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 Grand Theatre, Warwick Arts Centre, Malvern Theatres, Lichfield Garrick, New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Royal & Derngate in Northampton and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon all show how varied and ambitious Midlands theatre can be. These venues bring together touring productions, new writing, musicals, comedy, dance, family shows, community work and home-grown stories, making theatre feel present across the region rather than locked inside one city. From Shakespeare country to industrial towns, university cities and market-town stages, the Midlands proves that brilliant theatre can be both grand and grounded.
Grace says: Midlands theatre sits in that in-between bit between North and South that everyone forgets until they need Shakespeare, a massive musical, a cracking panto or somewhere sensible to meet halfway.
Rather than listing every single event at Derby Theatre, we’ve picked out a few highlights worth having on your radar — from bold new work and classic stories to comedy thrillers, community celebration and family favourites.
Departure Lounge 2026
Derby Theatre, Thu 2 – Sat 4 July 2026
Derby’s Fringe Theatre Festival returns with three days of fresh, bold and boundary-pushing performance. One for anyone who likes theatre that feels new, lively and maybe just a bit ungovernable.
The Eagle Awards 2026: 30th Anniversary Special
Derby Theatre, Sat 18 July 2026
A proper celebration of Derby and Derbyshire’s amateur theatre scene, marking 30 years of the Eagle Awards. This is where community theatre gets its flowers — and quite right too.
The 39 Steps
Derby Theatre, Tue 29 September – Sat 17 October 2026
Hitchcock meets theatrical chaos in this fast-paced comedy spy thriller. Expect disguises, danger, daftness and enough quick changes to make backstage look like a controlled explosion.
East is East
Derby Theatre, Tue 20 – Sat 24 October 2026
Ayub Khan Din’s award-winning play comes to Derby for five days only, mixing sharp humour with family tension, cultural identity and the pull between tradition and change.
We Will Rock You
Derby Theatre, Tue 27 – Sat 31 October 2026
The Queen musical arrives with big songs, big energy and absolutely no chance of anyone leaving quietly. One for those who like their theatre with guitars, rebellion and a bit of stomping.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Derby Theatre, Wed 4 – Sun 8 November 2026
A flying car, family adventure and a proper classic title. Ideal for audiences wanting something bright, nostalgic and full of musical theatre magic.
Othello
Derby Theatre, Tue 10 – Sat 14 November 2026
Shakespeare’s tragedy brings love, jealousy, manipulation and war to the stage. Not exactly a breezy night out, but a powerful one when done well.
The Railway Children
Derby Theatre, Fri 27 November 2026 – Sat 2 January 2027
Derby Theatre’s festive main house show brings E. Nesbit’s beloved story to life with adventure, courage, steam trains and enough heart to warm up a winter evening.
The Owl and the Pussycat
Derby Theatre, Sat 5 December 2026 – Sat 9 January 2027
A family-friendly studio show full of rhyme, rhythm, puppetry and whimsy. A lovely pick for younger audiences and grown-ups who haven’t entirely forgotten how to be ridiculous.