If this title sounds familiar, it's cause I copied and pasted it from last year's guide. One might say that the quality and commitment of my investigations have decreased significantly. I say that recycling is in for 2026, especially since it marks the anniversary of my very first piece of journalism on BTC. To celebrate the occasion, we are moving from carefully considered categories to much more arbitrary ones. But do not worry - I’m still good at picking.
First one up is: “since the US is threatening every aspect of European life, it's only fair that they are exporting tons of theatre too.” Tony Award-winning comedy, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, will premiere this spring at the Lyric Hammersmith, reuniting writer Jocelyn Bioh and Monique Touko (School Girls: Or, The African Mean Girls Play). The Royal Court will welcome Kimberly Belflower’s John Proctor is the Villain, a revisionist take on Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which earned seven Tony-Award nominations, and btw it’s honestly one of the best things I’ve ever read. Tony and Pulitzer-Awards writer Rajiv Joseph will see two of his works on the UK stages: Bengal Tiger At The Baghdad Zoo (directed by Omar Elerian – love you man) is playing for two more weeks at the Young Vic – and I hurry you all to go and see it, and Archduke will open at the Royal Court later this spring. Straight from the wood - Hollywood - Aaron Pierre and Gilles Terera will star in a revival of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at the Old Vic, directed by Clint Dyer (Death of England). At the Hampstead Theatre, another revival will mark Stanley Tucci’s London stage directing debut of Tony and Oliver Awards-winning playwright Richard Nelson’s Springwood.
Following these big names, I’ve got some “exciting up-and-coming talents on my radar.” Ryan Calais Cameron, following his recent successes (For Black Boys, Retrograde), is back home at the Royal Court with The Afronauts, and the promise to narrate Zambia’s defiant dream to reach for the stars. Karis Kelly's dark-comedy Consumed, the 2022 winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, will bring four generations of Irish women and their dysfunctional relationship to the Park Theatre. Anthony Simpson-Spike, newly appointed Artistic Director at Theatre503, directs Chewing Gum Dreams, Michaela Coel’s unforgettable debut and, by now, a classic of contemporary British theatre.
Next up, it’s a very niche category, and I’d like it to remain in the books as “quirky international companies that are changing our monolithic approach to theatre (and might only I know about).” Coronet Theatre will welcome lacasad'argilla ensemble, one of Italy’s leading experimental theatre companies, with their fierce and multi-disciplinary revision of Rosalinda Conti’s Uccellini. Oliver-Award-winning company, Belarus Free Theatre, returns to the Barbican with a new production, Kitchen Revolution, and invites us to dinner, the only place where one can talk, argue and dream about freedom. Farm Fatale, directed by Philippe Quesne, at the Southbank Centre, creates an absurdly charming universe where a group of five scarecrows-poets discuss their post-apocalyptic future.
Following on this madness, here are some shows I am looking forward to just “off pure vibes”: The Authenticator at the National Theatre, Driftwood (co-produced by RSC) at the Kiln Theatre, and (omg!) the stage adaptation of Murakami’s End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the Barbican.
Some “bonus shows” now. I hate musicals so very much, but if I didn’t, I’d run to watch these two: American Psycho is returning to the Almeida Theatre after a sold-out run, and Manic Street Creature will premiere at the Kiln Theatre. The Wedding by Gecko – one of the best physical theatre companies in the world – will shortly run at Sadler’s Wells (hey btw, when are you dropping your collab with Barclays?), where also Tanztheatre Wuppertal Pina Bausch returns with Sweet Mambo. Last but not least, Oliver-Award winning company Boy Blue will bring their moves in Cycles to the Barbican Centre.
This might feel like a lot, but I want you to know that there’s so much more. More shows - most programming has only just been released for spring and summer - and more theatres, from the pub on the corner to the glitz of the West End. So much more for us to enjoy.
Happy 2026 guys,
xxx
giada
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