We’re delighted to reveal three new productions joining our previously announced season in Stratford-upon-Avon - three stories which explore transformation in very different ways.

The Other Place is a home for intimate experiences, and a welcoming space for all ages to enjoy the shared experience of live performance. It's the perfect setting this winter 2026 for The Bear and the Piano, a brand-new adaptation of the top-selling children’s book by David Litchfield made especially for very young audiences. This celebration of puppetry and music by Toby Olié and Tom Brady is co-produced with Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

In March 2027, Brock’s Mill, a new family drama by RSC Writer-in-Residence Stewart Pringle, is directed by former Artistic Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris. A eulogy to the craft of stop-motion animation, it delicately examines nostalgia and the fragile truth of memory.

In the Swan Theatre from February 2027, Sharon D Clarke is the warrior in director Monique Touko’s pressing re-examination of Shakespeare’s Othello that transports the play to a future and retells it through the lens of misogynoir.

Looking ahead to 2028, audiences across England from Norwich to Newcastle will also be able to experience Blanche McIntyre’s sell-out production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in their local theatre. The show is part of a major four-year touring programme, with further casting and on-sale details to be announced.  

We are also delighted to announce that Tony, Grammy and Olivier award-winning composer, orchestrator and music supervisor Martin Lowe will take up the role of Music Associate with responsibility for music across all RSC productions. 

He will be joined by Paula Stephens as Head of Voice, joining the previously announced Patsy Rodenburg (who took up the honorary role of RSC Emeritus Director of Voice in October last year). She will be responsible for helping to deliver the RSC’s work in classical voice training and performance, supporting vocal health, stamina, text and presence.  

Other newly announced roles include the appointment of Emily Burns and Ryan Day, who join Elizabeth Freestone as Associate Directors of the RSC.

We hope you’ll join us to share these stories as they're told anew on our stages and beyond.

We can’t wait to welcome you.

Daniel Evans & Tamara Harvey
RSC Co-Artistic Directors

NEWLY ANNOUNCED

2026-2027 IN FULL

Royal Shakespeare Theatre 

• Game of Thrones: The Mad King | A sweeping new stage epic from the world of George R. R. Martin, written by Duncan Macmillan and directed by Dominic Cooke | 20 July - 5 September 2026
• As You Like It | Tony Award-winning Jonathan Groff makes his RSC debut as Rosalind, with Fisayo Akinade as Celia, in Shakespeare’s most sweet-natured comedy, where love is love – no matter where it falls. Daniel Evans directs an all-male cast | 26 September - 7 November 2026
• The Three Musketeers | Told by an Idiot unleash their trademark visual comedy on Alexandre Dumas’ thrilling classic novel in a theatrical feast full of energy, joy and a raging zest for life | 28 November 2026 - 9 January 2027

SWAN THEATRE 

• The Cherry Orchard | Helen Hunt and Kenneth Branagh star and RSC Co-Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Laura Wade’s vital new version of Anton Chekhov’s epic final play, written on the brink of the Russian Revolution | 10 July - 29 August 2026
• Middlemarch Parts 1 & 2 |  George Eliot’s respected and beloved novel set in her Warwickshire homeland is adapted by Nina Raine for the Swan Theatre, directed by Jeremy Herrin and co-produced with Second Half Productions | Part 1: 1 October 2026 - 16 January 2027 | Part 2: 10 October - 16 January 2027

NEWLY ANNOUNCED

• Othello | Directed by Monique Touko, three-time Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke takes up the titular role in a radical retelling that transports the play to future and retells it through the lens of misogynoir | 13 February - 3 April 2027

THE OTHER PLACE

•  A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Our first co-production with the UK’s leading children’s theatre, the Unicorn, Shakespeare’s classic comedy is directed by Rachel Bagshaw, Artistic Director of the Unicorn, for ages 7 and above | 19 June - 30 August 2026
• Next Generation: Factory | A new play from multi award-winning campaign-led arts charity LUNG, performed by our Next Generation Act young company | 16-19 September 2026
• First Encounters: Julius Caesar | Harriet Walter reprises her role as Brutus in Phyllida Lloyd’s groundbreaking 2012 Donmar Warehouse production, bringing world-class theatre to schools across England, and to The Other Place | RSC Associate Schools tour 21 September - 23 October 2026 | The Other Place 5 - 28 November 2026

NEWLY ANNOUNCED

• The Bear and the Piano | A celebration of puppetry and music, this world stage premiere of David Litchfield's beloved children's book has been especially adapted for early years audiences of 3 years and up | 11 December 2026 - 10 January 2027
• Brock's Mill | Former Director of the National Theatre Rufus Norris directs RSC Writer-in-Residence Stewart Pringle’s acutely observed and poignant new family drama, a homage to the craft of stop-motion film-making and an exploration of the corrosive power of nostalgia | 26 March - 8 May 2027

IN LONDON

• My Neighbour Totoro | The multi-award winning stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s My Neighbour Totoro continues to delight audiences in London's West End | Gillian Lynne Theatre, London | Booking until January 2027
• Matilda The Musical | The internationally-renowned musical has been seen by 13 million people across 100 cities around the world. Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl continues to play to packed houses in the West End | Cambridge Theatre, London | Booking until January 2027
• Cyrano de Bergerac | Adrian Lester reprises his role as Cyrano in this thrilling, lyrical tale of love and lies, longing and disguise | Noël Coward Theatre, London | 13 June - 5 September 2026
• Hamlet Hail to the Thief | Shakespeare’s great tragedy collides with Radiohead’s 2003 album in this frenetic production co-created by the band's frontman Thom Yorke, and directors, Steven Hoggett and Christine Jones. It opens at the Barbcian following an acclaimed world premiere in Manchester and at the RSC | 31 October 2026 - 23 January 2027

TOURING

• Matilda The Musical: UK & Ireland Tour | Our multi-award winning musical, inspired by the beloved book by Roald Dahl, continues its second tour across the UK and Ireland | Until 17 January 2027
• First Encounters: Julius Caesar | Harriet Walter reprises her role as Brutus in Phyllida Lloyd’s groundbreaking 2012 Donmar Warehouse production, bringing world-class theatre to schools across England, and to The Other Place | RSC Associate Schools tour 21 September - 23 October 2026 | The Other Place 5 - 28 November 2026

BOOKING INFORMATION

For Othello, Brock's Mill and The Bear and The Piano, tickets go on sale from 10am:

Artists Circle/Gold Patrons Friday 3 July 2026
Silver Patrons Monday 6 July 2026
Bronze Patrons Tuesday 7 July 2026
Members Thursday 9 July 2026
Subscribers Friday 10 July 2026
Public Booking Thursday 16 July 2026

Access Priority Booking when you join one of our membership schemes, starting at just £20

JOIN TODAY

You can purchase up to 9 tickets online for any given performance or event. If you’d like to attend as a group of 10 or more people, please email groups@rsc.org.uk. We have some great discounts for Groups of 10+, 50+ and 100+ visit our Groups page to find out more. 

For London shows:

Hamlet Hail to the Thief

Cyrano de Bergerac

Matilda the Musical

My Neighbour Totoro

 
For Touring shows:

Matilda the Musical UK Tour

First Encounters: Julius Caesar

The Merry Wives of Windsor UK Tour dates, venues and booking information will be announced soon