Playbox Theatre Announces a Landmark 40th Anniversary Season

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 began four decades ago as a small arts organisation has evolved into a vibrant, pioneering creative powerhouse. In this milestone year, Playbox places the shared encounter between audience and young actor at the centre of everything it creates — celebrating the irreplaceable electricity of live performance.

Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre.

Coming up in 2026 Main Stage: A year of large-scale storytelling, reinvention, and immersive celebration:

ROMEO AND JULIET – Early Spring.

A fast-moving, high-energy re-examination of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Performed by a dynamic company of Playbox actors, this production promises passion, danger, and a fierce contemporary heartbeat.

Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre.

THE MYSTERIES – Late Spring.

A rare and ambitious restaging of Playbox’s beloved production.Drawing from medieval texts, this epic cycle tells the story of the world from Creation to Doomsday, performed by a multidisciplinary ensemble in one of the few opportunities today to experience a Mystery Play cycle in full.

TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN

This summer, the centrepiece production will be a brand-new staging of Philippa Pearce’s beloved classic, Tom’s Midnight Garden. When Tom Long is sent away to his aunt and uncle’s quiet, gardenless flat to quarantine, he expects a summer of boredom. But when the grandfather clock in the hallway strikes thirteen, the doors open onto a secret, sun-drenched Victorian garden that shouldn’t exist. Part ghost story, part time-travelling adventure, this production explores the thin veil between the past and the present through the eyes of two lonely children.

ORFEO – Midsummer Night

A dusk-till-dawn immersive odyssey inspired by the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.Audiences arrive as guests at a wedding before being led through a multi-layered journey across indoor and outdoor spaces at The Dream Factory. A once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience marking the height of summer.

PERCY JACKSON AND THE LIGHTNING THIEF – Early Autumn.

A thrilling musical, family-friendly adventure bringing the world of modern mythology to exuberant life.

THE MASSACRE AT PARIS – Late Autumn.

Christopher Marlowe’s rarely performed, politically charged drama — presented with boldness and immediacy for contemporary audiences.

The Dream Factory. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS – Christmas

The festive season ignites with swordplay, spectacle, and camaraderie in this joyous adaptation of Dumas’ classic. This will be a brand-new collaboration between Playbox Theatre and Blank-Shift Creative Writers.

BEYOND THE MAIN STAGE

Throughout 2026, audiences can also enjoy an expansive programme of work across The Dream Factory:

The Studio – new writing, experiment, and innovation.

Early Years & Family Theatre – captivating productions for young children.

Immersive & Participatory Experiences – performances that invite audiences into the heart of the action.

Off-Site Productions – Playbox theatre-making brought directly into communities across the region.

Members of Playbox Theatre. Photo courtesy of Playbox.

THE HEART OF PLAYBOX: Training, Participation, and Creative Growth

The anniversary year expands Playbox’s renowned participatory programme, encompassing specialist training across multiple disciplines:

Participatory Theatre, Music Theatre, Dance, Fight Lab, Acting for Screen, Shakespeare Young Company, Voice Studio, Professional Training Studio, Blank Shift Creative Writers.

These programmes at The Dream Factory and hub centres ensure that young people continue to access world-class, imaginative training in a nurturing, ambitious environment.

A Vision for the Next 40 Years

“Our 40th Anniversary is a celebration of everything Playbox Theatre stands for,” says Emily Quash, Artistic Director. “But more than that, it is a declaration of intent. Each production in 2026 is created as a living, breathing event — something that must be experienced in the moment. Our young actors are extraordinary, our audiences are essential, and together we create theatre that truly resonates.”

Playbox Theatre welcomes audiences, new and returning, to join this remarkable season of bold storytelling, innovation, and celebration. Booking details and further announcements will follow shortly.

Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre.

Alongside its flagship productions, Playbox Theatre continues its year-round mission to inspire and engage young people through Training and Participation across theatre and the arts. From early years creativity to advanced performance programmes, every corner of The Dream Factory pulses with imagination, exploration, and opportunity.

This Spring Season promises to mark a remarkable 40th year for Playbox – a year that will span contemporary and classical theatre, family experiences, immersive outdoor and indoor events. Moving into is 27th year at The Dream Factory, Playbox Theatre cements its reputation as the UK’s most exciting theatre for young people.

 Further details: https://www.playboxtheatre.com/