Theatre-Rites will premiere its new immersive production Return to the Forest as the centrepiece of the company’s 30th anniversary celebrations, continuing three decades of imaginative, experimental work for young audiences.
The production reunites Theatre-Rites with acclaimed South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma, following their previous collaboration on The Global Playground. Return to the Forest will make its world premiere at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, from 7 to 10 May 2026 before transferring to Sadler’s Wells East from 28 to 30 May.
Inviting audiences into a museum where treasured objects begin to stir after closing time, the story leads visitors into a wild, enchanted forest. Blending Maqoma’s high‑energy choreography with Artistic Director Sue Buckmaster’s signature puppetry, the show offers a playful and thought‑provoking experience for children aged 8+ and their families, exploring what we value and how we care for it.
The premiere extends a long‑running creative relationship between Theatre-Rites, Maqoma and Manchester’s cultural institutions, following earlier collaborations including The Global Playground, Tree and The Welcoming Party.
The company’s anniversary year also includes a wide‑ranging programme of workshops, professional development and community participation. Activities across Greater Manchester will include mask‑making and masquerade movement workshops, with selected participants joining the production as audience guides. Additional celebrations include a late-summer tour of Eshu at the Crossroads, created with choreographer Miguel Altunaga, for family audiences aged 4+.
A major strand of the anniversary will unfold in Blackpool, where Theatre-Rites will lead a year‑long participatory programme in partnership with Blackpool Grand and Blackpool & Fylde College. The programme will include workshops for young artists, teacher training and a new end‑on staging of Return to the Forest.
Director of Return to the Forest and Artistic Director of Theatre-Rites Sue Buckmaster said, “I am so proud that Theatre-Rites has reached its 30th year. As our name suggests, we create theatrical rituals that celebrate connectivity between children and adults, community and individuality, and humans and nature. Now more than ever, it is essential to emphasise the importance of creativity in our lives. We have always fought for children’s right to experience art of the highest quality, and it has not always been easy. Nothing gives me more hope than seeing a child respond to our work, knowing it has taken months of creativity from some of the best practicing artists around. Making and experiencing art nurtures all that is beneficial to us; it is not a luxury, but something children know they need and adults need reminding of. Return to the Forest is a perfect example of Theatre-Rites’ practice, and I am delighted that it is at the heart of our anniversary year.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
