The Battle: Oscar Lloyd, George Usher. Photo by Helen Murray. The Battle by John Niven, at Birmingham Rep until 7 March 2026. Directed by Matthew Dunster. Touring next in Manchester Opera House until 21 March. Review by Ellie Blackwell Recreating Britpop’s ferocious fight for the chart’s top spot, John Niven’s slick, new play perfectly encapsulates this iconic movement and a cut-throat pop culture where artists had nothing to lose and everything to gain. ‘I’m fine with a war

Tim Raistrick and Adam Schumacher. Photo courtesy of Second Thoughts.   Shakespeare on Love Performed by Second Thoughts Productions at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday 14 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex.   In a novel format, two narrators (Nic Walsh and Gill Hines) took us on a tour of a medley of Shakespeare’s love scenes featured in both his comedies and tragedies.  The scenes were acted out as short vignettes, either from the original script or m

Rebecca Chandler and Stephen Brown. Photo courtesy of the artists. The fabulous Improvesarios were back at the Loft Studio Theatre on Valentine's Night for another of their hilarious improvised operas.  With suggestions from the audience they come up with the setting for a new opera, then instantly, on the spot, make up the story, the music and the songs' lyrics. With Saturday being Valentine's Day, there couldn’t have been anything more appropriate than a wedding themed ope

Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Leonard Bernstein’s Candide based on Voltaire’s satirical novel performed by the Student Society Opera Warwick at Warwick Arts Centre from 12 to 13 February 2026. Directed by Millie Jeffries and conducted by Michał Matusz. Review by Ann Cee   Open Opera did a terrific job last night of bringing the chaos and confusion of Candide's crazy life to the Warwickshire stage.  With precious few props but plenty of creativity and panache, a huge cast took

Photographer Gillian Hyland. Art Director Louise Richardson. Premiering in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from Saturday 11 April – Saturday 30 May 2026. Preview Placebo are to compose new music for landmark stage play satirising Hitler’s ascent to power in their first major theatre collaboration to date. Starring double Olivier award-winning actor Mark Gatiss in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; based on the 1941 ‘gangster spectacle’ by Bertolt Brecht in a new version

The beer tent, Warwick Festival 2025. Photo John Wright Photography. The 2025 Warwick Folk Festival brought in just under £1million to the town in terms of additional economic benefit which has been revealed in an ‘Economic Impact Analysis’ report. It has also been revealed that the festival days in 2023, 2024 and 2025 averaged a footfall uplift of +46% in the town centre, compared to the average footfall on the same non-festival days. Data also showed that 2025 had the large

Oliver on piano and Samuel standing. Photo courtesy of Oliver Hancock. An evening of Flanders and Swann performed at St Mary’s Church Warwick, on Saturday 7 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex   Brothers Samuel and Oliver Hancock treated a very knowledgeable audience to a wonderfully nostalgic evening of the songs of Flanders and Swann at St Mary’s Church in Warwick.  Although the demographic of the audience reflected that this appealed to a particular generation who recal

Nine Sixteenths cast. Photo by Christa Holka. Nine Sixteenths: Inspired by Janet Jackson, created by Paula Varjack, a fast, fun, multimedia examination of iconic black female role models featuring the rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson. Runs 60 mins. At Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry on Thursday 12 February 2026 at 7.45pm. Preview   At the 2004 Superbowl, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for n

Leamington And Warwick Musical Society present My Fair Lady. Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Music by Frederick Loewe. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion”. Original production directed and staged by Moss Hart. At the Royal Spa Centre from 24 – 28 March 2026. Evenings 7.30pm: Saturday Matinee 2.30pm. Preview    Leamington and Warwick Musical Society (LWMS) has had a fabulous time recently bringing modern-era musicals to t

Rosalie Armstrong and Samuel Koppel. Photo courtesy of the Criterion. The Who’s Tommy, written by Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend, at the Criterion Theatre Earlsdon from 31 January – 7 February. Director Debra Relton Elves, Musical Director Rob Parish, Production Assistant Timothy East. Review by Hilary Hopker There was an excited and busy hubbub in the newly renovated foyer of the Criterion Theatre as show goers explored the renovation changes. There’s now more space and ligh

The Improvesarios. Photo by Claire Shovelton. Improvesarios in the Loft Theatre Studio on Saturday, 14 February at 7.30pm. Preview   Join the Improvesarios, returning to The Loft Studio Theatre, Leamington Spa following their appearance in 2025, for an evening of fun and mayhem as they put down their scores and put their creative prowess to the test. Using your suggestions, this group of classically trained musicians improvise a brand new opera completely on the spot! Help th

Candide at Warwick Arts Centre. Leonard Bernstein’s Candide based on Voltaire’s satirical novel performed by the Student Society Opera Warwick at Warwick Arts Centre from 12 to 13 February 2026. Directed by Millie Jeffries and conducted by Michał Matusz. Preview. Join Candide on a whirlwind, globe-trotting adventure packed with satire, romance and chaos. Guided by the ever-optimistic Pangloss, Candide and his beloved Cunegonde face disaster, danger and absurdity at every turn

Tales from Acorn Wood Live. Photo credit Mark Senior. There’s lots going on at Warwick Arts Centre this February Half Term (covering Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 2026). Classic tales, woodland adventures,  revolting science experiments, free workshops, magic and more! Preview Writer Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s beloved stories come to life in  Tales From Acorn Wood Live  (Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 February 2026). Packed full of toe-tapping song

The Criterion Theatre, nestled in the heart of the Earlsdon community, is set to launch its 2026 season at the end of January, following the completion of its modernised new front of house area. The theatre, located in Berkeley Road South and run entirely by volunteers, has over the last seven months embarked on by far the biggest development project since first welcoming audiences through its doors in 1961. The work has been completed by a mixture of local tradespeople and m

The cast of Animal Farm. Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Animal Farm by George Orwell, adapted by Peter Hall with lyrics by Adrian Mitchell and music by Richard Peaslee. At The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from Wednesday 21 Jan to Saturday 31 Jan 2026. Directed by Mark Crossley. Preview   The Loft Theatre begins its 2026 season with a new staging of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a sharp and timely retelling of the classic political satire. As part of The Loft's ongoing co

Playbox celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Playbox Theatre celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season — A Year of Unmissable, Live-Only Events at The Dream Factory in Warwick. Playbox Theatre — long recognised as one of Europe’s most adventurous and imaginative theatres for young people — launches its 40th Anniversary Season with a bold promise: every production will be a one-off theatrical event that can only be experienced live. What be

A New Musical. Photo courtesy of the RSC. A New Musical  The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Book and lyrics by Richy Hughes, music and lyrics by Tim Sutton. Adapted from/based on the book by William Kamkioamba and Bryan Mealer and Potboiler Productions film. At the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 10 February to 28 March 2026, and then at Soho Place, London from 25 April to 18 July 2026. Preview William wants to build a windmill. Nobody believes he can – not his father nor

Anansi The Spider. Photo by Helen Murray. Anansi The Spider, Presented by the Birmingham REP and Unicorn Theatre, at The Door, Birmingham Rep until 11 January 2026. Suitable for 4 – 8 years and their families. Created by Justin Audibert, Directed by Robin Belfield. Preview.   The greatest tales ever spun… Sit under the canopy of the banyan tree and experience the laugh-out-loud West African and Caribbean tales of the infamous Anansi! People say that in a time long, long ago,

Vox Populi The Bells of Paradise. Performed at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 20 December 2025.  Review by Charles Essex   Once again Vox Populi, Harvey Brough’s community choir, ensured a packed Holy Trinity Church in Leamington as they sang a wide selection of Christmas songs old and new.  All 19 songs were arranged by the multitalented Harvey and accompanied by a harp, piano and some of the brass section of the prestigious Orchestra of the Swan, including th

Image courtesy of The Albany Theatre. Jake Quickenden - WHAM! The Show at The Albany Theatre, Coventry on Saturday 18 April at 7.30pm. Preview After appearances on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity Masterchef, SAS Who Dares Wins, and of course winning Dancing On Ice, multi-talented Jake Quickenden returns to the stage to showcase his superb vocals and dynamic charisma that originally shot him to fame! Don’t miss WHAM! The Show. Featuring the biggest hits of the 80

Image courtesy of The Albany Theatre. The Bon Jovi Experience at The Albany Theatre, Coventry, on Friday 6 February at 7.30pm. Preview Get ready to rock out to all of the classics in this tribute endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi himself... Direct from London’s West End, get ready to rock your way through an unforgettable journey with the only show to be endorsed by Jon Jovi himself! Immerse yourself in a phenomenal celebration of Bon Jovi’s timeless classics as The Bon Jovi Experienc