when an Aussie talent swaps the open landscapes of Melbourne for the electric buzz of London’s theatre scene? Meet Caitlyn De Kuyper, who’s doing just that — and then some — as she steps into the sparkly shoes of Katherine Howard in
- [Sass, Scars, and a Songbook: Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett Journey from Chaos to Curtain Call](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sass-scars-and-a-songbook-lindsay-lucas-bartlett-journey-from-chaos-to-curtain-call/): Intro from Grace Hatchell, Theatre Village’s gossipy gal with a glittery satchel: Pop the prosecco and brace yourself babes, because Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett is back—and she’s bringing big Essex energy to the Fringe with her award-winning solo musical Trust Me, I’m From Essex. Now, I know what you’re thinking—“Essex? At the Edinburgh Fringe?!” It’s gutsy, gritty,
- [Traverse Theatre Unveils a Firecracker of a Fringe Line-Up for 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/traverse-theatre-unveils-a-firecracker-of-a-fringe-line-up-for-2025/): Scotland’s beating heart of bold new writing is back and flexing its dramatic muscles! The Traverse Theatre, often called the powerhouse of Scottish new work (and let’s be honest, rightly so), has dropped its TravFest25 programme—and it's a knockout. We’re talking 12 productions, including 3 world premieres, 1 European debut, 3 UK firsts, and 3
- [May Madness Winner Announced – Meet Liz Coin and Lizzy Sunshine!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/may-madness-winner-announced-meet-liz-coin-and-lizzy-sunshine/): It’s official – the winner of Theatre Village’s May Madness competition has been chosen, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to shine a spotlight on the irrepressible, unstoppable, and gloriously unfiltered Liz Coin, bringing her hit one-woman show Lizzy Sunshine to the Edinburgh Fringe for the very first time! From a pool of brilliant contenders,
- [Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning Of Friendship - Interview With The Writer](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/penelope-quadrangle-and-the-meaning-of-friendship-interview-with-the-writer/): Theatre Village managed to have an interview with the writer- Amenie Groves behind Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship which is appearing at Edinburgh Fringe this year, a hot ticket! Speaking of tickets, here is the link: Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship | Edinburgh Festival Fringe Special delivery from Theatre Village! Grace here
- [Why You Should Take the Leap and Bring Your Show to the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-you-should-take-the-leap-and-bring-your-show-to-the-fringe/): By Grace Hatchell, Theatre Village Darlings, if you're teetering on the edge of deciding whether to take your show to the Edinburgh Fringe, let me give you a gentle (and glittery) shove: do it. Yes, it’s chaotic. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, your accommodation might be a glorified cupboard with a leaky tap and a view
- [Tall Tails: Mermaids. Meltdowns. Mayhem. Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tall-tails-mermaids-meltdowns-mayhem-edinburgh-fringe/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? 29.05.2025 Mermaids. Meltdowns. And more sparkle than my nan’s New Year’s lashes. Alright, my darlings—if you’ve ever said “no worries if not!” through gritted teeth or cried in a public loo because someone looked at you funny, then Tall Tails might just be your Fringe fix. This debut comedy from The
- [The Uncrackable Case At Edinburgh Fringe- Interview](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-uncrackable-case-at-edinburgh-fringe-interview/): The Uncrackable Case – A Musical Comedy Like No Other! 🎭 Front Room Productions & Lawrence Batley Theatre invite you to the most egg-citing, high-stakes trial of the Edinburgh Fringe! When celebrity egg-fluencer Humpty Dumpty takes a great fall, aspiring filmmaker Jill finds herself accused of eggs-ecution (yes, eggicide is a crime!). In a courtroom packed with fairy-tale chaos:B.B. Wolf is on defense (can a Big Bad Wolf
- [London's Newest Musical Sensation: Love Quirks Brings Neurotic Songs and Relatable Tales to the Stage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/londons-newest-musical-sensation-love-quirks-brings-neurotic-songs-and-relatable-tales-to-the-stag/): After a celebrated Off-Broadway run, Love Quirks: A New Musical lands in London for its longawaited premiere this autumn. Featuring neurotic, poignant songs and deeply relatablecharacters, Love Quirks holds up a mirror to the awkward, honest and sometimes beautifulemotional chaos of adulthood. Produced by Love Quirks Limited and General Managed by JAS Theatricals, the show
- [Elementary, My Dear Christmas!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/elementary-my-dear-christmas/): Birmingham Rep is thrilled to announce key casting news for the much-anticipated World Premiere of Sherlock Holmes and The Twelve Days of Christmas,a new play with songs,coming to The Rep from Friday 14 November 2025 – Sunday 11 January 2026. It’s Christmas in Victorian London but in the West End - where dreams come true
- [God, The Devil And Me At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/god-the-devil-and-me-at-edinburgh-fringe/): “Gabe is a perfectly average teenager, with perfectly average problems… except he is best friends withgod and the devil. Gabe will have to navigate teenage life all while keeping two omnipotent beings in tow. GCSE stress… if only!” 📬 What’s in Grace’s Satchel?Today’s Special Delivery: A little show with a lot of divine drama... Alright,
- [Penelope Quadrangle and the Murderous BFF Aesthetic AKA Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friends](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/penelope-quadrangle-and-the-murderous-bff-aesthetic-aka-penelope-quadrangle-and-the-meaning-of-friends/): CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AMATEUR DRAMATIC CLUB “Chicks before dicks, bros before hoes… girl time before heinous crime!” Ever heard of ride-or-die friendship? Well, Penelope’s just upgraded it to ride-or-drag-the-bod. Stylishly, of course! From the delightfully deranged minds at Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club comes Penelope Quadrangle and the Meaning of Friendship — a gloriously absurd comedy
- [In 1423 Berlin, two peasants find themselves at the center of hysteria, hypocrisy and impending doom! It must be Wenches!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/in-1423-berlin-two-peasants-find-themselves-at-the-center-of-hysteria-hypocrisy-and-impending-doom-it-must-be-wenches/): Hold onto your codpieces and polish up those podcast microphones — the time-traveling peasants have arrived! If Monty Python ever crash-landed in a PhD seminar on moral philosophy, or if Rosencrantz and Guildenstern stopped pondering and started vlogging, you’d get something delightfully daft like Wenches!. From the fine (and possibly slightly cursed) minds at Berlin’s
- [Steel Magnolias At People's Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/steel-magnolias-at-peoples-theatre/): Make an appointment at the People's Theatre next month for STEEL MAGNOLIAS! What’s in Grace’s Satchel?📬 A sharp pair of scissors, a splash of hairspray, and a bucketload of heart... Alright, my darlings – set your perms and schedule your gossip! Because next month at the People's Theatre, the curlers are hot and the emotions
- [A Jaffa Cake Musical At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-jaffa-cake-musical-at-edinburgh-fringe/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel? 🍊✨A Jaffa Cake Musical – Just Desserts? A Jaffa Cake MusicalTime to decide once and for all… Cake or biscuit?2PM (70 mins), 30 July - 25 August 2025 (not 12 Aug) @ Pleasance Courtyard Alright, pop the kettle on and brace yourself for a theatrical treat that’s half biscuit, half cake,
- [Review Of Grounded At Alphabetti Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-grounded-at-alphabetti-theatre/): I recently had the pleasure of attending "Grounded" at the Alphabetti Theatre, which marked my very first visit to this delightful venue. As I stepped inside, I was immediately struck by the theatre's warm community atmosphere and its cheerful, positive vibe that enveloped me like a comforting embrace. Instead of typical tannoy announcements that one
- [Comedy Gets Real: Jena Friedman, Lily Phillips & Thanyia Moore Tackle Motherhood & Grief](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-selection-of-comedy-and-inspiration-to-tantalize-your-tastebuds-at-edinburgh-fringe/): 📬 What’s in Grace’s Satchel? – Baby Talk & Brave Bellies Edition 🍼✉️ Alright my loves, brace yourselves – this week’s delivery is packed tighter than a buggy on the Bakerloo line. I've just hoofed it round Monkey Barrel and the Pleasance, dodging flyering students and melting iced lattes, to bring you three shows that’ll
- [Sh*t Life Crisis: Silent Uproar’s 2025 Touring Karaoke Comedy on Cancer, Grief & Friendship](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sht-life-crisis-silent-uproars-2025-touring-karaoke-comedy-on-cancer-grief-friendship/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?By Grace Hatchell, 2nd Act Couriers Darlings, gather round—because I’ve just delivered a parcel marked EMOTIONAL CHAOS: HANDLE WITH CARE and it’s from none other than those theatrical renegades, Silent Uproar. Yes, the award-winning mischief-makers are back in 2025 with a brand-new touring show, and let me tell you, it’s a belter.
- [Navigating the Streets: STREET Explores the Lives of the Homeless in London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/navigating-the-streets-street-explores-the-lives-of-the-homeless-in-london/): Mon Sans Productions, an Australian theatre company, is set to return to London with a compelling new play that sheds light on the often-overlooked issue of homelessness. "STREET" follows the lives of Foster and Miriam, two homeless youths accustomed to being ignored and invisible. Their routine existence is disrupted when Fay and Christian, newcomers to
- [Has Theatre Etiquette Changed?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/has-theatre-etiquette-changed/): Has theatre etiquette truly shifted since the onset of the Covid era? It appears that audiences may not consistently adhere to the traditional norms that once defined the theatre experience, prompting us to ponder an important question: should theatres themselves adapt to these changing behaviours, or is it ultimately the responsibility of audiences to recalibrate
- [The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-chaos-that-has-been-and-will-no-doubt-return/): Grace Hatchell here, reporting straight from the frontline of fierce fringe favourites and theatre that bites back! Word’s out—and it’s louder than a corner shop at midnight—that The Chaos That Has Been and Will No Doubt Return is storming the UK after an award-scooping, sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe. Think post-2008 Luton, two best mates
- [Lizzy Sunshine Comes To Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lizzy-sunshine-comes-to-edinburgh-fringe/): What’s in Grace’s Satchel?Delivery Date: Wednesday 14th May 2025Special Courier Note: Contains sunshine, sequins, and possibly a rogue security guard. Heya, theatre lovers! Grace Hatchell here, your favourite postie with the mostie, and guess what I’ve just plucked from the glitter-sprinkled pile in my satchel? A beaming little ticket-shaped envelope from none other than Liz
- [Big News! Lenny Henry’s The Boy With Wings Takes Flight on Stage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/big-news-lenny-henrys-the-boy-with-wings-takes-flight-on-stage/): Get ready for lift-off! Birmingham Rep and Polka Theatre have just revealed the cast and creative team behind the world premiere of Sir Lenny Henry’s best-selling adventure, The Boy With Wings – and trust us, we think it's going to soar. This exciting new stage adaptation is written by Arvind Ethan David and directed by
- [A Ballet Bombshell Lands in Newcastle!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-ballet-bombshell-lands-in-newcastle/): Hold onto your pointe shoes, darlings – Canada’s Ballet BC are pirouetting their way back to the UK this spring, and it’s not just any old return. Oh no – this is a double whammy of contemporary dance deliciousness, featuring works by two of the world’s top choreographers: the spellbinding Johan Inger and the ever-astonishing
- [Bibi Rukiya's Reckless Daughter At Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bibi-rukiyas-reckless-daughter-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): She bemoans her mother for trapping her in cultural constraints dictated by men... why is she exercising their will? Bibi Rukiya's Reckless Daughter is a new dance-theatre from choreographer Amina Khayyam exploring conditioned patriarchy enforced by women in family structures. Set in a contemporary inner city marginalised new migrant communities, and loosely based on Federico García Lorca's The House
- [Interview With Ian Hallard -Cosmic Dust](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-ian-hallard-cosmic-dust/): Meet Shotaro, a curious school boy who sets out on an adventure tofind his late father among the stars. Behind him follows his mother,sick with worry and determined to bring him home. Along their journeys, they encounter a kaleidoscope of characters each with their own stories of love, loss, and the absurdities of life. Amid
- [Time To Play Theatre Village Bingo](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/time-to-play-theatre-village-bingo/): Got your programme in one hand and an interval wine in the other? Then you're ready to play Theatre Village Bingo — the ultimate game for theatre lovers who know the real drama doesn’t always stick to the script. From standing ovations to missed cues and gossip in the loos, Grace Hatchell’s filled her satchel
- [10 Interesting Facts About Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/10-interesting-facts-about-theatre/): 10 Fascinating Facts About UK Theatre The UK has the oldest continually operating theatre in the world.The Bristol Old Vic, which opened in 1766, is the longest-running continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world. The West End is the second-largest commercial theatre district in the world.After Broadway in New York, London’s West End is the
- [Olivia Ormond Takes Her Show Call Me Crazy To Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/olivia-ormond-takes-her-show-call-me-crazy-to-edinburgh-fringe/): Well lovelies, I nearly dropped my entire postbag when I clocked this one! Word on the cobbled courier path is that Emmy-winning powerhouse Olivia Ormond is packing up her fierce solo show Call Me Crazy and heading to the Edinburgh Fringe with it! After causing quite the stir Stateside at the Hollywood Fringe, she's bringing
- [Regional Theatres Are The Bedrock Of Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/regional-theatres-are-the-bedrock-of-theatre/): The stage newspaper recently highlighted a rather astute observation made by none other than Griff Rhys Jones, who boldly proclaimed that without regional theatres, the West End would simply devolve into a never-ending parade of musicals. And let’s be honest, he’s absolutely spot on! It’s a truth so undeniable that it could probably win an
- [2025/2026 Tour Alert: The Bodyguard Musical Set to Dazzle UK and European Audiences](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/2025-2026-tour-alert-the-bodyguard-musical-set-to-dazzle-uk-and-european-audiences/): The UK and Europe tour of the award-winning smash hit musical THE BODYGUARD will star international leading lady Sidonie Smith as Rachel Marron, Olivier Award nominee Adam Garcia as Frank Farmer, Sasha Monique as Nicki Marron and Coronation Street and Hollyoaks star Matt Milburn as Sy Spector. At certain performances, the role of Rachel Marron
- [Grounded At Alphabetti Theatre This May](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grounded-at-alphabetti-theatre-this-may/): Innovative new production blending lived experience, music, and storytelling comes toAlphabetti Theatre in May 2025 This May, Grounded, a poignant and remarkable new play born from a collaboration between professional theatre-makers and community participants with lived experience of grief and isolation, will premiere at Alphabetti Theatre (21–24 May 2025). Set in the shadow of the
- [9 Shows To See At Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/9-shows-to-see-at-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): 9 Shows to Keep an Eye on at Edinburgh Fringe. Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter something along the lines of, "But the full list isn't out yet!"—we're entirely aware of that little hiccup in our otherwise impeccable plan. With approximately 1, 700 shows already listed on the official Edinburgh Fringe website, it
- [May Delights At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/may-delights-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): May promises to be a month of unmissable entertainment for theatre lovers, with Birmingham Rep presenting a triple-bill of gripping productions taking place in The Door, their intimate performance space. The line-up includes a “disarmingly powerful” (Time Out) production about the dangers of nuclear weapons; a journey back to war-torn 1940s Europe uncovering the tragic
- [Review Of Rent By Whitley Bay Musical Theatre Company](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-rent-by-whitley-bay-musical-theatre-company/): What an absolute delight it was to experience the magnificent production of *Rent* at Whitley Bay Playhouse! Although I was somewhat familiar with a selection of the iconic songs and had caught glimpses of parts of the film adaptation, witnessing the full story unfold right before my eyes on stage was nothing short of joyful.
- [Queer, Cult, and Camp Take Over Shoreditch – Summer in The Ditch is Back!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/queer-cult-and-camp-take-over-shoreditch-summer-in-the-ditch-is-back/): Following the success of its inaugural artist takeover in 2024, Shoreditch Town Hall is thrilled toannounce the return of Summer in The Ditch. Running across six days this July, the bold and brilliantseries will once again showcase a dynamic mix of camp, queer, and cult work in the venue’sacclaimed basement space — recently home to
- [Sides At The People's Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sides-at-the-peoples-theatre/): The People's Play Award is a biennial playwriting competition to discover and champion new Northern writers. Many previous winners have gone on to successful writing careers, including Mike Yeaman (Canoeing for Beginners), Fiona Veitch Smith (The Miss Clare Vale Mysteries), Alison Carr (National Theatre, Finalist: Women's Prize for Playwriting) and recent Oscar-winner Peter Straughan! This
- [Hasta La Vista Bibby by David Bibby](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hasta-la-vista-bibby-by-david-bibby/): Presenting an uproarious extravaganza from the WINNER of the prestigious Amused Moose Edinburgh Comedy Award – Most Fun Show 2023. Dave Bibby is hilariously entangled in his latest comedic caper and must summon his inner Marty McFly to zoom Back to the Future! Get ready for a rib-tickling hour packed with songs, sketches, and [AHEM]
- [Interview With Anthony Alderson](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-anthony-alderson/): "There’s nothing quite like the energy of a room full of people sharing a live moment that only exists once, and then it’s gone" Theatre Village were lucky enough to do an interview with Anthony Alderson who is the director of PleasanceTheatre's Trust. What role does the Pleasance Theatre Trust play in promoting global creativity
- [May Madness-Your Banner On Our Front Page](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/may-madness-your-banner-on-our-front-page/): Picture this: your show being showcased on our website about your Edinburgh Fringe 2025 show with a banner on our website throughout June, July, and August! That's right—Theatre Village is thrilled to offer you the opportunity to have your banner prominently displayed on our front page for three whole months. Imagine every visitor to our
- [Pleasance Theatre Have Just Raised the Bar for Edinburgh Fringe 2025 with 33 Shows Announced](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pleasance-theatre-have-just-raised-the-bar-for-edinburgh-fringe-2025-with-33-shows-announced/): The Pleasance Theatre Trust is launching its Edinburgh Fringe 2025 programme with a bang, announcing a dazzling first wave of 33 shows that promise to tickle your fancy and maybe even your funny bone. Get ready for an eclectic mix of solo acts, satire sharp enough to cut through the morning fog, political dramas that
- [Ready to Explore? Richmond Arts & Ideas Festival Returns with "Cultural Reforesting" (June 13-29)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ready-to-explore-richmond-arts-ideas-festival-returns-with-cultural-reforesting-june-13-29/): After a successful pilot in 2023, Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival is returning for a full launchthis June to showcase arts, culture and community. The theme for this year’s festival is CulturalReforesting, which aims to promote positive social change and conversation by asking “how canwe renew our relationship with nature?”. For two weeks, venues and
- [Interview with Sandra Marvin And Geradine Sacdalan- & Juliet](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-sandra-marvin-and-geradine-sacdalan-juliet/): SANDRA MARVIN- Angélique GERARDINE SACDALAN -Juliet For people who think they know Romeo & Juliet, how does the show shake things up? Sandra: Our version starts off where the other Romeo and Juliet story finishes. Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway isn't too keen on the ending, especially when it comes to how things end for Juliet,
- [Juliet's New Story: Experience the Hit Musical & Juliet in Sheffield](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/juliets-new-story-experience-the-hit-musical-juliet-in-sheffield/): Embark on an extraordinary adventure as Juliet reimagines her destiny, embracing a fresh start and a second chance at life and love—on her own terms. Crafted by the Emmy-winning writer of Schitt's Creek, this exhilarating new musical reinvents the greatest love story ever told, daring to ask what unfolds if Juliet chooses her own path
- [A Role To Die For To Transfer To London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-role-to-die-for-to-transfer-to-london/): A London transfer has been announced for the critically acclaimed new comedy, A Role To Die For, written by Jordan Waller and directed by Olivier Award winner Derek Bond, following its world premiere earlier this year at Cirencester's Barn Theatre. A Role To Die For will transfer to the Marylebone Theatre, playing from Saturday 26 July until Saturday 30 August, with
- [Family Friendly Events Happening At Woolwich Works This May And June](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/family-friendly-events-happening-at-woolwich-works-this-may-and-june/): Woolwich Works is absolutely thrilled to unveil an exhilarating line-up of family-friendly events this May and June! Get ready for a whirlwind of interactive music sessions, immersive theatre, and a dazzling tribute concert celebrating one of the biggest pop icons of our era. Families can travel back in time with Baby Knees Up – VE
- [Restless Natives The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/restless-natives-the-musical/): Restless Natives: The Musical kicks off its long-awaited Scottish tour tonight. this is the show that will thrill and delight audiences across Scotland this Spring. Produced and directed by the same team who made the cult classic 1985 film, alongside co-producers Perth Theatre, Restless Natives: The Musical sees the iconic outlaw duo the Clown and the Wolfman ride
- [All My Pretty Ones At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/all-my-pretty-ones-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): This May, Birmingham Rep will be bringing an exciting new project from Birmingham-based theatre company, White Bear Productions. All My Pretty Ones follows on from the success of Les Vaches Dans Le Champ as the second instalment of a historic trilogy written by Patrick Hayes and will debut at The Rep on Wednesday 14 May,
- [The Pocket Dream At Lichfield Garrick Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-pocket-dream-at-lichfield-garrick-theatre/): Lichfield Garrick Theatre is currently working hard to prepare their upcoming production The Pocket Dream which opens on Thursday 24th April 2025. The play, which the theatre describes as ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream gone wrong’, wraps Shakespeare’s classic comedy within a second chaotic comedy where everything that could possibly go wrong, does! The cast have
- [Vesna Fest At Woolwich Works](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/vena-fest-at-woolwich-works/): This spring, Woolwich Works will transform into a vibrant showcase of Ukrainian culture as it hosts the inaugural Vesna Fest! between 2 – 5 May, including Bank Holiday Monday. The four-day festival will see a unique takeover by contemporary Ukrainian artists and a rich programme brimming with art, culture and conversation. Highlights include traditional dances, soul-stirring poetry readings, painting workshops and
- [Grease Is The I One I Want At Pitlochry Festival Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grease-is-the-i-one-i-want-at-pitlochry-festival-theatre/): Pitlochry Festival Theatre set to get its 2025 Summer Season off to an electrifying start This June an exciting new production of the iconic rock 'n' roll musical Grease is set to get the Pitlochry Festival Theatre 2025 Auditorium Season off to a truly ELECTRIFYING start when it opens at Scotland's Theatre in the Hills from 18
- [Fawlty Towers- The Play Is Coming To Birmingham Alexandra Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fawlty-towers-the-play-is-coming-to-birmingham-alexandra-theatre/): Hold onto your hats, folks, because the UK and Ireland tour of John Cleese's Fawlty Towers – The Play is about to hit the stage with all the subtlety of a Basil Fawlty meltdown! After a smashing West End run that had critics and audiences alike in stitches, this laugh-a-minute production is heading to The
- [Yolanda Mercy In The " Failure Project"](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/yolanda-mercy-in-the-failure-project/): The "Failure Project" is a sincere, humorous, and touching exploration of what it genuinely means to "fail" and how we find the strength to rebuild from it. Following her well-received stint at the Edinburgh Festival, BAFTA nominee Yolanda Mercy returns with this daring new show. Meet Ade—a writer who seems to have everything going for
- [Best Pals Become Bitter Rivals POP OFF, MICHELANGELO!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/best-pals-become-bitter-rivals-pop-off-michelangelo/): POP OFF, MICHELANGELO! tells the story of best-pals-turned-bitter-rivals Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. A bloodthirsty friar is on the hunt for homosexuals in Renaissance Italy at the exact moment when childhood friends Mike and Leo realise they both like boys. Terrified, they devise a foolproof plan to gain God's forgiveness: they simply need to become the
- [Scottish Premiere Of Penguin](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/scottish-premiere-of-penguin/): Tron Theatre is delighted to welcome Hamzeh Al Hussien and Amy Golding for the Scottish Premiere of Hamzeh’s solo-show, Penguin, which will play in the Changing House studio space for two nights only in May. After a sold-out, award-winning run in 2023, this extraordinary play is touring again and the Tron shows are the only
- [Royal Welsh College Brings 4 New Plays To You](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/royal-welsh-college-brings-4-new-plays-to-you/): The Royal Welsh College’s NEW writing festival commissions four new plays each year, empowering its students as the next generation of creatives, collaborating with some of the UK’s top creative talent. This year’s season, which premieres in Cardiff before transferring to London’s Young Vic theatre, speaks to the world today, focusing on human endeavour versus
- [New Shows Announced At The Pleasance. It's More Choice Than A Kid In A Sweet Shop!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-shows-announced-at-the-pleasance-its-more-choice-than-a-kid-in-a-sweet-shop/): Hold onto your hats, folks! The Pleasance Theatre Trust has just announced a slew of new shows for their can't-miss Edinburgh Fringe line-up. With 129 fresh acts across comedy and theatre, spread over the 25 performance spaces at the Courtyard, the Dome, and the EICC, there's more choice than a kid in a sweet shop.
- [Pleasance Futures champions artistic development with an impressive support of over £100,000!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pleasance-futures-champions-artistic-development-with-an-impressive-support-of-over-100000/): Nurturing the next generation of bold theatre-makers, Pleasance Futures, the artist developmentstrand of the Pleasance Theatre Trust, ensures support for exciting up-and-coming talent from thewhole UK in the arts. For its 41st Edinburgh Fringe, the Pleasance will offer over £100,000 in supportof the theatre artists of tomorrow, with 30 shows being directly supported by Pleasance
- [Midnight Cowboy Radio At Pen Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/midnight-cowboy-radio-at-pen-theatre/): MIDNIGHT COWBOY RADIO BY ALLY IBACHPEN THEATRE, LONDON Entertaining y’all for those long, monotonous drives home! Buckle up, because it’s Labor Day 2022, and we’ve got quite the treat for your eardrums. Midnight Cowboy Radio is not your average late-night show; it’s a delightful concoction. This brilliant show is penned and performed by the talented
- [The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-empire-strips-back-a-burlesque-parody/): The internationally acclaimed spectacle, *The Empire Strips Back: A Burlesque Parody*, is sashaying its way to Hammersmith's Riverside Studios for its London debut starting 2 May, with a gala night on the oh-so-appropriate May the Fourth. Initially set to wrap up on 22 June, the producers have decided to keep the party going due to
- [KHT Artist Club At King's Head Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kht-artist-club-at-kings-head-theatre/): The King’s Head Theatre in Islington is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting new artist development programme as part of the KHT Artist Club! This fantastic free membership initiative, which kicked off earlier this year, offers an array of incredible benefits. Members can enjoy subsidised tickets to all productions at the theatre and
- [Hot Mess At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hot-mess-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Birmingham Hippodrome's New Musical Theatre department has announced an exciting debut at the Edinburgh Fringe with their original climate crisis musical, Hot Mess. Premiering this summer, this vibrant romcom musical transforms the climate crisis into a tale of love, hope, and ultimate separation. Crafted by the award-winning team behind 42 Balloons, this pop comedy musical
- [The Addams Family Musical: A Night of Eccentric Entertainment](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-addams-family-musical-a-night-of-eccentric-entertainment/): Join Wednesday—the ultimate princess darkness—as she navigates love amidst family hilarity where secrets unfold during fateful dinner gatherings filled laughter warmth twists turns galore… Come experience heart-warming tale about love friendship family bonds like never before! Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and John Stalker Productions, along with co-producers ADAMA Entertainment and Guy James, are absolutely
- [Birmingham Alexandra Announces Fiddler On The Roof](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-alexandra-announces-fiddler-on-the-roof/): Following a magnificent 13 nominations for this year's Olivier Awards, equaling the record previously set in 2018, Fiddler on the Roof comes to The Alexandra, Birmingham for a Christmas run from Tue 9 Dec – Sat 3 Jan after a triumphant sold-out season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre last year. Casting will be announced soon. This must-see theatrical event of
- [The Space Presents An Incredible Line Up At This Years Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-space-presents-an-incredible-line-up-at-this-years-edinburgh-fringe/): Founded in 1995, theSpaceUK is an absolute powerhouse in live performance production! Their theatres have earned a stellar reputation as the epicentre of award-winning theatre and groundbreaking new work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They present an exhilarating mix of new writing, theatre, dance, music, children’s and family shows, comedy, drama, sketch performances, cabaret acts,
- [Death On The Throne At The Gatehouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/death-on-the-throne-at-the-gatehouse/): After world puppetry day, it seemed apt to shout about a hilarious new musical, Death on the Throne, that will make its London debut this March at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. Featuring a captivating live score from German pop-rock star Tobias Künzel (of Die Prinzen) and British Screenwriter Mark Underwood (Forget Me Not, Quicksilver Pictures)
- [Run Sister Run At Arcola Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/run-sister-run-at-arcola-theatre/): Double Telling have announced the long-awaited London premiere of Run Sister Run by award-winning playwright Chloë Moss. Directed by Marlie Haco, the production opens at the Arcola Theatre on 7 July, with previews from 2 July, and runs until 26 July. A sharp yet tender exploration of sisterhood, Run Sister Run follows the entwined lives of Connie and Ursula over four decades as their relationship
- [Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted – a man, a fortune and a million social media followers.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/muriel-ends-up-with-everything-she-ever-wanted-a-man-a-fortune-and-a-million-social-media-followers/): Curve and Global Creatures have announced the full company of MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL® running 10 April to 10 May in Leicester this spring. Last year it was revealed the musical would be led by rising star Megan Ellis as Muriel Heslop and original SIX THE MUSICAL Queen Annabel Marlow as Rhonda Epinstall. Watch brand-new
- [Birmingham Rep Presents Its Spectacular Lineup Of Shows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-rep-presents-its-spectacular-lineup-of-shows/): Birmingham Rep is absolutely buzzing with excitement as it unveils even more thrilling productions for its already dazzling 2025/26 season, offering theatre enthusiasts in the Midlands a truly world-class experience right at their doorstep! The Young Rep, their cherished youth theatre company for ages 7 to 18, returns with its fourth summer festival, Home and
- [Bold, innovative work at Unicorn Theatre's 2025/2026 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/bold-innovative-work-at-unicorn-theatres-2025-2026-season/): The Unicorn Theatre is delighted to unveil the Autumn instalment of its thrilling 2025/26 season. With a commitment to the transformative power of storytelling, the season builds on the Unicorn’s reputation as the UK’s leading venue for bold, innovative work that helps children explore their identities and the world around them. Bringing together a dynamic
- [Prepare Yourself For A Smorgasbord Of Performances At The Pleasance Theatre Trust For Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/prepare-yourself-for-a-smorgasbord-of-performances-at-the-pleasance-theatre-trust-for-edinburgh-fringe/): With seven shows already up for grabs, the buzz is real, and now it's time to roll out the red carpet for even more amazing artists at the Pleasance Theatre Trust. This summer, prepare yourself for a smorgasbord of comedy, theatre, cabaret, and family fun across 25 performance spaces at the Courtyard, the Dome, and
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2025/): Planning to dazzle the crowds at Edinburgh Fringe in 2025? Well, brace yourself because the theatre village crew will be there from 1st to 8th August, armed with notebooks and an insatiable appetite for theatre, comedy, music , dance…! Our diary fills up faster than a free bar at a student party, so if you
- [Brace yourself for excitement as the first batch of shows for the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe have been revealed. It's like Christmas morning for theatre buffs—minus the dodgy jumpers.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/brace-yourself-for-excitement-as-the-first-batch-of-shows-for-the-2025-edinburgh-festival-fringe-have-been-revealed-its-like-christmas-morning-for-theatre-buffs-minus-the-dodgy-jumpers/): Today, 12 March 2025, marks an exhilarating moment as the first wave of shows for the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe is unveiled. With over 556 diverse performances now available for booking on edfringe.com from noon today, this year's festival promises to be a spectacular celebration of creativity and talent. Spanning a multitude of genres—cabaret and
- [A Bold And Ambitious Theatrical Production Of Storehouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-bold-and-ambitious-theatrical-production-of-storehouse/): Sage & Jester, an innovative arts production company, is set to unveil the world premiere of Storehouse, a bold and ambitious theatrical production designed to challenge perceptions of truth and trust. Opening on Wednesday 4th June at Deptford Storehouse in London, Storehouse is poised to be one of the UK's most daring large-scale immersive theatre
- [New Musical INDIGO at Curve Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-musical-indigo-at-curve-theatre/): Leicester Curve Theatre is absolutely thrilled to announce yet another UK premiere in its Studio Theatre with the vibrant new musical, INDIGO! Running from 26 June to 19 July this summer, this production promises to be an unforgettable experience. With the brilliant music and lyrics by Scott Evan Davis and a captivating book by Kait
- [Review Of Emerald Isle At Whitley Bay Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-emerald-isle-at-whitley-bay-playhouse/): Where were you this week? I had the absolute pleasure and sheer delight of attending the Whitley Bay Playhouse for the dazzling production of *Emerald Isle*, a spectacular showcase brought to life by the exceptionally talented minds behind the international sensation “Murphy's Celtic Legacy.” What an extraordinary feast of Irish music and dance it truly
- [Farwell Mister Haffmann London Premiere](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/farwell-mister-haffmann-london-premiere/): Norel Productions and Adam Blanshay Productions have announced the cast for the London première of Jean-Philippe Daguerre’s "Farewell Mister Haffmann," adapted by Jeremy Sams. Directed by Oscar Toeman, the production features Michael Fox as Pierre Vigneau, Nigel Harman as Otto Abetz, Jennifer Kirby as Isabelle Vigneau, Jemima Rooper as Suzanne Abetz, and Alex Waldmann as
- [World Premiere Of Cul-De-Sac](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/world-premiere-of-cul-de-sac/): The debut run has been announced for Cul-de-Sac, the new play from WhatsOnStage and multiOffWestEnd Award-nominated playwright David Shopland (Saving Britney, 2022 The OtherPalace/UK Tour; Raising Kane, 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Assembly Venues;Lessons Learned, 2017 National Theatre of China). Presented by Fake Escape, the acclaimedcompany behind the multi-five-star, sell-out Off Broadway hit Saving Britney, Cul-de-Sac
- [Corn Exchange Announces Summer Season For 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/corn-exchange-announces-summer-season-for-2025/): The Corn Exchange Newbury, one of Berkshire’s leading arts and entertainment venues, is set to deliver an exceptional Summer Season for 2025. With a rich mix of artistic brilliance, audiences can look forward to a vibrant array of performances, from celebrated music tributes and thrilling paranormal experiences to comedic gems and captivating theatre. This summer,
- [Girl-power audio musical, Hatched! releases new album](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/girl-power-audio-musical-hatched-releases-new-album/): To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, the innovative audio musical Hatched! hasannounced the release of its new album. Recorded by a West End cast, the hotly anticipatedsoundtrack will be available across streaming sites from 7th March featuring twenty energisingand inspiring songs from the show which were initially included within the hit nine-part audioseries released last
- [Free Adult Beginner Ballet Taster Class](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/free-adult-beginner-ballet-taster-class/): The acclaimed Birmingham Royal Ballet will be hosting free Adult Beginners Taster Classes to coincide with the forthcoming Let’s Dance Day on Sunday 2 March. The Adult Beginners Taster Classes, at BRB’s ballet studios in Thorp Street, Birmingham City Centre, offers adults with no prior ballet experience to join BRB and discover the joy of ballet in a friendly and supportive class.
- [Review Of Good For A Girl](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-good-for-a-girl/): I attended Birmingham Rep Theatre to review Good For A Girl. A new play from Becky Deeks. The set reminded me of an advent calendar, with the numbered lockers providing the backdrop to this production. Music would punctuate throughout the play, sometimes signalling the end of a scene. The music was youthful and modern, the
- [Welsh National Opera: Exciting 2025/2026 Season Awaits!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/welsh-national-opera-exciting-2025-2026-season-awaits/): Welsh National Opera is set to ignite the stage with its electrifying 2025/2026 Season, marking a monumental 80th anniversary celebration. The anticipation builds as WNO prepares to grace the Birmingham Hippodrome in May 2026 with an exhilarating new production of *The Flying Dutchman* on Thursday, 7th May, followed by the triumphant return of *Blaze of
- [Birmingham Rep Announces Its 2025 Spring Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-rep-announces-its-2025-spring-season/): This Spring, the Birmingham Rep is set to dazzle with the absolute crème de la crème of dance, drama, and entertainment touring the UK! Prepare to be amazed by world-premiere performances and thought-provoking dance pieces from the multi-award-winning Boy Blue and Ballet Black. Plus, enjoy captivating evenings with broadcasting legends Joan Bakewell and Nigel Havers.
- [Theatre Re Announces New Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-re-announces-new-season/): Theatre Re, one of the UK’s leading theatre groups, has announced a captivating new season for2025, featuring critically acclaimed shows which will return to delight audiences. Wellestablished across the globe for creating strikingly poignant and thought-provokingperformances, Theatre Re’s shows explore fragile human experiences through compellingphysical theatre. Showcasing movement, visual theatre & original live music, Theatre
- [Peter Kay And His Hecklers](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/peter-kay-and-his-hecklers/): Peter Kay has recently issued a statement in response to the removal of three hecklers from his performance at the AO Arena, an incident that has ignited considerable debate among fans and critics alike. This particular event took place during the popular Bolton comedian's show on February 8, drawing attention not only for its unexpected
- [Good For A Girl At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/good-for-a-girl-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): Join Queensgate Football Club as they advance to the final rounds of the Women's FA Cup for the first time in the club's history. Meet a group of players, united in their love for the game and for each other. But can this record-breaking team survive the challenges they face, both on and off the pitch?
- [Prepare For A Whole Load Of Chaos At Lichfield Garrick](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/prepare-for-a-whole-load-of-chaos-at-lichfield-garrick/): Following its hit run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Camden Fringe and 2022 UK Tour; ShoddyTheatre are taking slapstick comedy A Shoddy Detective and The Art Of Deception back ontour, but this time bigger than ever! A laugh-out-loud slapstick whodunnit featuring four actors, a dozen characters and a whole load of chaos. When a priceless painting
- [A West End Debut Opportunity In We Aren't Kids Anymore](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-west-end-debut-opportunity-in-we-arent-kids-anymore/): Award-winner Melanie La Barrie (Hadestown; &Juliet) will join the cast of We Aren’t Kids Anymore in the role of Drew 5, alongside powerhouse Jenna Lee-James (Frozen; We Will Rock You) as Drew 6 / Featured Artist. This new contemporary musical offers a heartfelt exploration of life's shared journey and how its pivotal moments shape us
- [Steve Steinman Eternal Love On Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/steve-steinman-eternal-love-on-tour/): Steve Steinman’s Vampires Rock trilogy is back with a bang in its latest, electrifying installment, Eternal Love! This new rock musical not only promises to be hilariously entertaining but also guarantees to captivate audiences like never before, leaving them on the edge of their seats with excitement. Prepare yourself for a rollicking romp into a
- [The Project To Bring Leith Theatre Back To Life](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-project-to-bring-leith-theatre-back-to-life/): Leith Theatre Trust revealed that it has secured a significant funding package potentially worth £4.5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Leith Theatre Leith Theatre, part of a grand complex gifted to the fine folks of Leith by the City of Edinburgh after their 1920 merger, is quite the character! Opened in 1932, it also
- [Interview With The Cast Of The Midnight Caller](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-the-cast-of-the-midnight-caller/): An interview with the Yazmeen Enoch, Emeka Agada (Reacher) and Treci Dominique performing The Midnight Caller. https://www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk/the-midnight-caller.html#:~:text=The%20Midnight%20Caller%20is%20a,world%20of%20late%2Dnight%20solitude. Hello many thanks for agreeing to the interview What inspired you to create The Midnight Caller? Our production of The Midnight Caller was inspired by the stark realities of modern work culture—particularly the isolation that comes with jobs designed to be invisible. Call centers,
- [Midnight Caller At Old Red Lion Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/midnight-caller-at-old-red-lion-theatre/): What occurs when the feeling of isolation transmutes into sheer terror? "The Midnight Caller" is a spine-tingling one-act thriller that masterfully invites audiences to plunge deep into the eerie, tension-filled realm of late-night solitude. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of a dimly lit call centre, this compelling production intricately follows Fiona, a young employee who
- [Review - Finding The Unity In Community At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-find-the-unity-in-community-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): On a February day I found myself at the opening of Community, a new production by Birmingham Rep Theatre. Written by Farrah Chaudhry and directed by Alice Chambers it immersed me in a land of individual stories, with friendship, identity and belongings as prevailing themes. Friends Leyla and Zoya are polar opposites. Zoya is pampered,
- [This Spring Sunny Side Is On A UK Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-spring-sunny-side-is-on-a-uk-tour/): Renowned dance-theatre company Northern Rascals are taking their raw and emotional showSunny Side on a UK tour this Spring. The Yorkshire-based company will seamlessly combinetheatre, contemporary dance and spoken word to explore the modern young male experienceand the struggles many men face from adolescent to adulthood. Touring in partnership withAndy’s Man Club, a men’s suicide
- [Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Presents Their 2025 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dundee-rep-and-scottish-dance-theatre-presents-their-2025-season/): Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are delighted to present their 2025 season—a programme that truly honours creativity, connection, and community. Audiences can eagerly anticipate a vibrant year filled with premieres, daring new creations, and beloved returning favourites for all ages. With stories that ignite the imagination, this season underscores Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance
- [Shoreditch Town Hall Invites You To Their Exciting Spring Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/shoreditch-town-hall-invites-you-to-their-exciting-spring-season/): Shoreditch Town Hall is set to deliver an exceptional spring season, showcasing bold new works and beloved classics, all while upholding its dedication to promoting unconventional art, community engagement, and vital discussions within the arts. This season promises a remarkable line-up featuring a fresh residency by technology innovators DARKFIELD and the Scotsman’s Fringe First Award-winning
- [Good For A Girl-Something To Boots Your Spirits](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/good-for-a-girl-something-to-boots-your-spirits/): In collaboration with the feminist arts organisation Fractured Glass, Birmingham Rep has announced the cast for "Good for a Girl," a new drama that highlights and celebrates the real-life experiences of women in football. This innovative production, inspired by true stories from the female footballing world, will debut at The Rep from Wednesday 19 February
- [Unicorn Theatre and Talawa Theatre Company are delighted to announce the cast for Home Song](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/unicorn-theatre-and-talawa-theatre-company-are-delighted-to-announce-the-cast-for-home-song/): Unicorn Theatre, the national theatre for young audiences, and leading Black British theatrepioneers Talawa Theatre Company are proud to announce the cast for Home Song. Starring in thisexciting new work will be Amina Gichinga (ABBA Voyage, O2) as Mother and Halle Brown (TheCrucible, National Theatre / Gielgud Theatre) as Adwoa. They will be supported by
- [A Role To Die For At The Barn Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-role-to-die-for-at-the-barn-theatre/): CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis, Executive Director and Producer Liam McMullan and the whole Barn Theatre team are delighted to announce the full cast and creative team for the Built By Barn world premiere of A Role To Die For, a brand-new play written by Jordan Waller and directed by Olivier Award winning Derek
- [Always Starting Over is released ahead of the UK Premiere of IF/THEN Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/always-starting-over-is-released-ahead-of-the-uk-premiere-of-if-then-musical/): Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning team Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) has announced further casting for IF/THEN to play alongside Kerry Ellis. The critically acclaimed David Hunter will be one of the leading men as Lucas, following his celebrated performances in multi-award-winning West End productions such as Waitress, Kinky Boots, and The
- [English Touring Theatre Announces Macbeth at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/english-touring-theatre-announces-macbeth-at-lyric-hammersmith-theatre/): English Touring Theatre have announced full casting for Artistic Director Richard Twyman's version of Macbeth, which is excitingly reworked for 2025 for a limited run at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. Joining the previously announced Alex Austin (Macbeth) and Lois Chimimba (Lady Macbeth) are Gabriel Akuwudike (Banquo), Bella Aubin (Malcolm), David Colvin (Lennox), Ammar Haj Ahmad (Macduff), Daniel Hawksford (Duncan), Bianca Stephens (Lady Macduff) and Sophie Stone (Ross). Macbeth opens on 5 March, with previews from 28 February and
- [Transported To Neverland With Peter Pan At The Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/transported-to-neverland-with-peter-pan-at-the-birmingham-hippodrome/): Review of Peter Pan at Birmingham Hippodrome. The production of *Peter Pan* at the Birmingham Hippodrome offers a delightful journey to Neverland, capturing the essence of a truly magical pantomime experience. From the very moment I stepped into the auditorium, an undeniable air of excitement enveloped me. The uplifting soundtrack filled the space with infectious
- [By Royal Appointment By Daisy Goodwin](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/by-royal-appointment-by-daisy-goodwin/): The late Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her discretion. She never said anything in public that could ruffle the lightest of feathers. But she had one way of expressing what she really thought – through her wardrobe. By Royal Appointment is a funny, poignant and celebratory new play about the kind of power that
- [World Premiere Of Toy Solider](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/world-premiere-of-toy-solider/): Theatre on the River is set to unveil the world premiere of "Toy Soldier," marking the debut writing collaboration between Helen Goodman and Joseph Dewey. The play will open at Waterloo East Theatre on 22 January, with previews starting from the 21st, and will run until 2 February. Helen Goodman also makes her London directorial
- [Eun-Me Ahn Brings Dance Spectacular Dragons Back To The UK](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/eun-me-ahn-brings-dance-spectacular-dragons-back-to-the-uk/): Listings informationMonday 24 and Tuesday 25 February at 7.30pmMayflower Theatre SOUTHAMPTON22-26 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1GETickets: 023 8071 1811 / www.mayflower.org.uk Friday 28 February & Saturday 1 March at 7.30pmThe Marlowe Theatre, CANTERBURYThe Friars, Canterbury CT1 2ASTickets: 01227 787787 / https://marlowetheatre.com/ Tuesday 4 & Wednesday 5 March at 7.30pmBrighton Dome BRIGHTONChurch St, Brighton BN1 1UETickets: 01273 709709
- [The Intrusion On Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-intrusion-on-tour/): Bric à Brac Theatre and Told by an Idiot are joining forces to present an unmissable darkcomedy, The Intrusion. The newly announced cast is set to bring this Kafka-inspired tale on a UKtour, which follows a group of survivors navigating the end of human civilization, exploring thevery real and often overwhelming climate crisis. The show
- [Allison Davies’ Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light On Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/allison-davies-tiny-fragments-of-beautiful-light-on-tour/): Following a warmly received premiere at Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre in 2023, Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light is preparing for a UK tour. This immersive and interactive piece gently delves into one woman’s complex journey of self-discovery, offering an insightful look at the often-overlooked female experience of autism through sincere storytelling and humour. The narrative centres
- [10 Nights At Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/10-nights-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Shahid Iqbal Khan's Olivier Award-nominated play, *10 Nights*, embarks on a UK tour and makes its way to Birmingham from Thursday 6 February to Saturday 8 February! Kicking off at Riverside Studios Hammersmith in January, this heartfelt and humorous one-man show delves into themes of faith, community, and self-discovery. Join Yasser on his captivating journey
- [Tchaikovsky's iconic ballet Swan Lake At Sheffield Lyceum](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tchaikovskys-iconic-ballet-swan-lake-at-sheffield-lyceum/): Tchaikovsky's iconic ballet Swan Lake will delight Sheffield audiences this new year, coming to the Lyceum from Tuesday 7 - Saturday 11 January 2025. Swan Lake is one of the world's most popular ballets; a timeless tale of love and betrayal. Out hunting one night, Prince Siegfried discovers a group of swans who have been placed under a spell by
- [Interview With Katy Richardson](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-katy-richardson/): Theatre Village managed to get an interview with Katy Richardson who is a musical director and pianist based in London. She is currently the UK musical supervisor for the multi-award winning musical SIX What inspired you to pursue a career in musical direction and supervision? I knew I wanted to work in the theatre from a
- [Posh Girls Comes To London's King Head Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/posh-girls-comes-to-londons-king-head-theatre/): Coming to London’s King’s Head Theatre in 2025, Posh Girls exposes the secret side of Britain’selite private schools, behind the clichéd tuck boxes, tartan kilts and jovial escapades. Looking atthe messy experiences of navigating platonic and romantic relationships during adolescence,Posh Girls highlights how these formative experiences can be exacerbated in the isolatingenvironment of boarding school.
- [Small Acts Of Love At Citizens Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/small-acts-of-love-at-citizens-theatre/): "Small Acts of Love" is a heartfelt new work that beautifully captures the bonds of friendship formed between the people of Lockerbie and American relatives following the Pan Am 103 tragedy in December 1988. Commissioned by Citizens Theatre's Artistic Director Dominic Hill, this touching collaboration between playwright Frances Poet and composer Ricky Ross (Deacon Blue)
- [More exciting casting news for IF/THEN](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/more-exciting-casting-news-for-if-then/): Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning duo Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, known for their work on Next to Normal, have announced more exciting casting news for IF/THEN, set to dazzle alongside the incredible Kerry Ellis! The brilliant David Hunter will take on the role of Lucas. Fresh from his acclaimed performances in West End hits
- [Shoreditch Town Hall announces A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/shoreditch-town-hall-announces-a-little-inquest-into-what-we-are-all-doing-here/): to headline Spring Season Shoreditch Town Hall has announced that A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here, the critically acclaimed show that premiered at the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and won a Scotsman Fringe First Award, will headline its Spring Season as the first programmed event of 2025. Lead artist, performer, and
- [Snow White & The Seven Drag Queens Goes On Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/snow-white-the-seven-drag-queens-goes-on-tour/): North-East's beloved adult pantomime, "Snow White & the Seven Drag Queens," is sashaying its way across the UK for the very first time, kicking off in Newcastle before strutting its fabulous feathers through Brighton, Nottingham, London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and Wolverhampton from 4th to 12th January 2025. This isn’t your typical fairy tale; oh
- [Spectacular Christmas concert in the heart of London at Westminster’s Central Hall](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spectacular-christmas-concert-in-the-heart-of-london-at-westminsters-central-hall/): The Fulltone Orchestra is set to sprinkle a little magic over London this festive season with a spectacular live concert of Christmas classics at Central Hall Westminster. With the delightful pre-recorded narration from Stephen Fry, this evening promises outstanding orchestral entertainment and will feature renowned guests like Classical Brit nominee Camilla Kerslake and Emmet Cahill
- [Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat At Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Birmingham Hippodrome panto legend, Matt Slack will return to the venue next year in a regal role when he appears as Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from Tuesday 20 May – Saturday 1 June 2025. Matt performs in this sensational production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing
- [Drag Talent So Fabulous At Peter Pan - Phoenix Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/drag-talent-so-fabulous-at-peter-pan-phoenix-theatre/): Join us for Tuck Shop's fourth annual all-drag pantomime, 'Peter Pan,' at The Phoenix Theatre running until 6th January 2025. It's set to be an evening of theatrical brilliance that you won't forget—unless you've had one too many sherries! This much-anticipated event boasts a lineup of drag talent so fabulous it'll leave you in stitches.
- [Curve Theatre Prepares For The Arrival Of Calamity Jane](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/curve-theatre-prepares-for-the-arrival-of-calamity-jane/): As rehearsals commence, Jamie Wilson Productions is pleased to announce the complete casting for the revival of The Watermill Theatre’s dynamic production of the acclaimed Broadway and West End musical, Calamity Jane. This production will tour across the UK and Ireland starting January 2025 before heading to the West End. Joining previously announced multi-award-winning West
- [Dick Whittington Pantomime First Look Photos!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dick-whittington-pantomime-first-look-photos/): First production photos of Dick Whittington at the Corn Exchange, Newbury have arrivedAudiences will join Dick and his trusty cat on their quest to seek fame and fortune. As thedynamic duo journeys from Newburyshire to London, it soon becomes clear that perhapseverything is not what it seems. Corn Exchange Newbury promises to provide festive fun
- [We Aren't Kids Anymore Debuts In April 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/we-arent-kids-anymore-debuts-in-april-2025/): Prepare to be swept off your feet by the world premiere of Drew Gasparini's electrifying new musical, We Aren't Kids Anymore, debuting on Monday 28th April 2025. This is not just another show; it's a vibrant celebration of life’s journey, brought to life by the phenomenal talents of Olivier Award-winner Sam Tutty and the illustrious
- [Grace Finally Escapes Captivity In The Various Methods Of Escape](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grace-finally-escapes-captivity-in-the-various-methods-of-escape/): The Various Methods of Escape by Amber Spooner is set tomake its London premiere on December 3rd at the “Bread and Roses Theatre” with originalAustralian theatre company “Mon Sans Productions” at the helm. This is to be Mon Sans Production’s first international work after over a decade of creatingoriginal theatre in Sydney, Australia. The play
- [Find Festive Theatre Shows In The West Midlands](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/find-festive-theatre-shows-in-the-west-midlands/): Looking for the best festive theatre shows in the West Midlands? Well, you're in luck! Before Santa's elves dash off to the North Pole for their annual Christmas Eve shindig, they've whipped up a list just for you. First stop on our merry adventure is Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, where from 1st December, you can
- [Review Of Grease By The Arcadians Musical Theatre Company](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-grease-by-the-arcadians-musical-theatre-company/): I had the pleasure of attending the Arcadians Musical Theatre Company’s vibrant production of "Grease" at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham, where an enthusiastic full house eagerly awaited the performance to commence. The atmosphere was charged with excitement and anticipation, setting the stage for what promised to be an entertaining evening. The set design was
- [Belgrade Theatre have announced the selection of three companies for the 2024 Springboard Programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/belgrade-theatre-have-announced-the-selection-of-three-companies-for-the-2024-springboard-programme/): Creative Director Corey Campbell, CEO Laura Elliott, and the entire team at the Belgrade Theatre are pleased to announce the selection of three companies for the 2024 Springboard Programme. This initiative is designed to support early career artists and emerging companies based in the West Midlands. Established in 2015, Springboard is a development programme that
- [Hold onto your hats, folks! Birmingham Hippodrome has just unveiled its 2025 season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/hold-onto-your-hats-folks-birmingham-hippodrome-has-just-unveiled-its-2025-season/): Get ready for an exhilarating year at Birmingham Hippodrome! They've just announced that next year's pantomime will be the enchanting Robin Hood, featuring the legendary Matt Slack from Saturday 20th December 2025 to Sunday 1st February 2026. But that's not all—March brings the Musical Theatre Writers Group Showcase on Thursday 6th March, offering a sneak
- [York Theatre Royal has revealed an exciting lineup for its upcoming season of productions, and it's looking quite promising!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/york-theatre-royal-has-revealed-an-exciting-lineup-for-its-upcoming-season-of-productions-and-its-looking-quite-promising/): York Theatre Royal has unveiled an absolutely thrilling lineup for its upcoming season of productions! Alongside the eagerly anticipated collaboration with Wise Children on "North by Northwest," adapted and directed by the brilliant Emma Rice, and the return of Gary Oldman to the stage in Samuel Beckett's "Krapp's Last Tape," there's so much more to
- [Reality TV meets its match in Miss-I-Doll, where the drama is as real as a contestant's spray tan!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/reality-tv-meets-its-match-in-miss-i-doll-where-the-drama-is-as-real-as-a-contestants-spray-tan/): Get ready for a side-splitting night at The Other Palace Studio with the much-awaited Miss-I-Doll, an explosive one-woman musical comedy that hilariously skewers capitalism gone awry. Follow Mia, the picture-perfect reality TV contestant, as she takes audiences on a wild ride through a show that's more of a train wreck than a talent contest. Reality
- [Grab your tickets before they vanish faster than Macbeth's conscience!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grab-your-tickets-before-they-vanish-faster-than-macbeths-conscience/): The 2025 production of "Macbeth" at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre will be directed by Richard Twyman, Artistic Director of ETT. Alex Austin will take on the titular role, with Lois Chimimba as Lady Macbeth. The show opens on 5 March, following previews from 28 February, and runs until 29 March. This production follows a successful
- [Riverside Studios has spilled the beans on their Christmas and New Year 2024 extravaganza, and it's set to be a cracker!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/riverside-studios-has-spilled-the-beans-on-their-christmas-and-new-year-2024-extravaganza-and-its-set-to-be-a-cracker/): Executive Director Tony Lankester and the merry band at the West London venue are tickled pink to spill the beans on Riverside Studios' Christmas extravaganza! This festive season, we're serving up five cracking theatre productions, a sleigh-load of jolly events, and enough cinema to keep even Santa entertained. So grab your mince pies and get
- [Jonny & The Baptists announce UK tour of The Happiness Index](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/jonny-the-baptists-announce-uk-tour-of-the-happiness-index/): After their critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Jonny & The Baptists (JonnyDonahoe and Paddy Gervers) will take their hilarious and poignant new show The HappinessIndex on a UK tour in 2025. The musical comedy, which explores the links between personaltragedy, government austerity, and mental health. Having already received rave reviews for itsmix
- [Review of Wicked - Cinema Release](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-wicked-cinema-release/): So do not worry all, I am not turning into a film reviewer. However I have seen wicked the theatre show in London 5 times and when I heard it was on at the cinema, I had to be there to see it. The cinema release features Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, playing Glinda and
- [Review Of A Christmas Carol At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-a-christmas-carol-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): You surely have heard of Ebenzer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol? Well even if you haven’t, this play is on at the Birmingham Rep until 5th January 2025. Reading the brochure and some audience reviews gave me an inkling as what to expect which was more emphasis on the ghosts within the play. Adam Penford-
- [Sneak Peek Of Rehearsal Images For Dick Whittington](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/sneak-peek-of-rehearsal-images-for-dick-whittington/): Corn Exchange Newbury is thrilled to share a sneak peek into the rehearsals for this year's highly anticipated and star-studded pantomime, Dick Whittington. This enchanting production promises to be a spectacular event for audiences of all ages, showcasing an incredible cast that brings a wealth of talent and experience to the stage. Among the notable
- [Wicked The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wicked-the-musical/): The enchanting tale of Wicked is making its way into mainstream cinemas across the globe starting this week, and in light of this exciting development, we thought it would be worthwhile to shine a spotlight on the renowned UK theatre production of Wicked. This remarkable stage adaptation first opened its doors to audiences in September
- [Kim's Convenience Goes On A UK Tour!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kims-convenience-goes-on-a-uk-tour/): After critically-acclaimed runs at Park Theatre and Riverside Studios, the hit production Kim’s Convenience is packing up and heading on a UK tour. Taking charge as the new patriarchic figure of the family will be star of the CBC and Netflix adaptation James Yi. As well as being known for Kim's Convenience, Netflix, he has
- [Pirates Love Underpants At Leicester Curve Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pirates-love-underpants-at-leicester-curve-theatre/): Leicester's Curve theatre has announced the complete cast for the world premiere stage adaptation of the beloved picture book, "Pirates Love Underpants." Directed by Curve’s Associate Director Cara Nolan, this family-friendly production will be performed at Leicester's Curve from 2 December 2024 to 5 January 2025. The show is based on Claire Freedman and Ben
- [National Youth Music Theatre Announces Its 2025 Programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/national-youth-music-theatre-announces-its-2025-programme/): The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) has unveiled its 2025 programme, and it’s set to be an absolute cracker! With a thrilling lineup of iconic musicals, groundbreaking new works, and fantastic opportunities for young music theatre enthusiasts, there’s so much to look forward to. The excitement doesn’t stop there—NYMT is also kicking off its 2025
- [Review of "Our House: The Madness Musical" by St Alphege Musical Production Society](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-our-house-the-madness-musical-by-st-alphege-musical-production-society/): I recently attended the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham, a venue I hadn't visited for some time, and it was refreshing to return. I was there to see an amateur production of "Our House," and here is my review. This musical began its tour at the Birmingham Rep Theatre, so it was delightful to know it
- [Cast Announced For Sheffield Theatre's Death Of The King's Horseman](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cast-announced-for-sheffield-theatres-death-of-the-kings-horseman/): Utopia Theatre and Sheffield Theatres have announced the full cast for the city's first ever staging of Death of the King's Horseman at the Crucible. The professional and non-professional cast members join previously announced Wale Ojo as Elesin Oba, the King's Horseman, and Kehinde Bankole as Iyaloja, Mother of the market. Together, they tell the story of Elesin, the king's horseman,
- [Christmas In Exeter Street At Farnham Maltings](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/christmas-in-exeter-street-at-farnham-maltings/): Farnham Maltings is delighted to unveil the cast and creative team for its eagerly anticipated production of "Christmas in Exeter Street." This enchanting adaptation of Diana Hendry and John Lawrence's cherished children's book will grace the stage at Farnham Maltings from Friday 13th to Tuesday 24th December. With an impressive ensemble of 37 characters, 7
- [Annual Calendar By Lazarus In Aid Of Acting For Others](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/annual-calendar-by-lazarus-in-aid-of-acting-for-others/): Lazarus Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated return of their calendar for 2025, which has been expertly curated by the talented photographer Charles Flint. This annual calendar not only showcases Flint’s remarkable artistic vision but also serves a noble purpose: it is sold in support of Acting for Others, an organisation dedicated to
- [Feminist Retelling Of The Great Gatsby](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/feminist-retelling-of-the-great-gatsby/): The cast announcement for Scar Theatre’s thrilling adaptation of The Great Gatsby is here, and it's set to be a spectacular event at The Cockpit this winter! This innovative take on Fitzgerald’s iconic Jazz Age novel promises to invigorate audiences by queering the central love story and igniting a powerful call to action in the
- [Mr Thing At Seven Dials Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mr-thing-at-seven-dials-playhouse/): Following several sensational runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, cult comedy show Mr. Thing is set todelight audiences this winter at Seven Dials Playhouse. The beloved duo, Tom Clarkson and OwenVisser, will bring their unique blend of multimedia madness and comedic chaos to the stage for alive festive special with The Christmas Thing. Co-hosted by this
- [Thursford Christmas Spectacular 2024](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/thursford-christmas-spectacular-2025/): Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Thursford this Christmas! Their Christmas Spectacular is not just a show; it’s an exhilarating extravaganza bursting with non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour, and a delightful variety that promises to engage and entertain audiences of all ages. Picture a vibrant celebration of the festive season where classic holiday tunes
- [By Their Fruits At Theatre 503](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/by-their-fruits-at-theatre-503/): Studio Wayne McGregor Resident 6 artist dkfash, known for works like "Is Dat U Yh?" at Brixton House and "Fragments of a Complicated Mind" at Theatre503, is set to present her latest interdisciplinary play at Theatre503 this November. Titled "by their fruits," the production promises a unique blend of poetry, grit, and physical theatre. It
- [Cast Announcement For The Devil May Care](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cast-announcement-for-the-devil-may-care/): The announcement of the full cast for the world premiere of Mark Giesser’s *The Devil May Care* is exciting. This original adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s *The Devil’s Disciple* is set against the compelling backdrop of the Philippine-American War, exploring themes of imperial power, racial intolerance, and moral dilemmas. It delves into the profound question
- [World Premiere Of Anne Boleyn The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/world-premiere-of-anne-boleyn-the-musical/): The world premiere of Anne Boleyn the Musical, debuting at Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's childhood home is happening in 2025. Get ready for an extraordinary experience as "Anne Boleyn the Musical" takes centre stage in a specially constructed 1,800-seat outdoor auditorium at the enchanting Hever Castle from 2nd to 30th August 2025! Under the brilliant direction of
- [New Old Friends Provides A Festive Delight At Lichfield Garrick Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-old-friends-provides-a-festive-delight-at-lichfield-garrick-theatre/): Theatre Village Are have learnt about the return of New Old Friends to the Lichfield Garrick for another festive farce this Christmas season with "Christmas Present & Correct." This production promises all the beloved trademarks that Garrick audiences have cherished since their debut show, "Crimes Against Christmas," in 2016. Featuring four talented actors engaging in
- [Deafinitely Theatre Successful In Obtaining Funding To Further Their Work](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/deafinitely-theatre-successful-in-obtaining-funding-to-further-their-work/): Deafinitely Theatre have announced they have been awarded £273,675.00 from The National Lottery to help fund the Deafinitely Youth Theatre Programme over the next five years. Founded in 2010, Deafinitely Youth Theatre is led annually by deaf industry leaders, providing opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged 14-21. The programme's alumni include
- [Pinocchio At Watermill Theatre This Christmas](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pinocchio-at-watermill-theatre-this-christmas/): Joint CEOs Artistic Director Paul Hart and Executive Director Claire Murray, along with the entire team at Newbury’s Watermill Theatre, are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for their upcoming festive family production of Michael Morpurgo’s "Pinocchio." The show opens on Friday, 15 November 2024, and runs until Sunday, 5 January 2025, with
- [What Festive Treats Are Happening At The Old Royal Naval College?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-festive-treats-are-happening-at-the-old-royal-naval-college/): Prepare to be utterly enchanted as you celebrate Christmas at the Old Royal Naval College, London, where a dazzling array of festive events awaits the entire family. Imagine the thrill as elves and Mrs Claus embark on a whimsical race to save Christmas in a delightful family show, while Father Christmas himself captivates audiences with
- [A Review Of Becoming Nancy At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-becoming-nancy-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): The vibrant world of musical theatre comes alive in the Birmingham Rep Theatre's production of *Becoming Nancy*, a captivating new show that has audiences buzzing with excitement. Based on Terry Ronald's bestselling novel, this musical explores the journey of being cast as Nancy in a school production of *Oliver*, blending heartfelt storytelling with impressive performances.
- [Dick Whittington At The Corn Exchange Newbury](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dick-whittington-at-the-corn-exchange-newbury/): Get ready to be swept off your feet with excitement as Corn Exchange Newbury unveils the stellar cast for this year's pantomime, "Dick Whittington"! Join Dick and his loyal feline friend on an exhilarating adventure from Newburyshire to the bustling streets of London, where surprises lurk around every corner. This festive extravaganza promises magical moments
- [Interview With Artistic Director Chris Cuming - National Youth Music Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-artistic-director-chris-cuming-national-youth-music-theatre/): Theatre Village managed to get an interview with Chris Cuming ahead of the National Youth Music Theatre Relaunch. For nearly 50 years, NYMT has been at the forefront of offering exceptional opportunities in musical theatre training for talented young people. Historically the work has been centred around actors and musicians. NYMT - National Youth Music
- [Online Auction Of Rare Theatre Memorabilia](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/online-auction-of-rare-theatre-memorabilia/): Go Live Theatre Projects, the London based theatrical education charity have launched an online charity auction, full of rare theatre memorabilia. The auction will raise funds to support the charity’s mission to make theatre accessible to young people and their families. The prizes on offer include: signed posters and programmes from West End shows including Harry Potter
- [Rachel Baker: Stranger Comedy Review At Birmingham Comedy Festival](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rachel-baker-stranger-comedy-review-at-birmingham-comedy-festival/): The performance I attended was still a work-in-progress, yet it showcased Rachel Baker's unique comedic flair and improvisational skills remarkably well. Rachel has earned recognition as a Funny Women Finalist—a prestigious accolade that speaks volumes about her talent and appeal. The venue for this particular show was the Victoria Pub, where Rachel effortlessly presented her
- [Be A Witness Of Becoming Nancy at the Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/be-a-witness-of-becoming-nancy-at-the-birmingham-rep-theatre/): Get ready for an exhilarating and unforgettable experience with the UK premiere of the musical "Becoming Nancy" at Birmingham Rep! This sensational show, inspired by Terry Ronald's beloved coming-of-age novel, is meticulously brought to life under the expert direction and choreography of Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, who is renowned for his work on hits
- [Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Presents A Series Of Events](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/royal-birmingham-conservatoire-presents-a-series-of-events/): Fauré Requiem - Come and Sing Sun 10 Nov, 6.30pm Join us for our inaugural Come and Sing event! In this special year marking the 100th anniversary of Gabriel Fauré's passing, we're thrilled to invite singers of all abilities and backgrounds to perform his iconic Requiem. You'll be part of a magnificent chorus, rehearsing in
- [Have Yourself A Fang-tastic Time At West End Musical Halloween](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/have-yourself-a-fang-tastic-time-at-west-end-musical-halloween/): The spooktacular line-up of West End stars has been revealed for the West End Halloween show, promising an evening so ghoulishly delightful it might just give you goosebumps! Hosting this frightfully fun concert is Shanay Holmes, known for her roles in Miss Saigon and The Bodyguard, and currently playing Nancy in Cameron Macintosh’s Oliver!, which
- [The Ultimate Paris Hilton Parody](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-ultimate-paris-hilton-parody/): Brace yourselves for a winter spectacle that’s sure to knock your socks off! "The Simple Life & Death" is making its fabulous world premiere, adding a killer twist to Paris Hilton's iconic noughties reality show, "The Simple Life." Just as Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie come together for their thrilling 20th-anniversary relaunch, things take a
- [A Review Of The Mayor and His Daughter: A Genuine Appreciation of Comedy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-the-mayor-and-his-daughter-a-genuine-appreciation-of-comedy/): I found myself at this absurd comedy show as part of Birmingham's Comedy Festival. ( https://www.bhamcomfest.co.uk/05oct_mayorandhisdaughter.html) The setting was rather small and a hotchpotch of electrical wires, with a projector made the place seemed unruly and untamed. This show delivered on absurdity with forceful instructions such as clap, take part or stand up .The shows
- [From 'Street' To Theatre, Andy Street Appointed To The Birmingham Rep Theatre Board](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/andy-street-appointed-chair-of-birmingham-rep-theatre/): Birmingham Repertory Theatre have announced the appointment of Andy Street CBE as the new Chair of the Board. Andy has made an impressive impact in his roles, most recently as Mayor of the West Midlands from 2017 to 2024. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the West Midlands Combined Authority and attracting significant public and private investment to
- [A Review Of Coming To England- Lichfield Garrick Theatre.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-coming-to-england-lichfield-garrick-theatre/): It was my first visit to the Lichfield Garrick Theatre and I watched Coming To England which turned Floella Benjamin’s book into a stage adaptation The opening scene put me off, I know it was meant to resonate with Playschool audiences but it led me looking towards an exit as it felt too cringey for
- [Review Of Gandeys Circus](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-gandeys-circus/): The Circus was on in town- or more precisely, Birmingham and it meant I needed to pop along to a) see it and b) review it. Circus resonates with me, as a child my parents took me to a circus show in Newcastle- I was fascinated by the sights and sounds. Then went I went
- [The Elephant In The Room](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-elephant-in-the-room/): In a tour of India, a young Englishman named Ashley Davenport is visited by Yama, King of Death and the Underworld. This encounter prompts him to renounce all his worldly wealth and decide to set out on a Spiritual Path. There's only one problem. He has absolutely no idea how to do it. And so
- [Coming To England Goes On Tour With Cast Announcement](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/coming-to-england-goes-on-tour-with-cast-announcement/): The cast has been announced for the UK tour of the stage adaptation of Floella Benjamin’s much-loved and award-winning book, "Coming to England." This vibrant and energetic new play, with music from Nicoll Entertainment and MAST Mayflower Studios, tells Floella’s personal story of moving to England in the 1960s at the age of 10. "Coming
- [Get Ready For The Relaunch Of The National Youth Music Theatre ( NYMT)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/get-ready-for-the-relaunch-of-the-national-youth-music-theatre-nymt/): The relaunch of the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) is just around the corner, and it promises to be as thrilling as a surprise encore at a sold-out show—complete with confetti cannons and the smell of popcorn! For nearly half a century—a span so long that you’d think they’d have exhausted every possible musical number
- [Have A Giant Of A Time With Jack And The Beanstalk at Lichfield Garrick Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/have-a-giant-of-a-time-with-jack-and-the-beanstalk-at-lichfield-garrick-theatre/): Lichfield Garrick has once again teamed up with the dynamic duo of Paul Hendy and Evolution Productions, which is like Batman and Robin but with more sequins and less crime-fighting! They’re back to deliver their biggest and funniest pantomime yet, guaranteed to tickle your funny bone until it begs for mercy. This year’s theatrical extravaganza
- [Frankenstein At Lichfield Garrick Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/frankenstein-at-lichfield-garrick-theatre/): A new story inspired by the classic novel by Mary Shelley Written and directed by Séan Aydon. 1943. Whilst Europe tears itself apart, two women hide from their past at what feels like the very end of the world. And one of them has a terrifying story to tell… “I created life. You don’t believe
- [Four Felons And A Funeral Musical At Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/four-felons-and-a-funeral-musical-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): OYA Theatre Company, those award-winning wizards of contemporary Queer musical theatre, are set to tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings with their delightfully cheeky hit show, Four Felons and a Funeral. Mark your calendars, folks! This fabulous escapade will be gracing the Birmingham Hippodrome from Thursday 26 September to Saturday 28 September.
- [Four New Trustees Join Outside Edge Theatre Company](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/four-new-trustees-join-outside-edge-theatre-company/): Marking their 25th anniversary, Outside Edge Theatre Company (OETC) have appointed four incredible new trustees: award-winning director Sarah Frankcom, finance expert Brian Dorgan, fundraiser Tania Moy and Southwark Playhouse’s Head of Participation, David Workman. These new trustees will help further develop the phenomenal work of OETC as the organisation heads into its next 25 years,
- [This December The Heartwarming Fir Tree Is The At Arts Depot](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-december-the-heartwarming-fir-tree-is-the-at-arts-depot/): This festive season, How It Ended and artsdepot are thrilled to present an imaginative and brand-new theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale, The Fir Tree. Bursting with movement, live music and song, enchanting foley sound effects, and delightful puppetry, this heartwarming production is packed with lessons and adventures for the entire family. It
- [Get Ready For The Production Of Snow White At Sheffield Lyceum](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/get-ready-for-the-production-of-snow-white-at-sheffield-lyceum/): Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Productions are absolutely thrilled to announce the full cast for their spectacular pantomime, Snow White, which will be taking place at the Lyceum Theatre this Christmas! This enchanting production promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with joy and laughter. Joining the previously announced stars—Catherine Tyldesley, renowned for her role in
- [Photos Of The Cast In Rehearsals For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/photos-of-the-cast-in-rehearsals-for-the-curious-case-of-benjamin-button/): Prepare to be utterly captivated by the sensational production of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button! Starring the Olivier Award-winning John Dagleish as Benjamin Button and the Olivier Award-nominated Clare Foster as Elowen Keene, this show promises an unforgettable experience. Joining them is a stellar cast including Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Katy Ellis,
- [Netflix Offers An Exciting Offer Alongside Stranger Things: The First Shadow](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/netflix-offers-an-exciting-offer-alongside-stranger-things-the-first-shadow/): Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions are absolutely thrilled to share some exciting news for theatre enthusiasts! If you are a ticket holder for the highly anticipated STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW and you’re not yet a Netflix subscriber, there is a fantastic offer available. For those who purchase their tickets up until 30 September 2024,
- [My Fair Lady: A Captivating Theatre Production at Leicester Curve](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/my-fair-lady-a-captivating-theatre-production-at-leicester-curve/): Full casting has been announced for the upcoming made at curve production of My Fair Lady. Joining the previously announced Molly Lynch as Eliza Doolittle is David Seadon-Young, who will play phonetics professor Henry Higgins. The company also includes Minal Patel, Damian Buhagiar who will play Zoltan Karpathy, joined by Jonathan Dryden Taylor. Harry, Ying
- [Miss Julie At The Courtyard Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/miss-julie-at-the-courtyard-theatre/): An energetic, subtly humorous production of a Strindberg masterpieceMiss Julie begins as a flirtatious game between the daughter of a landedSwedish aristocrat and Jean (Chris Agha), her father's, somewhat common,but well-travelled footman. Over the course of a long and sultry Midsummer'sEve, the game plays out and gradually descends into a shifting battle forsurvival. ELTC's production
- [RSVP To The Wedding Of The Year!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rsvp-to-the-wedding-of-the-year/): Initial casting has been announced for the UK premiere production of MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL, which will run at Leicester’s Curve theatre Thursday 10 April to Saturday 10 May 2025. Undateable. Unemployable. Unstoppable. Stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, Muriel dreams of the perfect wedding – the white dress, the church, the attention.
- [Interview With Edward Wu From Kim's Convenience](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-edward-wu-from-kims-convenience/): We managed to catch up with Edward Wu from Kim's Convenience a show on sale right now at Riverside Studios https://www.kimsconvenienceplay.com/book-tickets How did you decide to approach this role when reading through the script? When I first read the script, Jung's story really resonated with me. Here's a guy who's trying to find his place
- [Theatre Re are taking their new show Moments on tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-re-are-taking-their-new-show-moments-on-tour/): Merging the engaging format of a TED Talk with the emotive power of theatrical performance, *Moments* represents a bold and innovative step for Theatre Re, a company acclaimed for its signature style that fuses striking imagery and dynamic action with original live music. This production invites both the performers and the audience to rediscover the
- [Wellbeing Advisor Appointed At Sharnbrook Mill Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wellbeing-advisor-appointed-at-sharnbrook-mill-theatre/): An amateur theatre is making a pioneering move by employing a wellbeing adviser to support the cast of its production of the widely acclaimed thriller, The Girl on the Train. This gripping narrative, adapted from Paula Hawkins' bestselling novel, delves into "dark content" that explores heavy themes such as domestic abuse and alcoholism. At its
- [Interview With BASS6 - The Beatbox Collective](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-bass6-the-beatbox-collective/): Answered by BASS6 (Rupert) from The Beatbox Collective We managed an exclusive interview with one of the members from The Beatbox Collective- BASS6- Rupert Hello, What inspired The Beatbox Collective to start their journey in beatboxing? We all had unique influences growing up, from parents being musicians and the ability to being able to join in
- [Ticketing- Is There A Fairer Way?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ticketing-is-there-a-fairer-way/): When it comes to ensuring that tickets for shows are sold fairly, we need a system that prioritises transparency and accessibility. One approach is the implementation of a lottery system for high-demand events. This way, fans can register their interest and be randomly selected to purchase tickets, rather than relying on the first-come-first-served model that
- [The Beatbox Collective Present: What's Your Sound?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-beatbox-collective-present-whats-your-sound/): Do not miss this unique performance of 100% vocal sound you never thought humanly possible! The Beatbox Collective are bringing their 5 Star rated music comedy show to London. As seen on ITV's This Morning 2for1 TICKETS SPECIAL OFFER AVAILABLE NOW WITH CODE: BEAT241 The Beatbox Collective - individually they have won almost every beatbox
- [Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs At Fairfield Halls](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs-at-fairfield-halls/): Further casting for this year's enchanting pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which will play at Fairfield Halls in the Ashcroft Theatre from 13 December 2024 – 05 January 2025 has been announced. Mia Overfield , most recently seen on stage as 'Rosa' in Cable Street at Southwark Playhouse, will play 'Snow White'. Mia's
- [Cast Announced For More ....Ghost Stories By Candlelight](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cast-announced-for-more-ghost-stories-by-candlelight/): The cast for its East of England tour of More... Ghost Stories by Candlelight has been announced. Emily Ling Williams will direct actor-musicians Becky Barry and Sharan Phull. Following the success of last year's Autumn tour, the company brings together four contemporary ghost stories from Tassa Deparis, James McDermott, Eloise Pennycott and Aisha Zia, each
- [Kim's Convenience Comes To Riverside Studios](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/kims-convenience-comes-to-riverside-studios/): Following a sold-out hit run at Park Theatre earlier this year, Kim’s Convenience is transferring toRiverside Studios. Adam Blanshay Productions, in association with Park Theatre, are behind InsChoi’s award-winning play, which inspired the CBC and Netflix’s global hit TV comedy adaptationof the same name. Kim's Convenience was Ins’ debut play, winning the Best New Play
- [Small Town Boys By Tim McArthur: Bringing A True Story To The Union Theatre This September](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/small-town-boys-by-tim-mcarthur-bringing-a-true-story-to-the-union-theatre-this-september/): Based on a true story, Small Town Boys by Tim McArthur (A Word For Mother) is coming to theUnion Theatre this September. In the summer of 2023, two strangers cross paths in the USA anddiscover they both dated the same boy as teenagers in the North East of England. Through aseries of flashbacks, the audience
- [Have A Ghoulish Halloween And A Festive Christmas Treat!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/have-a-ghoulish-halloween-and-a-festive-christmas-treat/): The West End’s number one concert series is back with another season of spectacular, feel goodconcerts. As fans of this sell out series will know, at a West End Musical concert, you not only getincredible performances from the West End’s biggest stars, the audience also ‘become the cast’,so singing and dancing along and even dressing
- [Heathers The Musical: Bringing Dark Comedy To Sheffield](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/heathers-the-musical-bringing-dark-comedy-to-sheffield/): Following a smash hit in London's West End, two record-breaking national tours and sell out runs at London's The Other Palace, the WhatsOnStage 'BEST NEW MUSICAL' winner, Heathers the Musical is returning to Sheffield. Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is so very a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the
- [The Watch House On Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-watch-house-on-tour/): Papatango have announced the full cast of Chris Foxon's adaptation of The Watch House, based on the novel by Robert Westall. George Turvey directs Donald McBride (Arthur/Geordie), Catherine Dryden (Fiona/Prudie/Da Souza/Timmo) and Aoife Kennan (Anne). The 12-venue engagement opens at Alnwick Playhouse on 24 October, touring to Poole, Dorchester, Swanage, Lyme Regis, Plymouth, Exeter, Leeds, Marsden, Hexham and Middlesbrough before completing its run at Cullercoats Watch House on 16 November, with
- [Birmingham Had A Weekend Like No Other](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-had-a-weekend-like-no-other/): Birmingham had an epic weekend with its Birmingham Weekender 2024 which was produced for the city by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Bullring & Grand Central was buzzing throughout the whole bank holiday weekend, bringing crowds to the city through wind, rain and sunshine. If you were there, you would have seen Birmingham's streets, squares
- [Launch Of Sister Site- Staged In Edinburgh](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/launch-of-sister-site-staged-in-edinburgh/): Theatre Village is delighted to announce the launch of its sister site, Staged In Edinburgh, dedicated to showcasing the best solo performers who have graced the stages of the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival or are to be appearing. This new platform aims to simplify your search for exceptional talent, saving you time and effort in
- [Guinness World Record Achieved By National Youth Music Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/guinness-world-record-achieved-by-national-youth-music-theatre/): Leading youth arts organisation The National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT) are celebrating being awarded the Guinness World Records most complete costume changes in a lead theatrical role – with 37 changes in their production Our House! This record has been achieved by 2024 NYMT company member Des Coghlan-Forbes (17 years old from North Somerset) who
- [With Dazzling Disco Anthems, It Must Be Why Am I So Single? The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/with-dazzling-disco-anthems-it-must-be-why-am-i-so-single-the-musical/): The internationally acclaimed music artist and record producer MNEK has been announced as part of the powerhouse music production team of the highly anticipated new West End musical, WHY AM I SO SINGLE? From Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the multi-award-winning writers of SIX the Musical, this new musical comedy is a love letter to
- [There is no art without artists- fair play needed for the arts sector.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/there-is-no-art-without-artists-fair-play-needed-for-the-arts-sector/): The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is renowned for its diverse array of performances, from cutting-edge theatre to thought-provoking spoken word. However, this diversity is under threat if artists are not given an equal opportunity to showcase their work. Without the participation of artists, there would simply be no art at the Edinburgh Fringe. It is the
- [Winners Announced For Popcorn Writing Awards At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/winners-announced-for-popcorn-writing-awards-at-edinburgh-fringe/): The Winners have been announced for the Popcorn writing awards at Edinburgh Fringe. Amongst the thousands of acts at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, VL and Weather Girl jointly win thisyear’s Popcorn Writing Award, with The Book of Mountain and Seas and Knock on the Roofcoming in second and third, sharing the prize fund of £6,500. Written
- [Twelfth Night-Inspired Musical Play On! Touring This Autumn](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/twelfth-night-inspired-musical-play-on-touring-this-autumn/): The full creative team has been announced for the UK premiere of Play On!, the jazz-fuelled,Twelfth Night-inspired musical that will tour the UK from September 2024 – February 2025,including a winter run at Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. From Talawa, the UK’s outstanding Blacktheatre company, this joyous, musical retelling of Shakespeare’s beloved play brings to life the1940s
- [Final Thoughts On Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/final-thoughts-on-edinburgh-fringe/): Well it was my first and hopefully not last time of attending Edinburgh Fringe as a reviewer. I learnt several things as a reviewer and it was good to network with like-minded individuals, as the Theatre Community is vast and we all have an important role to play. Each show wants to attract an audience
- [Review Of Catinca Maria Nistor- The Second Coming Of Joan Of Arc](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-catinca-maria-nistor-the-second-coming-of-joan-of-arc/): This is my final Edinburgh Fringe review, this review is for the online edition of the show as unfortunately my full diary meant I couldn't review this show in person. Catinca Maria Nistor has has previously performed alongside Dame Helen Mirren in the Film Golda and therefore brings a wealth of experience to this show.
- [How I Award 1 to 5 Stars For A Show](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-i-award-1-to-5-stars-for-a-show/): What key factors do you consider when deciding whether to award 5 stars to a theatre production? Deciding whether to award 5 stars to a theatre production is an exciting and rewarding process! As a passionate theatre-goer, I consider several key factors that contribute to an exceptional, must-see performance. First and foremost, the overall quality
- [Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre Announce Hippodrome Live!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-hippodrome-announce-hippodrome-live/): Birmingham Hippodrome have announced the full line up of performances for Hippodrome Live!, a series of free performances from top West End musicals on Sunday 25 August, as part of Birmingham Weekender 2024. Inspired by West End Live, Hippodrome Live! will feature performances from Disney's Aladdin, SIX, & Juliet, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby, 42 Balloons, Play On! and Four Felons and a Funeral. Audiences
- [Review Of Into The Woods At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-into-the-woods-at-edinburgh-fringe/): A review of the production Into The Woods by LAMDA at Edinburgh Fringe. I eagerly awaited to see this show but unfortunately was feeling ill and tired so had to leave after about 3 quarters the way through it. So my review is not the full review of the show. Lamda stands for London Academy
- [Review Of Why Am I (Still) Like This? By Nicole Nadler](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-why-am-i-still-like-this-by-nicole-nadler/): Nicole Nadler has brought Why Am I Still Like This to Edinburgh Fringe both in person and online. The show presents Nicole’s experience with ADHD, it has comedic elements which intertwine with more serious tones. Nicole presents a show which is thoughtful and humorous. Nicole is trapped with the proverbial cage which is ADHD but
- [The Second Coming of Joan of Arc At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-second-coming-of-joan-of-arc-at-edinburgh-fringe/): The Second Coming of Joan of Arc performed by the acclaimed UK-based Romanian actor Catinca Maria Nistor is coming to the Edinburgh Fringe. This compelling one-woman show, written by the award-winning playwright Carolyn Gage, will take the stage at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Greenside at Riddle's Court Venue – Clover Studio, from the 19th to the 23rd of
- [Show: Girls At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/show-girls-at-edinburgh-fringe/): At This Year's PBH's Free Fringe An administrative mix-up leads to an unexpected pairing on stage; Opera Diva Belinda and Burlesque Showgirl Elsie must find a way to share the spotlight. What begins as a clash of art forms and class differences soon transforms into a hilarious exploration of their shared experiences as women in
- [Review Of HEADACHE at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-headache-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Prepare to be blown away by HEADACHE, the captivating new play by the brilliant Tanieth Kerr! This Edinburgh Fringe gem explores the nuances of family, the pain of loss, and the profound effects of brain injury - all while infusing the story with moments of levity and the courage to face our deepest fears. Tanieth's
- [The Flock And Moving Cloud Edinburgh Fringe Review](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-flock-and-moving-cloud-edinburgh-fringe-review/): Scotland Dance Theatre presented this double bill, its also the only show I attended where an interval was offered, with ice cream! It was a sold out show on the night I went ( 1st night). Initially I wasn't enamoured with the first part of the Flock. Imagine birds, they fly, they sing, they have
- [A Review Of Good Girl- But Was It Good?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-good-girl-but-was-it-good/): During my time at Edinburgh Fringe, I got the chance to review Good Girl. A production by Rhiannon Jenkins. I overheard a visitor to Edinburgh fringe who was talking to her friend about the show ' Oh I saw Good Girl last night, it was very funny" My ears lit up on hearing this recommendation
- [Review Of The Adventures Of The White Unicorn- Heli Parna](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-the-adventures-of-the-white-unicorn-heli-parna/): So there is a bit of a backstory to me seeing this show. I had deliberately on the last day of my Fringe experience kept slots free so I can go to shows I had not prebooked. I gathered all the leaflets I had been given and then dropped a tissue from height, wherever it
- [Top Shows I Recommend At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/top-10-shows-i-recommend-at-edinburgh-fringe/): It is nearly time for me to return back home, its been a fantastic time at the Edinburgh Fringe and I am hoping to return next year. However I felt it was important to highlight the shows I have seen at the Edinburgh Fringe that I think you should visit if you can. These were
- [Fringe The Musical Review, a cut above the rest?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/fringe-the-musical-review-a-cut-above-the-rest/): A review of Fringe The Musical at Edinburgh Fringe There are two productions with very similar names, so make sure to pick the right one. Otherwise you might get a perm when you wanted a rinse. This production by Leeds based by Chevron Theatre was amazing from start to Finish. It was a packed audience
- [A Review Of Grimm Beginning  At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-grimm-beginning-at-edinburgh-fringe/): This production was designed with fairytales, fantasy characters and humour however it failed to hit its potential. The props/scenery were too minimal to create a world of fantasy and therefore not believable. The actors, while clearly enthusiastic, had to put up with sparse props and scenery. The show failed to deliver a magical spark necessary
- [Digital Manipulation?  A Review Of Villain Era By Star Stone](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/digital-manipulation-a-review-villain-era-by-star-stone/): The perils of an edit is laid bare in this true story/come comedy by Star Stone at Edinburgh Fringe. The perception of her was changed by a carefully selected edit and the world were quick to make judgements This though had an effect on Star who at the time was a young actress. This production
- [Review Of Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-willys-candy-spectacular-a-musical-parody/): I attended this show at Edinburgh Fringe and was eagerly awaiting it to start as I had heard good things. A satire inspired by Glasgow's Wonka rip-off sensation aka the Fyre Fest of Fudge I was blown away by the production values in this show, the acting and singing by all performers was top notch.
- [Review Of Hometown At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-hometown-at-edinburgh-fringe/): A review of Hometown from Edinburgh Fringe. College is the best four years of your life! So, what happens when it ends? What was supposed to be a relaxing trip to a small town ends up turning Alex, Mallory, Stella and Bailey’s lives upside down. Navigating big dreams, lost hopes and even a little bit
- [A Review Of Jewels At Edinburgh Fringe By Tanwen Stokes](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-jewels-at-edinburgh-fringe-by-tanwen-stokes/): A review of Jewels at Edinburgh Fringe. Set in 1348. Everything in the world is about sex, except sex. Sex is about God. And God's angry. The Black Death's on a rampage. Graveyard orgies are in style. With brothels blamed, prostitute Jules has a shot at swapping sin for salvation, walled into a living grave
- [Review Of Mercury In Retrograde At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-mercury-in-retrograde-at-edinburgh-fringe/): My first evening at the Fringe and I found myself reviewing Mercury In Retrograde by Bobby Allan This passionate folk-rock musical tells the stellar story of the Fool who, with his world plunged into turmoil, reaches out to his lost love, Luck At the beginning of the show I was not quite convinced by the
- [Review Of My Pretties At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-my-pretties-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Strap in, folks, because we're about to take a wild ride ( well review) through the wacky world of "My Pretties" at the Edinburgh Fringe. This charming little play is a delightful exploration of the unlikely friendship between next-door neighbours. This show was the one of the first I booked to see when deciding to
- [Review Of Erin Mckinnie- The Faff Chronicles](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-erin-mckinnie-the-faff-chronicles/): This show by Erin was a hard slot, it was Monday afternoon but there were a decent enough count of audience members. The only problem was the crowd was very quiet meaning Erin had to work harder to warm them up. Erin's show was tremendous and full of laughs. Erin had heaps of energy, anecdotes
- [A Review Of The Gardening Club At Edinburgh Fringe.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-the-gardening-club-at-edinburgh-fringe/): This new musical was superb in every way, apart from the side view seat I had. ( So get there early folks) The Gardening Club is a must-see at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! This taboo musical takes you on a thrilling journey of pleasure, self-discovery, and the power of female friendship. Set in 1960s Georgia,
- [Review Of A Fire Reignites At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-a-fire-reignites-at-edinburgh-fringe/): The concept of this show from its description had lots of potential and I was intrigued to see it. The show had a very strong message, with courage and some hope on display. Tara Tedjarati played the characters brilliantly and showed vulnerability and strength throughout the show. "A Fire Reignites" from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
- [Review Of Tartan Tat-Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-tartan-tat-edinburgh-fringe/): Aye, lads and lassies, gather 'round for a wee review of the Tartan Tat show, a tourist trap on Edinburgh's Royal Mile that's selling more than just a bit of Scottish kitsch. It's a right comedy of errors, The shop's shelves are overflowing with Jimmy Hats, Highland cows, and knock-off wands that would make even
- [Review Of Katie Folger's Getting In Bed With The Pizza Man](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-katie-folgers-getting-in-bed-with-the-pizza-man/): Katie has flown in especially from the USA to play at the Edinburgh Fringe, so if she can make this long trip, it was only right to pop in to see the show. Katie Folger's show at the Edinburgh Fringe is a dagger-tongued jump down a rabbit hole of sexual empowerment that's equal parts racy
- [A Review Of Yoah At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-review-of-yoah-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Set in Underbelly's Circus Hub be prepared to be swept away by the mesmerizing spectacle that is Yoah - a Japanese circus extravaganza that's taking the Edinburgh Fringe by storm! With visual spectacle that will leave you spellbound. The haunting melodies and pulsating rhythms of the soundtrack weave their way into your very being, creating
- [Review Of Hanan Issa- Halal Habibis At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-hanan-issa-halal-habibis-at-edinburgh-fringe/): I found myself at this intimate gig to see Hanan, wasn't quite sure what to expect but it was billed as a comedy and therefore I expected some laughs. The signage in the venue was not brilliant. I was surprised at the setting of this show, as you may know many Muslims do not drink
- [Review Of Hebridean Fire by Elsa McTaggart](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-hebridean-fire-by-elsa-mctaggart/): I was fairly excited to see this show, the description of the show sounded good and I thought whilst I am in Scotland, it would be nice to get a taste of Scotland. The music was presented by Lisa McTaggart and her husband. The humour, warmth and friendliness shone through, alongside The music itself was
- [Getting In Bed With The Pizza Man? It must be Katie Folger at Edinburgh Fringe.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/getting-in-bed-with-the-pizza-man-it-must-be-katie-folger-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Getting in Bed with the Pizza Man isa dagger-tongued jump down a rabbit hole of sexual empowerment from Austin-based comedienne Katie Folger playing at Edinburgh Fringe.. Equal parts racy and whimsical, this one woman show about sex and singledom in the situationship era takes you on a... ride... you can't expect. Folger's electric theatrical debut garnered her
- [Review Of A Giant On The Bridge At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-giant-on-the-bridge-at-edinburgh-fringe/): I was fortunate enough to see A Giant On The Bridge today, its a show which uses acoustic songwriting, Scottish hip hop and original true-life storytelling, A Giant on the Bridge explores the complex journey of coming home from prison and was inspired by the voices of those affected by and working within Scotland's system of imprisonment. The
- [Choosing Which Show To See](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/choosing-which-show-to-see/): I have some availability coming up and it was my first time at Fringe as I deliberately kept a day free I have already started to have flyers handed to me and so my plan is to pick one of the flyers I get given and go to see that show. However which show will
- [Interview With Tanieth Kerr- HEADACHE At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interview-with-tanieth-kerr-headache-at-edinburgh-fringe/): We at Theatre Village managed to catch up with Tanieth to give us an interview about her show currently playing at Edinburgh Fringe. ( Headache | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com) What inspired you to create this thought-provoking play about family andloss? HEADACHE was inspired by the aftermath of my dad’s brain injury. He
- [Give This Woman A Microphone-It's Sarah Hester](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/give-this-woman-a-microphone-its-sarah-hester/): Best known for her 3 million followers online and her uproarious Las Vegas Residency, Sarah Hester Ross brings Sarah Hester Ross Is What? to Edinburgh Fringe for her premier debut at the fest. Following the release of her new comedy special on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Don’t Mess With A Redhead, the new 1-hour show Sarah Hester Ross Is What? is
- [Super Second Rate By Leah Coloff Is Funny and Poignant](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/super-second-rate-by-leah-coloff-is-funny-and-poignant/): Leah Coloff has played with David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Debby Harry and many more. But then there's family. Super Second Rate is a show that's funny, poignant and humane from a woman who the New York Times says "plays and sings with artful angularity and a rock-inflected assertiveness". It's told through music, song and spoken word. This captivating
- [A Dark New Comedy -The Things I Did While Waiting For You To Fall Back In Love With Me](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-dark-new-comedy-the-things-i-did-while-waiting-for-you-to-fall-back-in-love-with-me/): Making its international debut at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Things I DidWhile Waiting For You To Fall Back In Love With Me is a new dark comedy about thetragedy of heartbreak and the hilarity of surviving it. So if you are looking for something to see at Edinburgh Fringe go see this and
- [Should You Donate Or Tip A Performer At Edinburgh Fringe?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/should-you-donate-or-tip-a-performer-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Edinburgh Fringe is one of the most vibrant and exciting festivals in the world, showcasing an incredible array of talent across the arts. As a passionate supporter of the arts, I firmly believe that providing a tip or donation to the performers you see is not just a kind gesture, but an essential way to
- [This Years Top Show Picks For Edinburgh Fringe 2024](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-years-top-show-picks-for-edinburgh-fringe-2024/): Theatre Village receives numerous press releases and emails about shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Whilst each one is read, not all make it to the blog. If you are attending the Edinburgh Fringe 2024, you are probably feeling a bit bewildered right now. However, do not worry; Theatre Village has trawled through the press releases
- [Viva Arts & Community Set To Dazzle Audiences With Legally Blonde The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/viva-arts-community-set-to-dazzle-audiences-with-legally-blonde-the-musical/): Viva Arts & Community Group is set to dazzle Edinburgh Fringe audiences with their vibrant production of the classic musical Legally Blonde. From August 12th to 17th, this high-energy, feel-good show will take the stage at Paradise in Augustines, Venue 152, on George IV Bridge. Known for their dynamic and top-notch musical theatre productions, Viva's
- [Titi Lee Good Girl Gone Baddie Debuts At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/titi-lee-good-girl-gone-baddie-debuts-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Taiwanese American stand up comedian Titi Lee is set to make their Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut this August with brand new show Good Girl Gone Baddie. This powerhouse of storytelling through solid jokes and witty observations will bring their hour-long set to Just the Tonic at Cabaret Voltaire for the entire run of the festival.
- [Will You Join Snow White In Sheffield's Pantomime?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/will-you-join-snow-white-in-sheffields-pantomime/): Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Productions have announced further casting for their co-production of Snow White at the Lyceum Theatre this Christmas. Quang Luong, better known as Gladiator's Viper, will join Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley and legendary Dame Damian Williams in the show. The full cast and ensemble will be announced later this year. The show,
- [Good Girl Directed by Chris Griswold at Edinburgh Fringe 2024](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/good-girl-directed-by-chris-griswold-at-edinburgh-fringe-2024/): Thunderbolt Comedy is set to captivate audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024 with its bold and provocative new production, Good Girl. Directed by the esteemed Chris Griswold, this daring show will run from August 12-17 and August 19-25 at Paradise in The Vault, Paradise Green, Edinburgh. Good Girl invites audiences into the complex world
- [Síomha Hennessy Presents 30 Under 30 At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/siomha-hennessy-presents-30-under-30-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Síomha Hennessy is set to dazzle audiences with her one-woman comedy cabaret, 30 Under 30, at the Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from July 31 to August 26. Following a highly successful run at the Dublin Fringe Festival, where the show earned rave reviews, Hennessy brings her unique blend of humor and introspection
- [Rachel Kaly: Hospital Hour at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/rachel-kaly-hospital-hour-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-2024/): Rachel Kaly, a comedian named by Vulture as a Comedian You Should and Will Know in 2023, is set to bring her hotly anticipated debut hour, "Hospital Hour," to the Pleasance Courtyard - Bunker Two at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Running from July 31st to August 25th at 6:55 pm, this show promises to
- [Glossy Pain Presents: Lie With Me at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/glossy-pain-presents-lie-with-me-at-the-edinburgh-fringe-2024/): Glossy Pain proudly brings their acclaimed one-woman show, "Lie With Me," to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. This thought-provoking performance delves into the quest for an 'authentic' female desire, free from the constraints of the male gaze. The protagonist explores themes of saints, witches, relationship structures, and the nature of performance itself. Originally produced
- [Beth Knight's Edinburgh Show Takes You On A Journey To Freedom](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/beth-knights-edinburgh-show-takes-you-on-a-journey-to-freedom/): After a successful work in progress at The Glasgow Art Club, Beth Knight debuts her show Who Told You To Be Small at the Edinburgh Fringe this year. It's a story of tackling her demons with painting, comedy, and a jab at the patriarchy. Glasgow-based artist Beth Knight used nude self-portraits to overcome the shame
- [Exciting News For 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/exciting-news-for-2025/): Get ready for the ultimate festival experience with Theatre Village's dedicated Edinburgh Fringe blog, launching late 2024/early 2025. Dive into the Heart of the Fringe Our new sister blog will be solely focused on the Edinburgh Fringe, providing you with unparalleled coverage and insights into the world's largest arts festival. Stay informed and inspired as
- [An Enchanting New Musical - Somewhere At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/an-enchanting-new-musical-somewhere-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Somewhere, an enchanting new musical comes to Edinburgh Festival Fringe 12th-17th August 2024. In the lower theatre, theSpace @ Niddry Street. Set in the Kingdom of Bywell, you will be enchanted and captivated by this brand-new musical with music and lyrics by The Dunwells. This magical story tells the tale of Princess Meredith who is
- [Stunning 2024 Summer and Autumn Season At Birmingham Alexandra](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/stunning-2024-summer-and-autumn-season-at-birmingham-alexandra/): A stunning selection of shows are coming to The Alexandra, Birmingham during summer and autumn 2024. Featuring musicals – including a world-first – family fun, comedy, dance and more, there's so much to enjoy in the months ahead. Their annual youth theatre production in August. Stage Experience - The Sound of Music sees the much-loved
- [Don't Hide, Go See Masquerade Mask At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dont-hide-go-see-masquerade-mask-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Fraternal Compagnia APS, founded in 2000, is the official theatre company of the Emilia Romagna region in Italy. They have created numerous productions and organised multiple festivals, many regarding Commedia dell'Arte, including the first World Commedia dell'Arte Day in Bologna, sponsored by UNESCO and ITI -- International Theatre Institute -- Italian Centre. Most forms of
- [Get Ready For The European Premiere Of Ni Ni Madre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/get-ready-for-the-european-premiere-of-ni-ni-madre/): This summer, Ni Mi Madre is set to captivate audiences throughout the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with a special preview performance at the Watford Fringe on 28th July 2024. Written and performed by Arturo Luíz Soria and directed by Danilo Gambini, Ni Mi Madre brings a vibrant narrative and a distinct cultural lens to one
- [Experience Unbound At Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/experience-unbound-at-birmingham-hippodrome/): Get ready to experience a spellbinding journey of community and self-discovery with British Youth Music Theatre’s (BYMT) latest production, Unbound. This brand-new musical, penned by the talented Matthew Harvey, promises an electrifying mix of 80s pop-rock, magic, and heartfelt storytelling. Set to debut at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio from 16 to 18 August, Unbound is
- [Spellbinding- A Giant On The Bridge- Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/spellbinding-a-giant-on-the-bridge-edinburgh-fringe/): “Do you think cos I’ve been in the jail all I know is how to hurt people?” Every year in Scotland 10,000 people return home from prison to an uncertain future. A Giant on the Bridge reveals the intimate human experiences within this prison-homecoming journey, in a compelling narrative-gig which fuses acoustic songwriting, Scottish hip
- [Villain Era: Star Stone's True Story Takes Centre Stage in Edinburgh](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/villain-era-star-stones-true-story-takes-centre-stage-in-edinburgh/): Comedic Actress and Playwright Star Stone heads to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this Summer at Greenside Venues with Villain Era, directed by Ryan Cunningham, sharing her outrageous true story of going viral online and becoming an internet 'villain' to over 17 million people. Villain Era will receive its world premiere after preview performances at East to Edinburgh, New York It's 2019
- [Cast Announced for New Play Dizzy at Sheffield Theatres](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/cast-announced-for-new-co-production-dizzy-at-sheffield-theatres/): Sheffield Theatres and Theatre Centre have announced the cast for their co-production of the new play Dizzy, written by Olivier-nominated Mohamed-Zain Dada and directed by Rob Watt. It's in Sheffield from Wednesday, September 25 to Saturday, October 12, 2024 Dizzy is a fantastical adventure exploring memory and mortality, graffiti and grief, and finding meaning amidst
- [The Alexandra, Birmingham takes part in ATG Tickets' Summer Saver campaign!](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-alexandra-birmingham-takes-part-in-atg-tickets-summer-saver-campaign/): The Alexandra, Birmingham has announced its participation in ATG Tickets' Summer Saver campaign, running from 22 July until 31 August. This festival of entertainment includes over 70 top shows, featuring musicals, comedy, dance, concerts, plays, talks, and pantos, across 22 venues in the UK. Summer Saver 2024 is more expansive than ever, with twice as
- [Why Am I (Still) Like This? Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-am-i-still-like-this-edinburgh-fringe/): Meet Nicole: She’s hyperverbal, chaotic, and a little bit dramaticwith deep self loathing and crippling self esteem issues. But whenshe was 30, she found out that she wasn’t a complete disaster of aperson, she has ADHD. Three years later, (and without any priorexperience), she impulsively wrote and performed her first onewoman show at the 2023
- [MARY: A GIG THEATRE SHOW](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/mary-a-gig-theatre-show/): A stirring depiction of Mary Queen of Scots' story, told through bold, new gig theatre. Blending haunting original music and rich spoken word, six female and gender queer actor-musicians bring Mary: A Gig Theatre Show to theSpaceUK this Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The production, made by early-career Scottish theatre makers, questions the treatment and portrayal of
- [This show is bound to be the talk of the town](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/this-show-is-bound-to-be-the-talk-of-the-town/): It's Labor Day, 2022. Midnight Cowboy Radio is a dark comedy/ political satire thatfollows a charming, girl-next-door, conservative late-night- radio talk show host inKentucky who runs her usual advice program for local listeners, all while arranging anillegal off-air abortion. This show is written and performed by Ally Ibach and directed by Patricia RuncieRice. It has
- [Diana Feng Brings Her Debut Show " Dont Call Me China Doll" to Edinburgh](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/diana-feng-brings-her-debut-show-dont-call-me-china-doll-to-edinburgh/): This show at Edinburgh Fringe should be on your must to do list, its also on in the middle of the day so you can have your lunch either side of it. Now that's a win! ‘Don’t Call Me China Doll’ is the debut one-woman show by Diana Feng that explores theintricacies of internalised racism
- [Tegan Verheul's Knockout Show At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tegan-verheuls-knockout-show-at-edinburgh-fringe/): A knockout solo show about one woman’s love of pro wrestling? It is Chokeslam Part confessional, part exuberant oral history of sports entertainment's greatest matches andmost loved characters. Acclaimed comedian Tegan Verheul leaves no Stone (Cold) unturnedin her unflinchingly raw autobiographical debut that grapples with heartbreak, friendship andthe healing power of bloodsport. Riotously funny, unexpectedly
- [Isobel Rogers Takes You On A Musical Journey and her generation's most troubling questions](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/isobel-rogers-takes-you-on-a-musical-journey-and-her-generations-most-troubling-questions/): Writer, composer and comedian Isobel Rogers will make her highly anticipated EdinburghFestival Fringe debut this summer at The Pleasance Courtyard with her wildly relatable,existential musical comedy show ‘How To Be Content’. In this musical journey through influencer-ism and girl-bossification, the former CamdenRoundhouse resident, Isobel Rogers explores the superficial dilemmas we constantly facethrough an hour of
- [Don't Be Stuck, Go See Unstuck by Olivia Levine](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dont-be-stuck-go-see-unstuck-by-olivia-levine/): Introducing US comedian and actor Olivia Levine who will perform her debut hour‘Unstuck’ at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Just The Tonic @ the Mash House Bottle Roomfor the month of August. ‘Unstuck’ is a very candid and raunchy comedy show about one woman’s quest toembrace her queer sexuality. During this time, Levine’s OCDstarted to rear
- [Becoming Nancy Cast Announced For Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/becoming-nancy-cast-announced-for-birmingham-rep-theatre/): Birmingham Rep have announced casting for Becoming Nancy, the UK premiere of a new musical directed and choreographed by the Tony Award-winning Jerry Mitchell. Performances begin on Wednesday 2 October 2024 – Saturday 2 November 2024. In Becoming Nancy, it's 1979 and David Starr is unquestionably one of the smartest, most talented sixth formers in East Dulwich – he's got a wild
- [The Alexandra Stage Experience Unveils The Sound of Music](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-alexandra-stage-experience-unveils-the-sound-of-music/): This August, The Alexandra, Birmingham, is set to dazzle audiences with its 19th Stage Experience production of The Sound of Music, featuring over 70 young talents from across the Midlands. From Thursday, August 15 to Saturday, August 17, these young performers will bring one of the world’s most beloved musicals to life. The Sound of
- [St Catherine's School Brings Dis (honest) to Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/st-catherines-school-brings-dis-honest-to-edinburgh-fringe/): When you’re constantly reinventing yourself, how do you know who you really are? This intriguing question lies at the heart of "Dis(honest)," a comedy-drama by St Catherine’s School, inspired by the life of confidence trickster Amy Bock. Set to captivate audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this play explores the nuances of identity and the
- [A Night of Italian Jazz Awaits You at the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-night-of-italian-jazz-awaits-you-at-the-edinburgh-fringe/): Dive into the world where Italian elegance meets the soul of jazz and blues with "Italian Jazz Affair," a mesmerizing show by Anna Vanosi and her trio, debuting at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. From the cinematic brilliance of Italian composers like Nino Rota’s the Godfathers’ theme (Parla più piano, translated into Speak softly love)
- [Review Of Arabian Nights At Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-arabian-nights-at-birmingham-rep-theatre/): I attended Young Rep Seniors presenting Arabian Nights at Birmingham Rep Theatre as part of its Love & Rebellion festival. This followed on from its very successful Order and Chaos Festival last year. This production offered an inventive re-telling of the stories from the Middle Eastern folktale, One Thousand and One Nights where the young
- [Eeeeek! It's The Final Few Weeks To Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/eeeeek-its-the-final-few-weeks-to-edinburgh-fringe/): It's my first time heading to the Edinburgh Fringe. I keep looking at my schedule of shows thinking have I made the right choice? I see another press release for a show or a Facebook post and thinking can I squeeze that in? There is literally hundreds of show that look to be good, I
- [You & It: The Musical: A Profound Exploration of Love and Humanity](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/you-it-the-musical-a-profound-exploration-of-love-and-humanity/): You & It: The Musical presents a poignant and thought-provoking love story that delves into the depths of human emotions and the philosophical question: "What makes a human human?" This captivating musical, set to run at Assembly Checkpoint from August 1st to 25th, portrays the journey of a grieving husband who revives his deceased wife
- [Part Woman, Part Boat? Motorboat For Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/part-woman-part-boat-mel-mcglenseys-motorboat-for-edinburgh-fringe/): A raucous, boundary-pushing comedian, Melissa McGlenseynow brings her latest work to the 2024 Edinburgh FringeFestival. McGlensey, who has been described as "a voice ofwonder" by Corr Blimey, "smart, funny, bold and fearless”by Lilithia Reviews and "A truly funny and likableentertainer" by Beat Magazine, is fresh off a successful,Award-winning, rave-reviewed run of her brand new showMotorboat
- [Looking for Cheese, Wine and a West End Session?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/looking-for-cheese-wine-and-a-west-end-session/): Well-renowned West End performers including Kerry Ellis (Wicked), Frozen’s Jenna Lee James, Tony award nominee Eva Noblezada, Aussie drag diva, Trevor Ashley, the original UK Elphaba Alice Fearn and Cabaret star Christina Bianco will take to the stage for the next dates of West End Sessions. Audiences can enjoy amazing cheese, charcuterie and wine while
- [Experience No Place Called Home at Greenside](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/experience-no-place-called-home-at-greenside/): Join for the thought-provoking play No Place Called Home at Greenside at Riddles Court, running from August 19th to 24th with a start time of 20:55 at this years Edinburgh Fringe About the Show: No Place Called Home is an original play written and directed by Sebastian Elder, a student at The University of Edinburgh.
- [New Shows Added to The Rep's Sparkling 2024/2025 Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-shows-added-to-the-reps-sparkling-2024-2025-season/): The Birmingham Rep has unveiled exciting additions to its already stellar lineup for the 2024/25 season, promising audiences a diverse array of entertainment ranging from comedy to gripping drama and family-friendly productions. Kicking off the new additions is "The Merchant of Venice 1936," a striking reinterpretation of Shakespeare's classic, starring Tracy-Ann Oberman as Shylock. Set
- [Save The Princess: A Fusion of Gaming and Theatre Hits Camden Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/save-the-princess-a-fusion-of-gaming-and-theatre-hits-camden-fringe/): It's time to level up your theatre experience with the innovative minds behind The UnDispoables, as they unveil their latest creation, Save The Princess, at the upcoming Camden Fringe. This cutting-edge production, crafted by a female-led team of gamers from High Wycombe, promises to redefine audience interaction and storytelling in live entertainment. Inspired by the
- [Dazzling Chandeliers at Edinburgh Fringe 2024 - CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dazzling-chandeliers-at-edinburgh-fringe-2024-csi-crime-scene-improvisation/): Join The Chandeliers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 for a thrilling comedy experience with "CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation," running from August 2nd to 25th at 3.10pm at Underbelly – Bristo Square. This beloved show returns to Edinburgh with a prestigious accolade, having been named the Best Improv Show at the 2023 Leicester Comedy Awards
- [Diary Of Magician At Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/diary-of-magician-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Diary of a Magician will be making its way to the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and they would love you join them for this captivating performance. Presented by A.M. Playhouse from Taiwan, Diary of a Magician is an enchanting blend of magic, drama, mime, dance, clowning, and movement, beautifully intertwined with Chinese poetry. This mesmerizing
- [Dark Comedy at its Finest: Ring That Bell! at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/dark-comedy-at-its-finest-ring-that-bell-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Ding! Welcome to Hell! Ring That Bell! Lucy (Grace Baker) and Bubs (Eleanor Tate)are two freshly fallen angels tasked with guarding the gates of Hell and directingits newcomers to their assigned circles, such as: the ring of fire, the billionaireballpit, the circle jerk, and the cone of shame. Upon arrival, the audience will besorted into
- [Edinburgh Fringe- First Time Visitor](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-first-time-visitor/): I am hoping to visit the Edinburgh Fringe this year, some shows I am going to are to review them so I can put them on here and some I am just going to show to see for the enjoyment they will bring me. However its been really hard to plan my diary, a) so
- [The English Teacher By Alicia Montoya](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-english-teacher-by-alicia-montoya/): "The English Teacher", a compelling new show that delves into the humorous and murky journey of trying and failing to fulfill your dreams arrives into the Edinburgh Fringe. After migrating from one of the most dangerous and chaotic countries, Venezuela, a comedian finds herself craving her rags to riches story without success. What happens
- [A Show that packs the punch! Opera style](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/a-show-that-packs-the-punch-opera-style/): This August, the Opera Makers are bringing the enchanting world of opera to the Arcola Theatre with their delightful production of Mr Punch at The Opera. This pantomime-style adaptation of Pergolesi's Renaissance opera, La Serva Padrona, promises to captivate children and families with its blend of comedy, stunning operatic singing, and live music, featuring Olivier
- [Revolutionize the Renaissance: Where Art Meets Beat](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/revolutionize-the-renaissance-where-art-meets-beat/): This summer, the acclaimed musical SIX is teaming up with the National Portrait Gallery for a series of captivating events centered around the new exhibition, "Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens." Running until 8 September, this collaboration promises a blend of history, performance, and interactive experiences that you won’t want to miss. On
- [Birmingham Royal Ballet Announces Changes Amongst Its Company](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/birmingham-royal-ballet-announces-changes-amongst-its-company/): After an illustrious 21-year career with the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Principal dancer Tyrone Singleton will be leaving the company. Carlos Acosta praised Singleton, saying, "He is a Birmingham Royal Ballet legend. He is adored by audiences and greatly respected by every member of the company. His tremendous contribution as a dancer, with such powerful stage
- [HEADACHE makes its debut at Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/headache-makes-its-debut-at-edinburgh-fringe/): Straight off the back of a successful run at the Brighton Fringe, HEADACHE comes to Edinburgh! This one woman show presents the realities of supporting a loved one with a brain injury and how grief can tangle its way into every part of one's life. Heartwarming and sad in equal measure, HEADACHE explores loss, the mortality of parents and
- [Unleash Your Story: Join the Write Two Workshop with Isley Lynn](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/unleash-your-story-join-the-write-two-workshop-with-isley-lynn/): Olivier award nominated playwright Isley Lynn will facilitate Outside Edge Theatre Company’ssummer intermediate script writing group, Write Two. Isley Lynn won the Charles Wintour Most Promising Playwright Award at the Evening StandardTheatre Awards 2023 for The Swell, which was also nominated for Outstanding Achievement in anAffiliate Theatre at the 2024 Oliviers, as well as Best
- [Review Of A Spotted Spectacle: 101 Dalmatians The Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/review-of-a-spotted-spectacle-101-dalmatians-the-musical/): I went, watched and reviewed 101 Dalmatians at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre, this show has just begun its tour of the UK. This iconic tale of furry friendship and villainous villainy has been reimagined for the stage, and Marsh's portrayal of the lovable and determined Cruella de Vil has left me in awe. With her

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/): #What's In Grace Hatchell's Satchel This Week? Lost And Found In Theatre Village A Note From Grace Hatchell Oi, before you go wandering off down the village, have a quick nosy at Theatre News, love. I’ve pinned up theatre goings-on quicker than you can say ‘five minute call’.Honestly, if theatre folk stopped putting notices on
- [The Man Behind The Curtain](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/about-andrew/): #Hello – I’m Andrew, the one-man band behind Theatre Village. I’ve seen well over 600 shows, from Youth Theatre gems to big West End blockbusters. I’ve trod the boards myself in my Youth Theatre and amateur dramatics days, so I know first-hand the graft, nerves, and magic that go into a performance. This site is
- [Directions/How To Find Us](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/directions-how-to-find-us/): #Right then, if you’re trying to find Theatre Village, you’ll want to start in Birmingham. Don’t ask why, just trust me. From there, head straight down to London, have a quick look around, pretend you know where you’re going, then immediately change your mind and make your way up to Scotland. Once you’re there, find
- [Media Kit](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/media-kit/): #About Us Theatre Village is a specialized blog dedicated to the vibrant and diverse world of independent theatre across the United Kingdom. With a passionate commitment to showcasing the myriad voices and creative expressions found within this art form, we strive to provide our readers with up-to-date news, insightful articles, and relevant content that resonates
- [Christmas at Theatre Village 2026: Shows, Pantomimes & Festive Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/christmas-at-theatre-village-2026-shows-pantomimes-festive-theatre/): #Christmas Theatre 2026 is here, and I’ve got my festive satchel ready! This Christmas, I Grace will be bringing you festive treats, pantomimes, musicals, family shows and all manner of theatrical delights from regional theatres across the UK. From enormous Christmas spectaculars to wonderful productions happening a little closer to home, if there’s something exciting
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-2026/): #Theatre Village – We Spot Tomorrow’s Shows, Today. Welcome The Edinburgh Fringe Festival returns in 2026, and Theatre Village is getting ahead of the curve. We are now accepting submissions from artists, companies and PR teams who would like to be considered for our Fringe 2026 Features Programme Each year, thousands of shows arrive in
- [Amateur & Community Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/amateur-community-theatre/): #Amateur Theatre, Community Theatre and Drama Schools: We'd Love to Hear From You By Grace Hatchell At Theatre Village, we believe great theatre doesn't begin when someone wins an Olivier Award. It begins in church halls, village halls, school stages, community theatres, youth groups, rehearsal rooms, arts centres and anywhere a group of people decide
- [South East](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/south-east/): #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,
- [The Midlands](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-midlands/): #The Midlands has a theatre scene with real depth, stretching far beyond Birmingham’s biggest stages. While Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Rep and The Alexandra remain major anchors, the wider region is packed with venues that give its towns and cities their own cultural pulse. Curve in Leicester, Nottingham Playhouse, Derby Theatre, Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, Wolverhampton
- [Northern Ireland](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/northern-ireland/): #Northern Ireland’s theatre scene has a strong identity of its own, with Belfast’s major stages only part of the picture. While the Grand Opera House, Lyric Theatre, The MAC and Waterfront Hall remain important cultural anchors in the capital, theatre across Northern Ireland is carried by venues that serve towns, cities and communities well beyond
- [East Of England](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/east-of-england/): #The East of England has a theatre scene shaped by cathedral cities, coastal towns, university life and rural communities, with East Anglia at its heart but a wider regional story beyond it. Norwich Theatre Royal, Norwich Playhouse, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, Mercury Theatre in Colchester, Key
- [South West](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/south-west/): #The South West of England has a theatre scene shaped by distance, coastline, market towns and fiercely individual venues, with Bristol and Plymouth only part of the story. While Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Hippodrome and Theatre Royal Plymouth remain major anchors, the wider region is full of stages that give local audiences access to theatre
- [Wales](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wales/): #Wales has a theatre scene with a powerful identity of its own, shaped not only by Cardiff’s major stages but by venues spread across the country’s towns, coastlines and cultural centres. While Wales Millennium Centre, Sherman Theatre and New Theatre Cardiff remain important anchors in the capital, the wider picture is just as rich. Theatr
- [North East](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/north-east-2/): #The North East of England has a theatre scene with real range, stretching well beyond the big Newcastle stages. While Theatre Royal Newcastle, Northern Stage and Live Theatre remain major anchors, the region’s character is just as strongly shaped by venues in its towns, coastlines and smaller communities. Sunderland Empire brings large-scale touring productions to
- [North West](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/north-west/): #The North West of England has one of the country’s richest theatre scenes, but its strength is not only found in the major Manchester and Liverpool venues. Beyond the Royal Exchange, HOME, The Lowry, Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse and Liverpool Empire, the region is full of theatres that give towns, coastal communities and rural areas
- [Scotland](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/scotland-2/): #Scotland’s theatre scene reaches far beyond the big Edinburgh and Glasgow stages, with some of its most characterful work happening in venues rooted firmly in their own communities. Eden Court in Inverness, Pitlochry Festival Theatre in rural Perthshire, Dundee Rep, Perth Theatre, the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, Eastgate Theatre in Peebles, An Lanntair in
- [Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/regional-theatre-2/): #Regional Theatre in the UK: Why the Best Nights Out Aren’t Always in London By Grace Hatchell Regional theatre in the UK is one of the best things we have, and I will happily stand on a reasonably sturdy soapbox and say that out loud. Yes, London has the West End. Yes, it has the
- [Yorkshire](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/yorkshire/): #Yorkshire has one of the UK’s strongest regional theatre scenes, with major venues and local stages spread across Leeds, Sheffield, York, Hull, Bradford, Scarborough, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Doncaster, Wakefield and Halifax. From Leeds Playhouse, Sheffield Theatres and York Theatre Royal to Hull Truck Theatre, Bradford Alhambra, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Harrogate Theatre, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Cast, Theatre
- [Our Previous Coverage Of Edinburgh Fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/our-previous-coverage-of-edinburgh-fringe-2025/): #
- [New To Theatre?](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/new-to-theatre/): #Going to the theatre for the first time can feel a little bit like stepping into a world that everyone else already understands — tickets, seating plans, intervals, and that quiet moment of panic about when to clap. But it doesn’t have to be confusing. From where to sit to what to wear, I’ve got
- [Tickets](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tickets/): #Discover the Best Shows in Town: Theatre Village's Ultimate Guide to Theatre Tickets Secure Your Seats: The Go-To Places for Buying UK Theatre Tickets Online ‍ As a theatre enthusiast, there is nothing more exhilarating than anticipating a live performance. Whether it's a classic play, a musical extravaganza, or a thought-provoking drama, the UK theatre
- [Theatre Shows Near You](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-shows-near-you/): #Are you tired of endlessly scrolling, trying to figure out what’s actually on at your local theatre? Same here. One minute you’re looking for a nice evening out, next thing you’re ten tabs deep and somehow reading a review from 2019. Not ideal. So we thought — why not make it easier? Here in the
- [Lessons From The Satchel](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lessons-from-the-satchel/): #Welcome to Lessons from the Satchel — I’ve set this one up to make theatre a little easier to understand, whether you’re a student, a teacher, or just curious about how it all works. I know theatre can feel a bit confusing at first. There are all sorts of words flying about — understudies, intervals,
- [Lesson Ideas For Teachers](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/lesson-ideas-for-teachers/): #Fun and Creative Theatre Lesson Ideas for Teachers Planning drama lessons can sometimes feel like trying to pull a full production out of a hat before first break, especially when energy is low, confidence is mixed and half the class looks like they would rather melt into the floor than perform in front of each
- [Planning A School Trip To The Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/planning-a-school-trip-to-the-theatre/): #A Detailed Guide for Teachers Taking students to the theatre can be one of the most valuable and memorable experiences in their education. A school theatre trip is not just a day out. It can deepen understanding of drama, literature, history, music, design and live performance, while also helping students develop confidence, curiosity and cultural
- [Theatre Roles And Jobs](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-roles-and-jobs/): #Theatre Roles and Jobs: A Guide to Careers On Stage and Behind the Scenes The world of theatre is made up of far more than the people standing in the spotlight. Every production, whether it is a school play, a touring musical, a fringe show or a major West End performance, relies on a huge
- [Theatre Terms Explained](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-terms-explained/): #If you’re studying drama or theatre, you’ll quickly come across lots of terms that might sound confusing at first. From understudies and stage managers to matinees and blocking, theatre has its own language — but once you understand it, everything starts to make much more sense. I’ve pulled a few of the most common theatre
- [Grace's Postbox ( Contact)](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/contact-form/): #Go on then, what have you got for me? I do love a bit of fan mail… especially if it comes with chocolates (milk, not dark, I’m not a monster). And if you’ve got a juicy bit of theatre news, even better… I’ll have that straight in the satchel, thank you very much. So don’t
- [Industry Professionals](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/industry-professionals/): #
- [The Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/the-village/): #
- [Theatre Industry News](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-industry-news-2/): #
- [It's Me Grace Hatchell](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/its-me-grace-hatchell/): #You’ve just stepped into Theatre Village, where t’curtain never quite falls and every little alley seems to lead to a stage. This is our corner of the theatre world, and round here, news doesn’t break — it gets delivered. That’s where I come in. I’m not real in the usual sense, but I am very
- [How to Submit Your Show to Theatre Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/how-to-submit-your-show-to-theatre-village/): #Thank you for thinking of Theatre Village. I genuinely appreciate artists, producers and PRs reaching out, especially during busy seasons like the Edinburgh Fringe. Theatre Village is an editorial platform. That means I don’t currently publish standard listings or simple event notices. Instead, when I cover a show, I usually create a fuller blog feature
- [Touring Shows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/touring-shows/): #Ey up. Sit thee down a minute — I’ve got a soft spot for a touring show, and I’m not shy about it. There’s summat special about theatre that packs itself into a lorry and sets off. Touring shows don’t wait for the perfect night or the perfect crowd — they turn up wherever they’re
- [Theatre Village Festive Guide – Christmas Shows & Family Treats 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-village-festive-guide-christmas-shows-family-treats-2025/): #Now then my dears, the mince pies are calling, and I’ve stuffed my satchel full of theatre treats ready for the season. Because let’s face it — Christmas isn’t just about tinsel and turkey, it’s about the shows that make us glow. From sparkling pantomimes that have you giggling into your Quality Street, to heart-warming
- [Ethical Policy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/ethical-policy/): #Hear ye, hear ye!Let it be known unto all players, patrons, and passing rogues that Theatre Village doth bind itself by this charter of goodly conduct. We pledge no stars shall be traded for coin, nor praise bestowed for pastries (tempting though a custard tart may be). Our quill shall write true, our judgement be
- [Reviews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/reviews/): #
- [PR Powerhouses & DIY Dreamers: Why Both Shine at the Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/pr-powerhouses-diy-dreamers-why-both-shine-at-the-fringe/): #Alright lovelies, let’s have a little heart-to-heart about PR at the Fringe. Theatre PR companies are the magicians behind the curtain, the unsung heroes who keep the wheels turning. They’re the ones sending those daily press releases, juggling frantic schedules, and whispering in reviewers’ ears about “just one more show you have to see.” If
- [Why Theatre Village Champions the Misfits, the Underdogs, and the Independents](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/why-theatre-village-champions-the-misfits-the-underdogs-and-the-independents/): #Alright lovelies, let’s clear something up. Theatre Village is more than happy to review a big-budget show if it sparks our interest — we’re always open to being wowed. But at our core, we’ve got a soft spot for the brave ones. The independents. The underdogs who carry their dreams up to Edinburgh, stretch every
- [Grace’s Guide to Getting Theatre Village to Review Your Show at the Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/graces-guide-to-getting-theatre-village-to-review-your-show-at-the-edinburgh-fringe/): #Alright lovelies, Grace here — your theatre postie with ink-stained fingers and a satchel bursting with secrets. Now, let’s talk turkey (or tofu, depending on your diet). Everyone wants a Theatre Village review, but here’s the truth: we’re not just popping along to anything with a stage and a spotlight. Oh no — we curate.
- [What Makes Theatre Village Different And How We Curate Shows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/what-makes-theatre-village-different-and-how-we-curate-shows/): #At Theatre Village, we don’t aim to see everything. We’re not a factory pumping out hundreds of reviews with a stopwatch in one hand and a star rating in the other. We’re a one-person satchel operation, choosing shows with intention, care, and just a little bit of cheek. Other sites might boast about covering xyz
- [Website Terms And Conditions](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/website-terms-and-conditions/): #Theatre Village- www.theatrevillage.co.uk Terms and Conditions for Use and Sales These terms and conditions were last updated on 01st October 2021 1. Introduction 1.1 These terms & conditions set out the terms between you the customer and us the website owner. 1.2 Your use of this website and any service contained within constitutes acceptance of
- [Interviews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/interviews/): #
- [Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/edinburgh-fringe-festival-2025/): #The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 is set to return, promising an exciting array of performances that will once again transform the city into a vibrant hub of creativity and talent. As one of the largest arts festivals in the world, the Fringe showcases a diverse range of performances, from theatre and comedy to music and
- [Local Theatre Route Map](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/local-theatre-route-map/): #We love to shout out about local theatre. See some of the theatre's and what they are up to
- [Scottish Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/scotland-regional-theatre/): #Scotland proudly boasts a remarkably diverse array of theatres, each uniquely catering to the varied tastes and interests of audiences across the entire region. From the bustling urban centres to the quaint coastal towns, whether you find yourself in the vibrant city of Dundee or the serene village of Ullapool, there is truly something for
- [London Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/london-regional-theatre/): #
- [South West Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/south-west-regional-theatre/): #
- [Northern Ireland Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/northern-ireland-regional-theatre/): #
- [South East Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/south-east-regional-theatre/): #
- [East Of England Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/east-of-england-regional-theatre/): #
- [East Midlands Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/east-midlands-regional-theatre/): #
- [West Midlands Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/west-midlands-regional-theatre/): #
- [Wales Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wales-regional-theatre/): #
- [North West Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/north-west-regional-theatre/): #
- [North East Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/north-east-regional-theatre/): #
- [Regional Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/regional-theatre/): #Regional theatre is known for showcasing some of the most captivating and high-quality performances, often presenting unique interpretations and innovative productions that reflect local culture and talent. However, navigating the plethora of choices available can sometimes pose a challenge when it comes to selecting what to watch at your nearby theatre. You might even be
- [Theatre Industry News](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-industry-news/): #
- [Theatre Companies](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-companies/): #When you think of theatre, your mind might drift to the grand stages of London’s West End or the illustrious venues of Dublin. But let’s not forget the unsung heroes of the dramatic arts: independent theatre companies across the UK and Ireland. These plucky little outfits are like that quirky cousin who shows up to
- [Accommodation](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/accommodation/): #
- [Director's Checklist For Professionals](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/directors-checklist-for-professionals/): #
- [Pin Posts](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/be-pin-posts/): #[be-booster-favourites]
- [Theatre Gallery](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-gallery/): #
- [For Theatre Professionals](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/actors-resources-2/): #Discover a wealth of resources right here, training, and opportunities if you are a theatre professional. Theatre Village is your one-stop destination for all things Theatre. The theatre industry offers a wide range of opportunities for professionals looking to pursue a career in this creative field. Whether you're an actor, backstage crew member, or front
- [Surviving Tours](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tours/): #On the Road Again: How to Thrive on a Theatre Tour Touring theatre is an exhilarating experience that allows you to bring your art to different audiences across the country. There's nothing quite like the thrill of taking to the stage night after night, entertaining and inspiring audiences in different cities and towns. Whether you're
- [Welcome To The Village](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/discover/): #The Purpose Of Theatre Village If you're a theatre enthusiast like us then you know the thrill of discovering a new and exciting theatre show. And that's why we are so excited to tell you about Theatre Village! Theatre Village is the ultimate platform for all your theatre needs. Whether you're looking for a classic
- [Terms And Conditions](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/): # Theatre Village-www.theatrevillage.co.uk Terms and Conditions for Use and Sales These terms and conditions were last updated on 01st October 2021 1. Introduction 1.1 These terms & conditions set out the terms between you the customer and us the website owner. 1.2 Your use of this website and any service contained within constitutes acceptance of these
- [Grassroots To Theatreroots.](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/grassroots/): #Discover the transformative power of amateur drama and youth theatre. At Theatre Village, we believe in the importance of nurturing creativity, building confidence, and fostering community through amateur drama and youth theatre. We often think of grassroots in football but we think of it as Theatreroots in the Theatre world. Empowering the Future Stars of
- [Theatre For Schools And Educational Settings](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-for-schools-and-educational-settings/): #Theatre for schools plays a vital role in enhancing the educational experience for students. Incorporating theatre into the curriculum offers numerous benefits and should be considered a must-have component in your school's learning opportunity Theatre provides a unique and immersive learning experience. It allows students to actively engage with the subject matter, bringing it to
- [Find Essential Theatre News and Tips](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-industry/): #Stay up-to-date with the latest news and tips from the UK theatre world. Theatre Village is your go-to source for all things theatre related. From industry news to insider tips, we've got you covered. Whether you're an actor, director, producer, or just a theatre enthusiast, Theatre Village is the place to be. Join our community
- [Courses And Jobs](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/job-listings-in-uk-theatre/): #From Auditions to Applause: Navigating the Competitive World of Theatre Job Listings Are you fed up with the same old routine? Try something new and consider a career in the arts! Whether you like to be in the center of the action or behind the scenes, there is a job for you. Every production is
- [Theatre Village Is The Home Of The UK Theatre Industry](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/theatre-village-is-the-home-of-the-uk-theatre-industry/): #Unleash the full potential of the UK Theatre Industry. Theatre Village is the ultimate platform for professionals in the UK Theatre Industry. Connect, collaborate, and stay updated with all the latest news, events, and opportunities. Join a vibrant community of artists, producers, and enthusiasts to take your career to new heights. Experience the best of
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/privacy-policy-2/): #This policy was last updated on 01/01/2021 to www.theatrevillage.co.uk 1. Data Protection Act 1998 We comply with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 when dealing with all data received from visitors to the site. As well as being GDPR compliant. 2. Our Services We only hold the data necessary to offer services provided
- [Legal](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/legal/): #
- [Authors](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/authors/): #
- [Contact](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/contact/): #This is a contact page. This page has full support of Contact Form 7. With this plug-in you can create a form and add its shortcode to this page. Also you can contact us with the form below.

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/uncategorized/)
- [West End Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/west-end-theatre/)
- [Musical](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/musical/)
- [Watermill](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/watermill/)
- [Immersive](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/immersive/)
- [Ballet](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/ballet/)
- [Leicester Curve](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/leicester-curve/)
- [Reviews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/reviews/)
- [Play](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/play/)
- [Pantomime](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/pantomime/)
- [Belgrade Coventry](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/belgrade-coventry/)
- [Theatre Etiquette](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/theatre-etiquette/)
- [The Coronet Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/the-coronet-theatre/)
- [Mixture](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/mixture/)
- [Education](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/education/)
- [Chichester](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/chichester/)
- [Theatr Clwyd](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/theatr-clwyd/)
- [Video](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/video/)
- [Shakespeare](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/shakespeare/)
- [Grassroots](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/grassroots/)
- [Fundraising](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/fundraising/)
- [Season](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/season/)
- [Birmingham](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/birmingham/)
- [Bursary](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/bursary/)
- [Rehearsal](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/rehearsal/)
- [Award](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/award/)
- [Scotland](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/scotland/)
- [Dance](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/dance/)
- [Fairfield Halls](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/fairfield-halls/)
- [Dundee Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/dundee-rep-theatre/)
- [Contact](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/contact/)
- [Tickets](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/tickets/)
- [Hope Mill Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/hope-mill-theatre/)
- [Comedy](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/comedy/)
- [Opinion Piece](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/opinion-piece/)
- [Youtube](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/youtube/)
- [Sadler's Wells](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/sadlers-wells/)
- [concert](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/concert/)
- [Reviews](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/reviews/reviews-reviews/)
- [Connection](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/connection/)
- [Tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/tour/)
- [Hackney Empire](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/hackney-empire/)
- [Royal Welsh College](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/royal-welsh-college/)
- [Festival](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/festival/)
- [Edinburgh Fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/edinburgh-fringe/)
- [London](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/london/)
- [Sheffield](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/sheffield/)
- [Audition](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/audition/)
- [Acting Resources](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/acting-resources/)
- [Leeds](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/leeds/)
- [Manchester](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/manchester/)
- [Getting Close To The Stars](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/getting-close-to-the-stars/)
- [Theatre Industry News](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/theatre-industry-news/)
- [A Bit Of Fun](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/a-bit-of-fun/)
- [Festive](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/festive/)
- [Children & Young People](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/children-young-people/)
- [Doncaster](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/doncaster/)
- [Cabaret](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/cabaret/)
- [Circus](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/circus/)
- [Opera](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/opera/)
- [Birmingham Rep Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/birmingham-rep-theatre/)
- [Birmingham Alexandra](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/birmingham-alexandra/)
- [Birmingham Hippodrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/birmingham-hippodrome/)
- [Lichfield Garrick Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/lichfield-garrick-theatre/)
- [Royal Birmingham Conservatoire](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/royal-birmingham-conservatoire/)
- [Charity](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/charity/)
- [York](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/york/)
- [Newcastle](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/newcastle/)
- [Alphabetti](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/alphabetti/)
- [Whitley Bay Playhouse](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/whitley-bay-playhouse/)
- [Edinburgh fringe 2025](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/edinburgh-fringe-2025/)
- [Music](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/music/)
- [North East](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/north-east/)
- [Peoples Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/peoples-theatre/)
- [Programme](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/programme/)
- [Camden fringe](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/camden-fringe/)
- [Music Hall](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/music-hall/)
- [Laurels](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/laurels/)
- [New York](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/new-york/)
- [Kings Head Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/kings-head-theatre/)
- [Halloween](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/halloween/)
- [Exhibition](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/exhibition/)
- [Coventry](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/coventry/)
- [Amateur](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/amateur/)
- [Derby](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/derby/)
- [Exeter](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/exeter/)
- [Liverpool](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/liverpool/)
- [Bristol](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/bristol/)
- [Edinburgh Fringe 2026](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/edinburgh-fringe-2026/)
- [Cambridge](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/cambridge/)
- [Grace Hatchell](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/grace-hatchell/)
- [Hull](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/hull/)
- [Watford](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/watford/)
- [First Time Theatre Goer](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/first-time-theatre-goer/)
- [Newbury](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/newbury/)
- [brighton](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/brighton/)
- [Disabled](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/disabled/)
- [Sunderland](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/sunderland/)
- [puppetry](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/puppetry/)
- [Soho Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/soho-theatre/)
- [Clothing](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/clothing/)
- [New Writing](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/new-writing/)
- [Showcase](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/showcase/)
- [Burlesque](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/category/burlesque/)

## Tags

- [CinemaLive](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/cinemalive/)
- [My Favourite Things](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/my-favourite-things/)
- [Jack and the beanstalk](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/jack-and-the-beanstalk/)
- [Birmingham](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/birmingham/)
- [Backstage](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/backstage/)
- [Vamos Theatre](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/vamos-theatre/)
- [boy on the roof](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/boy-on-the-roof/)
- [tour](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/tour/)
- [North E|ast](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/tag/north-east/)

## Stats Types

- [view](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/view/)
- [Chrome](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/chrome/)
- [Windows](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/windows/)
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- [Linux](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/linux/)
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- [Macintosh](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/macintosh/)
- [iPhone](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/iphone/)
- [Firefox](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/firefox/)
- [iPad](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/ipad/)
- [Amazon Silk](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/amazon-silk/)
- [Fire OS](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/fire-os/)
- [unknown](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/unknown/)
- [Samsung Browser](https://www.theatrevillage.co.uk/wpa-stats-type/samsung-browser/)