York Theatre Royal today announces further programming, including Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs for Dec 2026 – and a return to the Main House stage for their Youth Theatre company with an adaptation of Wendy & Peter Pan.
Additional new shows going on sale include touring work from the Hofesh Shechter Company, Le Navet Bete, the Reduced Shakespeare Company and more – as well as a variety of one-night events and a return to the Studio of ‘The Old Paintshop’ series of cabaret club nights.
York Theatre Royal today announce their 2026 pantomime extravaganza will be Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs with York family favourite Robin Simpson (Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty) returning as the Dame. With lavish costumes, stunning sets, hilarious jokes and dazzling special effects, this is set to be an unmissable treat for the whole family. Written by Paul Hendy and directed by Juliet Forster, York Theatre Royal are renewing their collaboration with Evolution Productions for this magical fairytale panto. Running from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, tickets go on sale with an early bird offer available for bookings made before 4 January 2026.
Autumn 2025 will also see a return to the Main House stage for York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre company with a production of Wendy & Peter Pan (3-5 September), Ella Hickson’s retelling of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan… Directed by Lydia Crosland and Sophie-Jade Howell with a company of young people involved both on stage and behind the scenes, the show will follow the story of Wendy Darling as she leads the rebellious lost boys, takes on the terrifying Captain Hook and discovers the power of being brave.
York Theatre Royal members will have access to 5-day priority booking with all the new shows going on sale from 1pm on 17 November. General sale will be open at 1pm on 22 November.
These two productions join York Theatre Royal’s diverse line up of produced work for 2026 – which includes The Secret Garden – The Musical (17 March – 4 April), based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s beloved classic. This new revival of the Broadway musical will be directed by Tony Award-winner (and former YTR Artistic Director) John Doyle with a captivating score by composer Lucy Simon and book and lyrics by Marsha Norman. The creative team includes Catherine Jayes (Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator), David L. Arsenault (Co-Designer), Gabriella Dalton (Costume Designer), Johanna Town (Lighting Designer), Tom Marshall (Sound Designer) and Ginny Schiller CDG (Casting Director.)
The YTR produced work continues into 2026 with the new thriller The Psychic (29 April – 23 May) from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, creators of the smash hit Ghost Stories. This twisted new thriller brings thrills, laughs and shocks to the stage in the World Premiere of this electrifying and unmissable play. The creative team includes Rae Smith (Designer), Chris Fisher (Illusions Designer), Zoe Spurr (Lighting Designer), Nick Manning (Sound Designer) and Arthur Carrington CDG (Casting Director.)
2026 will also see the world premiere of a YTR co-production with ETT and An Tobar and Mull Theatre, The Last Picture which runs in the Studio 5-14 February. Written by Catherine Dyson and directed by John R. Wilkinson, The Last Picture is a moving new play which focuses on the power of empathy and its limits, from the unique perspective of emotional support dog Sam.
Paul Crewes, CEO of York Theatre Royal said, “Our 2026 line up of shows offers a wonderfully diverse range of work for our audiences to enjoy – from internationally renowned dance, award-winning musicals and world premiere productions created here in York.
“Our produced work continues to expand and grow with 2026 set to be an exceptional year for us as we work with Tony award-winning Director John Doyle on a revival of The Secret Garden – The Musical and a world premiere of a brand new play The Psychic from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson who created the hit show Ghost Stories. Our co-production of The Last Picture in the Studio will be a startingly relevant piece of theatre and we are delighted to have the world premiere of the show here in Feb.
“For the first time since 2019 we also welcome our Youth Theatre company onto the Main House stage with an adaptation of Wendy & Peter Pan which looks set to be absolutely magical and will offer a wonderful opportunity for young people to act on our stage and get involved backstage. We then round off our year with another fabulous panto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs which will be once again in collaboration with Evolution Productions.
“We can’t wait for audiences to experience this unmissable line up of shows and would really encourage people to take a leap of faith and see something new in 2026!”
Alongside the programme of produced work, dance continues to be a focus for York Theatre Royal – with 2026 plans including a world premiere from Phoenix Dance Theatre Interplay (27-28 February) and Hofesh Shechter’s new full-length work for Shechter II, IN THE BRAIN (12-13 June). Brought to life by the fierce, unstoppable energy of Shechter II, this performance will be a space to break free, where stories dissolve, identity fades, and only the beat rules.
The Everybody Dance Festival (6-7 March) will also make a return to showcase and celebrate dance in school and community settings – with York Dance Space also celebrating their 10-year anniversary with a spectacular showcase on the Main House stage, Together We Move (4 July).
Comedy-lovers are in for a treat with a riotous, all-out hilarious ride through Greek mythology from kings of comedy Le Navet Bete. Oh Zeus! (18-20 June) will bring sensational physical comedy, outrageous jokes, fast paced chaos, and more togas than you can smash a plate at. Fans of the Bard can also look forward to a rollercoaster ride through all 37 of his plays from the Reduced Shakespeare Company as they present a wild and irreverent show The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (7-11 July) which will leave audiences breathless with laughter.
For families, a mischievous musical based on Roald Dahl’s snappy book The Enormous Crocodile will be coming to the Main House (25-28 June) with toe-tapping tunes by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, a rib-tickling book and lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra, and additional music and lyrics by Tom Brady.
2026 will see a return to York Theatre Royal from a range of local amateur companies
including York Opera who are celebrating their 60th anniversary year with a production of Die Fledermaus in the Main House (3-6 June). York Settlement Community Players will also be back in the Studio with the deeply nostalgic Blue Remembered Hills (18-28 February) by Dennis Potter.
New shows joining the line up in the STUDIO include Meet Fred (31 March – 2 April), a darkly funny satire on disability rights; Departure (8-9 May) a music and dance performance which explores themes of death and ritual; Crumbs (20-23 May), a laugh-out-loud one-woman comedy from Badapple Theatre; and A Brief Case of Crazy (16-18 July), a heart-warming and hilarious physical comedy inspired by the genius of Charlie Chaplin.
The Old Paint Shop Cabaret Club will also return to the Studio (4 –25 June) and will feature regular cabaret nights of comedy, music, improv and burlesque by local artists. The line-up includes returning favourites Freida Nipples, The Jazzville Quartet, Queer Spaces and The Isolation Creations as well as new acts such as Wright&Grainger, Rock Paper Goose and Thorpe & Morrison.
5-day priority booking for York Theatre Royal members ppens from 1pm on 17 November. General sale will follow at 1pm on 22 November.
Box office 01904 623568 |yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
For more information and images or to request press tickets please contact:
Amy Goodman, Head of Communications and Chloe Marsh at press@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
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