The cast of Waiting for Anya. Photo courtesy of Abbey Theatre. Waiting for Anya, performed by the Junior Members of the Abbey Masqueraders Theatrical Society at St Paul’s Church, Stockingford, Nuneaton, from 5 – 7 November. Preview The Abbey Masqueraders’ junior members are looking forward to bringing this Michael Morpurgo book to life and telling the incredible story of children being smuggled across the border to safety during world war 2. Simon Reade’s stage adaptation o

Barry Purchase-Rathbone and Adam Schumacher. Photo credit Second Thoughts. Ladies Down Under by Amanda Whittington. A Second Thoughts Productions at The Bear Pit Theatre 21 October 2026 until 24 October. Director Rachel Alcock. Review by Charles Essex. Ladies Down Under is the second in Amanda Whittington’s trilogy about four women from a fish factory in Hull. After winning big at the races they splash their winnings on the trip of a lifetime to Australia. This play is s

Little Shop of Horrors. Photo courtesy of the Belgrade Theatre. From free detective-themed activities and an interactive murder mystery to the deliciously dark musical Little Shop of Horrors, the Belgrade Theatre has plenty to entertain families in Coventry this October half term. Families looking for ways to keep children entertained over the school holidays can enjoy a packed programme of activities and theatre at Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre, with something for budding dete

Entertainment at Brick Lane Music Hall. Photo credit Lucy Hayes. Brick Lane Music Hall presents: ‘Christmas Wonderland’. An all-new festive celebration of music, comedy and variety, with Christmas dining at the world’s only permanent Music Hall venue. Running from 19 November to 19 December 2026. Venue: Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, London E16 2DA. Preview This winter, Brick Lane Music Hall will be transformed into a festive wonderland, welcoming audience

At rehearsals for The Snowman. Jake, Felix, Tate and Tristan (The Boy). Photo courtesy of the Birmingham Rep. Here's a sneak peep of rehearsals for the Christmas classic The Snowman™, which premieres at The Birmingham Rep from tonight, Tuesday 20 October – Sunday 1 November 2026. The Snowman™ has its press night in Birmingham on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 6pm, then heads to the Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells’ home in the West End, for winter 2026, running from Saturday 21 N

Warwickshire Singers will present Benjamin Britten’s radiant “A Ceremony of Carols” alongside Kristina Arakelyan’s recently premiered “A Christmas Offering” at St Francis of Assisi RC Church, 110 Warwick Road, Kenilworth CV8 1HL, Kenilworth on Monday 14 December at 7.30pm, offering audiences an evocative celebration of the festive season. Directed by Jim Bate with Erica Sinclair (harp) and David King (piano). Written for treble voices and harp, Britten’s much-loved “A Ceremon

Hecuba (Hannah Grainger Clemson). Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Women of Troy written and directed by David Fletcher at The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from 28 October until 7 November 2026. Preview Women of Troy brings a powerful story of survival to Loft Theatre Leamington SpaWednesday 28 October until Saturday 7 November. Written and directed by David Fletcher, this new version of Euripides' Greek tragedy explores the devastating human cost of war and the experien

Matt Rousseau and Jon Kerr. Photo courtesy of Andrew Maguire. Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls presented by Tread The Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 18 October until 7 November 2026. Director: John-Robert Partridge. Review by Charles Essex. Most people are aware of the cliché ‘Sweeney Todd the demon barber’, but often have little knowledge of the story beyond that. This Tread the Boards (TTB) production in the intimate setting of The Attic Theatre wa

Harvey Eaton and Isaac Hope with cast members. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theare. The Massacre at Paris, presented by The Playbox Theatre, Friday 16 October 2026. Review by Charles Essex. A complete script of Christopher Marlow’s play The Massacre at Paris does not exist, so it is a tribute to The Playbox that they produced this rarely performed play and made it so engrossing. The programme was essential to read beforehand to understand the plot, about the xenophobia of the

Ty'rone Haughton. Photo courtesy of the artist. Made You Look, Ty'rone Haughton's one-man poetry show, at The Belgrade Theatre for one night only 17 October. You can see him at the Birmingham Rep Theatre on 21 and 22 October. Review by Alison Manning. Made You Look is a powerful one-man poetry show written and performed by poet Ty’rone Haughton, produced and directed by Finley-Rose Townsend. It deals with difficult issues on multiple levels, such as racism, abuse, masculinity

Monarch butterflies. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. During October half term, from 24 October – 1 November, Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm will be celebrating the amazing migration story of the Monarch Butterfly, and why they are associated with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). The Monarch Butterfly is recognised for its bright orange wings, with black and white markings. Each year, millions migrate up to 3,000 miles from Canada and the USA to the forests of

Mark McGann. Photo courtesy of the artist. Ever wanted to learn to act? Rugby Theatre is running acting masterclasses for stage and screen this October, led by renowned actor and director Mark McGann. Open to total beginners as well as experienced actors looking to hone their skills, a Stage Acting Masterclass is taking place on Saturday 24 October, followed by a Film and TV Acting Workshop on Sunday 25 October. “I cannot wait to present these exciting workshops designed to d

When Darkness Falls by James Milton & Paul Morrissey. At The Priory Theatre, Rosemary Hill Kenilworth from Thursday 22 October to Saturday 31 October. Directed by Connor Cunningham Preview On a stormy night on the small island of Guernsey, a young paranormal expert joins a sceptical history teacher to record the first in a series of podcasts based on the island’s incredible folklore and paranormal history. As the expert regales his horrifying stories, the teacher learns th

Calendar Girls. Photo by Abby Lucy Photography. Calendar Girls The Musical at Rugby Theatre from 24-31 October. Directed by Mark Tolchard. Preview by Rosie Fuller. “We are going to need considerably bigger buns!” A heartwarming musical about ordinary women doing something extraordinary is up next at Rugby Theatre. Based on the true story that inspired the hit film, Calendar Girls, The Musical follows members of a Women’s Institute in Yorkshire, who want to raise money for t

Matt Parker. Photo courtesy of the artist. Getting Triggy with It: Matt Parker Does the Maths, Warwick Arts Centre on 14 October 2026. Review by Alison Manning You may not think humour and maths necessarily go together, but they do so seamlessly in this entertaining show, Getting Triggy with It: Matt Parker Does the Maths which came to Warwick Arts Centre on 14 October. My maths-obsessed teenager is already guffawing uncontrollably before the end of the opening sequence. As

Image courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Massacre at Paris presented by Playbox at The Dream Factory, Warwick from 15 - 17 October 2026 at 7pm. Christopher Marlowe's drama depicting events surrounding St Bartholomew's Day massacre of 1572. Preview In 1592, just twenty years after the streets of Paris ran with the blood of Protestants on St Bartholomew’s Day, Marlowe wrote a play that was too dangerous to print whole. Only actor’s mangled memories and audience’s varying recollection

Some of the team! Photo by Ann Evans Saints Present... 9 new short plays. Written and produced by The Saints Dramatic Society, at Allesley Village Hall, 118 Birmingham Road, Coventry CV5 9GX, running from 13 - 17 October. Review by Ann Evans The Saints Dramatic Society based in Allesley Village have certainly proved what a talented group they are. Last night - 13 October, saw the opening night of their latest production – Saints Present… This is a collection of nine brand new

Image by Second Thoughts Productions. Ladies Down Under. Second Thoughts Productions at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 21 October 2026–24 October 2026. Preview by Charles Essex Amanda Whittington’s trilogy of plays about four women who work in a fish processing factory in Hull has proved to be enduringly popular. Ladies Down Under is the second of the series, as the four friends splash their winnings from the races, seen in Ladies Day, on the trip of a lif

Jon Kerr and John-Robert Partridge. Photo by FuzFilms. Sweeney Todd and the String of Pearls presented by Tread The Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 16 October – 7 November. Preview by Charles Essex. The name Sweeney Todd is well known and the fictitious story has been told in many formats. It started as a serialised story in the ‘penny dreadfuls’, 19th Century cheap popular literature, in which the “Demon Barber” murdered customers in his shop on Fleet St