Hampstead Theatre has unveiled a resilient and ambitious programme for 2026, headlined by Hollywood star Stanley Tucci making his UK directorial debut and the arrival of a major Broadway musical hit. The north London venue's new season marks a significant statement of intent as it continues its recovery from severe funding cuts.
A Trio of Major Premieres on the Main Stage
The 2026 season opens with the world premiere of Alexi Kaye Campbell's "Bird Grove", running from 13 February to 21 March 2026. The play serves as an origin story for Victorian novelist George Eliot, exploring her teenage years as Mary Ann Evans and her conflict with a father determined to arrange her marriage.
In a major coup, Stanley Tucci will direct the world premiere of Richard Nelson's "Springwood" (15 June - 25 July 2026). Adapted from Nelson's screenplay for the film Hyde Park on Hudson, the stage play dramatises the historic, pre-Second World War meeting between US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King George VI during the first-ever royal visit to the United States.
The season culminates with the UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical "Kimberley Akimbo" (28 August - 7 November 2026). With music by Jeanine Tesori and book by David Lindsay-Abaire, the show was a smash hit on Broadway, winning several 2023 Tony Awards including Best Musical. It tells the story of a 16-year-old with a rare condition that makes her age four times faster, giving her the body of a 74-year-old. It will be directed by former Donmar Warehouse artistic director Michael Longhurst.
New Writing in the Downstairs Studio
The smaller Downstairs studio will host three further premieres, showcasing new writing talent. The season includes Aaron Loeb's tech industry satire "ROI (Return on Investment)" (6 March - 11 April 2026), David Pearson's drama "Firewing" (17 April - 23 May 2026) about a wildlife photographer and his apprentice, and the European premiere of Joshua Harmon's autobiographical play "We Had a World" (29 May - 4 July 2026).
A Venue Bouncing Back
This confident programming follows a challenging period for Hampstead Theatre, which lost all its Arts Council England funding in 2022, leading to the departure of then artistic director Roxana Silbert. The venue has been sustained in part by the support of the late playwright Tom Stoppard, with annual revivals of his work helping to secure audiences.
The announcement of a 2026 season featuring such high-profile names and award-winning material signals a robust comeback for one of London's leading new writing theatres. Tickets for the Hampstead Theatre 2026 season are on sale now.
