Sherman Theatre has announced its 2027 season, Alive at the Sherman, marking the first programme curated by Artistic Director Francesca Goodridge.
The season will comprise eight new productions celebrating what it means to be human, alongside a series of new artistic initiatives designed to nurture Welsh and Wales-based artists, support future theatre leaders and strengthen the nation’s theatrical canon.
The programme opens with Monument by Rhys Warrington, a co-production with London’s Royal Court Theatre. Following its Royal Court run, the production will play at Sherman Theatre from 29 January to 13 February 2027.
Goodridge will direct Macbeth [re]imagined from 12 to 27 March 2027, a radical new version of Shakespeare’s tragedy set in the modern manosphere. The production features additional scenes and dialogue by Rebecca Jade Hammond and stars Mared Jarman as Lady Macbeth.
Blending digital content creation, physical theatre, live music and spoken word, the production has been created as part of the Craidd collaboration and will feature integrated BSL, captioning and audio description at every performance.
Another highlight of the season is Princess of Wales, a new play by International Emmy-winning writer Daf James. Co-produced with Theatr Clwyd, the production runs from 8 to 23 October 2027 and follows a Cardiff family across the Royal Wedding of 1981 and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Sherman Theatre will continue its festive tradition with Treasure Island(ish) by Hannah McPake. Running from 26 November to 31 December 2027, the production reimagines Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure through Cardiff’s history of pirates and smugglers.
Younger audiences can enjoy Billy Goats Gruff/Y Tri Bwch Gafr by Hanna Jarman, a bilingual retelling of the classic tale for children aged three to six, playing in the Studio from 22 November to 31 December 2027.
The theatre will also mark the centenary of Cardiff City FC’s historic FA Cup victory with two special projects. Love, Cardiff: Football Stories will bring together stories from supporters and local communities, while a new adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinck’s The Blue Bird will be performed by members of Sherman Youth Theatre.
Beyond its productions, Sherman Theatre has announced several new programmes aimed at supporting artists and future leaders. These include the Future Leaders of Wales – Carne Associate Director programme, a new Writers in Residence initiative, Canon Cymraeg, Location: STAGE and participation in the Unlimited Partner Awards.
The venue has also commissioned new work from writers Azuka Oforka, Emily Burnett, Jennifer Lunn, Katie Elin-Salt and Sian Owen for future seasons.
Alongside the season announcement, Sherman Theatre revealed a new cohort of Associate Artists including Azuka Oforka, Daf James, Dyfan Jones, Hannah McPake, Hayley Grindle, Jess Williams, Mared Jarman, Patricia Logue, Rhys Warrington and Suzanne Packer.
Two Companies in Residence will also join the organisation: Coven Xperience and Matsena Productions.
Announcing the new season, Francesca Goodridge said: “I am thrilled to share my first season of work at the Sherman, launching programmes that speak directly to what artists need now and a bold slate of productions that connect our extraordinary stories and talent to the world.
“The Future Leaders of Wales – Carne Associate Director programme is especially personal to me; early in my own career, an opportunity like this opened a door, changed my career and gave me the experience and understanding to be able to step into a leadership role and do my dream job. We want to ensure that same opportunity becomes available to others.
“Today’s announcement represents bold plans for artists and profound ambition for audiences and communities across south Wales and beyond. Our record for developing artists and the theatrical canon, serving audiences with exceptional theatre and acting as a civic resource with inclusivity at its heart will be built on further. Long-recognised as Wales’s leading new writing theatre, our ambition is to see the Sherman grow to become the nation’s new work engine.
“Theatre is a living, breathing force, and this season brings together artists and voices with something urgent and undeniable to say. This work confirms our place as a leading venue in UK theatre, making ambitious productions with Welsh artists firmly at their centre. This building is alive – and at its heart is a fierce, beating commitment to creativity, to artists and to Wales.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
