The Unicorn Theatre has announced its Spring/Summer 2025/26 season, unveiling a dynamic programme of productions and partnerships that place accessibility, environmental awareness, and national engagement at the heart of its mission.
The season includes a landmark new partnership with the National Theatre, set to launch in 2027 with a co-production of The Last Wild, adapted by Jude Christian and directed by Rachel Bagshaw.
A major highlight of the upcoming season is a new co-production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company, reimagined for audiences aged 7 and up. Directed by Rachel Bagshaw and adapted by Robin Belfield, this fresh take on Shakespeare’s classic will run from 21 March to 3 May 2026.
The season also features Creatures, a new devised piece by Jo Tyabji exploring climate action, and By Trial and Error from award-winning French company Le Cirque Content Pour Peu.
A new £10 ticket initiative will make over 2,000 tickets available at £10 or less, alongside relaxed performances, creative captioning, and over 800 free tickets distributed annually to local families.
Rachel Bagshaw, Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre, said:
“At the Unicorn, we believe that access to the arts is a vital part of society. Theatre has the power to spark creativity, grow confidence, and open new ways of seeing the world – all especially true for children. Our 2025/26 season reflects our deep commitment to making extraordinary theatre that reaches young lives on our doorstep and across the country. Our partnership with the National Theatre alongside our collaborations with the RSC and tour venues across the country allow us to scale our ambition and reach even more young audiences with daring, imaginative work. Through our Creative Hub programme in schools and our local community, we are constantly searching for ways to invite children into the process of making live performance and to removing barriers to the arts. This season is a bold response to the growing inequalities in access to culture. It’s our way of saying: theatre belongs to everyone — and every child deserves to see themselves reflected on stage.”
Rebekah Jones, Executive Director, added:
“At the Unicorn Theatre, we believe that young people’s first theatre experience should be extraordinary. With £10 tickets, a commitment to sustainability through the Theatre Green Book, and a bold new season, we’re not just welcoming audiences—we’re nurturing the cultural consumers of tomorrow. These are the young people who will grow up seeing exceptional theatre not as a privilege, but as a given—and in doing so, they’ll become the heartbeat of our industry’s future.”
The season opens with Squirrel (17 Jan – 22 Feb), a musical and puppetry-led tale for ages 6 months to 4 years, followed by By Trial and Error (11 – 22 Feb), a physical comedy from France for ages 4 to 10.
Creatures (6 Mar – 12 Apr) invites children aged 3 to 6 on an eco-adventure, while Whatever the Weather (3 Jul – 16 Aug) offers an immersive playscape experience co-created with Theatre Hullabaloo.
Returning favourites include Anansi the Spider (3 Oct – 16 Nov) and The Three Little Pigs (27 Sep – 2 Nov), while festive cheer arrives with How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (15 Nov – 3 Jan), a world premiere co-produced with Told by an Idiot.
The season concludes with Scrunch (30 Nov – 4 Jan), a multi-sensory experience for babies, and The Lion Inside (14 Jul – 2 Aug), a feel-good musical for ages 3 to 7.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
