Orange Tree Theatre has unveiled its 2025/2026 season, promising a dynamic mix of world premières, classic revivals, and major star power.
Highlights include Creditors by August Strindberg, adapted by Howard Brenton and starring Charles Dance, Nicholas Farrell, and Geraldine James. Directed by OT Artistic Director Tom Littler, this marks his seventh collaboration with Brenton.
Tanika Gupta’s Hedda, a bold reimagining of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, will receive its world première. Set in 1948 London, the production stars Pearl Chanda and is directed by Hettie Macdonald.
The season also features the 250th Anniversary production of The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, directed by Littler, and a new adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Chinonyerem Odimba, presented by the OT Young Company.
In 2026, Richard Eyre directs his own adaptation of Strindberg’s Dance of Death, starring Lisa Dillon and Will Keen. Niamh Cusack returns to the OT in Nicholas Wright’s Vincent in Brixton, directed by Georgia Green.
The OT Schools Programme expands with Primary Shakespeare: Julius Caesar for ages 7–12, and Shakespeare Up Close productions of Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet for secondary students.
The theatre continues its commitment to accessibility and youth engagement through initiatives like OT Under 30 Nights and OT On Screen.
Artistic Director Tom Littler said, “I’m biased, but I can’t think of a better space than the Orange Tree to see great performances and hear great writing up close, and this season redoubles our commitment to exemplary acting and texts. There’s a strong Scandinavian theme, which sees Howard Brenton, Tanika Gupta, and Richard Eyre in conversation with masterpieces by August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen; we’ll also present a Northern Lights mini-season of Lunchtime Plays. Chinonyerem Odimba reinterprets Lewis Carroll; Richard Brinsley Sheridan gets his 250th birthday present; and Nicholas Wright’s exquisite work is rightly honoured. I can’t wait to see Pearl Chanda, Niamh Cusack, Charles Dance, Lisa Dillon, Nicholas Farrell, Geraldine James, and Will Keen lead a series of remarkable ensembles.”
Outgoing Executive Director Hanna Streeter added, “As I depart the Orange Tree for Theatre Royal Stratford East, it’s a special pleasure to be welcoming directors and creative teams of all generations: the legendary and incisive Richard Eyre; Hettie Macdonald making a long-anticipated return to theatre; Georgia Green and Matt Hassall, two of the most exciting voices of the next generation; and of course our Artistic Director Tom Littler at the helm of two eagerly awaited productions. I’ll be cheering on from Stratford, and I’ve got my tickets booked.”
Incoming Executive Director Julie Weston said, “What an honour to take the reins from Hanna Streeter at the announcement of such an extraordinary season. I’m particularly delighted that we’re renewing our commitment to the next generation of artists and audiences through our Young Company production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, our Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close projects, a raft of talent development initiatives, and our continuing £15 tickets for Under 30s.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
