York Theatre Royal have today announced further programming for the 2025/26 season, including a brand-new co-production with An Tobar and Mull Theatre and ETT, The Last Picture.
The further new shows on sale include a wide range of touring work from companies including London City Ballet, Original Theatre and Ballet Black as well as a variety of one-night music events and a return to the Studio of ‘The Old Paintshop’ series of cabaret club nights.
Written by Catherine Dyson and directed by John R. Wilkinson, The Last Picture is a moving new play which will premiere in the Studio (05-14 Feb) and which focuses on the power of empathy and its limits, from the unique perspective of emotional support dog Sam.
The show joins York Theatre Royal’s line up of produced work for 25/26. This includes the summer community production His Last Report (19 Jul – 03 Aug) in association with Riding Lights Theatre Company which focuses on the legacy of York social reformer Seebohm Rowntree and includes 100 community cast members and choir performances. In the Autumn, a brand-new musical Military Wives will premiere at York Theatre Royal (10 Sep – 27 Sep). Written and directed by BAFTA award-winning Debbie Isitt, the show is based on the remarkable true story of the Military Wives Choir and the hit movie of the same name and will feature a fantastic mix of pop, rock and power ballads.
Panto this year will be the enchanting Sleeping Beauty (02 Dec – 04 Jan), starring CBeebies’ Jenny Dale and returning York favourite Robin Simpson and bringing all the spectacular festive magic audiences know and love from an Evolution and YTR production! The YTR produced work continues into 2026 with the new thriller The Psychic (29 Apr – 23 May) from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, creators of the smash hit Ghost Stories.
For YTR’s programme of touring work, dance continues to be an integral part of the line up with plans to welcome national and international companies to the Main House stage and Studio in 25/26. London City Ballet will be back with another mixed bill entitled Momentum (14-15 Nov), including rarely seen works such as George Balanchine’s Haieff Divertimento and new work from emerging choreographer Florent Melac who is best known as a Premier Danseur at the Paris Opera Ballet.
In We Caliban (17 -18 Oct), Shobana Jeyasingh Dance take an inventive, sideways look at Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Jeyasingh’s bold and imaginative new work is partnered by visually stunning projections by Will Duke and captivating music by Thierry Pecou. Ballet Black will return with a new double bill, Shadows (30 Oct) – including Cassa Pancho’s darkly comic adaptation of Oyinkan Braithwaite’s international bestselling novel, My Sister, The Serial Killer. The double bill is completed by Brooklyn-born, award-winning choreographer Chanel DaSilva, making her British choreographic debut with A Shadow Work.
The Everybody Dance Festival (03-04 Nov) makes a return to showcase and celebrate dance in school and community settings. In the Studio, dance fans can also enjoy Sonia Sabri Company’s Roshni (26-27 Sep). An intimate crafting of dance and live music, inspired by the stories and experiences of everyday people.
Original Theatre will be returning to York Theatre Royal this Autumn with new thriller written by Torben Betts, Murder at Midnight (21-25 Oct). The show will star national favourites Jason Durr (Heartbeat, Casualty), Susie Blake (Victoria Wood’s as Seen on TV, Coronation Street) and Max Bowden, best known for his role as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders.
New music one-nighters include Clare Teal: 25th Anniversary Tour (02 Oct) in which award-winning jazz vocalist and long-time Radio 2 & Jazz FM broadcaster Clare Teal and her band bring a night of inspirational entertainment to the Main House stage. In New York Brass Band vs. Heavy Beat Brass Band (31 Oct) two bands will square up against each other to take the roof off York Theatre Royal with the sounds of New Orleans and Velma Celli is back with a new show, Rock Queen (12 Nov) which celebrates the very best of rock classics. For fans of music legend Nat King Cole, acclaimed vocalist, Atila and his world-class group of musicians takes a fresh look at his legacy in King For A Day (17 Nov), including Nature Boy, Unforgettable, Mona Lisa, L-O-V-E, When I Fall in Love, and much more.
For families, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood will be coming to the Main House stage (03-05 Feb) and Eric Carle’s bright and colourful world will be brought to life in The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (09-11 Apr). The Studio also has some fun-packed delights including The Tale of The Loneliest Whale (03-04 Oct) from local company Hoglets Theatre and Story Craft Theatre’s Halloween offering Bat, Cackle and Pop! (29-31 Oct).
York Light Opera Company will also be returning with the beloved classic musical Annie (12-21 Feb). Packed with unforgettable songs like Tomorrow, Hard Knock Life and You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile this is a must-see for audiences of all ages.
Shows in the STUDIO include Austen’s Women: Lady Susan (18-20 Sep), based on Jane Austen’s first full-length work, Ordinary Decent Criminal (02-03 Dec) which stars legendary political comedian Mark Thomas and Dial 1 for UK (15-16 May), a darkly funny, deeply human tale of life on hold.
The Old Paint Shop cabaret club will also return to the Studio (Oct 5-26) and will feature regular cabaret nights of comedy, music, improv and burlesque by local artists. The line-up includes returning favourites Freida Nipples, Karl Mullen, Fool(ish) Improv and The Isolation Creations aswell as new acts such as Kiki Deville, Anna Soden and the Nicki Allan Quartet.
Paul Crewes, CEO of York Theatre Royal said, “Our 25/26 programme is a wonderful selection of work from world class dance, musical theatre and thrilling drama, to shows for all the family.
We have ambitious plans too for our produced work which continues to go from strength to strength, as we look forward to this summer’s community show His Last Report, made with the support of hundreds of volunteers telling a York story that had a national impact. Our brand-new musical Military Wives this Autumn is based on an incredibly inspiring true story and is written and directed by the wonderful Debbie Isitt, and our production of Sleeping Beauty will be enchanting. Tickets are already on-sale for next year’s world premiere of The Psychic. This is a thriller you don’t want to miss from Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson who created the hit show Ghost Stories.
We can’t wait to welcome old friends and new audiences alike to the theatre this year for what promises to be an unmissable line up of shows.”
York Theatre Royal members will have access to 5-day priority booking with the shows going onsale from 1pm on 23 June.
General sale will be open at 1pm on 28 June.
