Sheffield Theatres have announced the range of productions that will make up Artistic Director Elizabeth Newman’s first season.
With a range of productions announced for both the Crucible Theatre and Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, the season contains a variety of Sheffield Theatres’ original productions, as well as a variety of touring productions, in both venues as well as the Lyceum Theatre.
Having joined Sheffield Theatres in December 2024, Newman’s first season will run from Autumn 2025 to Summer 2026.
Announcing the lineup earlier this week, Newman said that the process has “been an exciting journey to create this year-long programme packed with a mix of new and familiar work, and I really hope there’s something for everyone to enjoy”.
“We’re incredibly proud to be powered by our amazing city, and can’t wait to welcome everyone into one of our four theatres this year”.
Beginning with the nationally-acclaimed Crucible, the venue will begin with Newman’s first Sheffield Theatres production, directed by Newman herself, of Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa, opening in September.
This will be followed by the group’s festive production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Aisha Khan from Charles Dickens’ classic novel, beginning in November and running into January 2026.
Sheffield Theatres also will join forces with local group Utopia Theatre to create Crown of Blood – A Yoruba Adaptation of Macbeth, written by Oladipo Agboluaje in 2026.
The two previously collaborated in February’s Death and the King’s Horseman, starring West End actor Michael Ahomka-Lindsay.
Completing the Crucible’s season in March is The Ladies Football Club, written by Stefano Massini and again directed by Newman herself, with the musical adaptation of Summer Holiday following in June.
Moving into the Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse, winner of the Women’s Prize for Playwriting Karis Kelly will present her Consumed in September, directed by Katie Posner.
Following this, in January 2026, Sheffield Theatres will collaborate with Theatre Centre and National Youth Theatre to stage My Brother’s A Genius by Debris Stevenson, before Living, by Sheffield playwright Leo Butler opens one month later, telling the story of change throughout sixty years of change.
The season’s announcements also accompany a wider programme of outreach and special events, including the return of the Sheffield Theatres Beach to accompany Summer Holiday in June, as well as a Theatre Football Tournament alongside The Ladies Football Club and Lughnasa Dance Festival in September.
The announcements, alongside a wave of touring productions including …Earnest?, Dear England, The Bodyguard, Here & Now: The Steps Musical and Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts, among others, detail the major productions taking to the stages between now and summer 2026, with availability still for additional productions to take up.
The Sheffield Theatres group comprises four theatres, namely the Crucible, Lyceum, Tanya Moiseiwitsch Playhouse and, as of January, The Montgomery Theatre and Arts Centre.
The group is responsible for the programming and organisation of all four venues, platforming a mix of original and incoming productions throughout the year.
The announcement of Newman’s first season is welcome news for audiences across the city and beyond, eager to see the new Artistic Director’s work in the Steel City for the first time.
With only months to go until her programme begins, audiences will not have long to wait to see Newman’s Sheffield Theatres debut take to the stage this autumn.
Further details & a full list of productions in Newman’s upcoming season can be found here
