London’s Unicorn Theatre Announces New Season with National Focus

The Unicorn Theatre is proud to unveil the Spring and Summer instalment of its 2025/26 season, featuring a world premiere, exciting new productions, landmark partnerships with major UK theatres, and a reinforced commitment to accessibility, affordability and environmental sustainability.

Developing from a collaboration on the National Theatre Collection for primary schools, the Unicorn is also thrilled to announce a new partnership with the National Theatre due to supercharge both venues’ engagement with primary schools across the country. The first co-production in the partnership is Piers Torday’s award-winning eco-thriller The Last Wild, in a new version for primary school audiences adapted by Jude Christian and directed by Unicorn’s Artistic Director and former Peter Hall Associate at the National Theatre, Rachel Bagshaw. Opening at the Unicorn Theatre in February 2027, the production will tour to venues and schools across England. Full details will be announced soon.

The upcoming season sees the Unicorn joining forces with the Royal Shakespeare Company for the first time on a major new production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for ages 7+. This collaboration extends the Unicorn’s reach regionally, building on its existing relationships with some of the leading venues across the country, from Chichester Festival Theatre to the Birmingham Rep and Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington.

The season shines a light on the climate crisis and also introduces a newly launched event series called Critical Conversations. This collection of interactive events and creative talks is designed to spark conversation and inspire change for and with children and their grown-ups. First in the series, Critical Conversations 2026 will explore environmental themes and the need for action, empowering young people to become environmental champions in their own communities. Critical Conversations programme details will be announced later in the year.

The Unicorn’s commitment to access and inclusion continues to grow this season, as the organisation introduces a new £10 price band. This initiative will make over 2,000 tickets available at £10 or less across most performances, ensuring that more families can enjoy the magic of live theatre regardless of their circumstances. In addition, with the support of several generous funders, the Unicorn proudly distributes over 800 free tickets every year to local families, deepening its connection to the neighbourhood and removing barriers to access.

At a time when families are financially stretched and schools are facing significant budget cuts with the role of the arts in education increasingly sidelined, the Unicorn remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the power of theatre. This season, the organisation will continue to support over 15,000 school pupils to experience live performance through its subsidised schools ticket programme enabled by the long-term support of Sir Harvey and Lady Allison McGrath, which accounts for more than 60% of all school tickets sold. Alongside this, we continue to deliver in-depth partnerships with local primary schools embedding creative teaching methodologies and a school strategy for drama.

Rachel Bagshaw, Artistic Director of the Unicorn Theatre, comments, ‘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 of the Unicorn, comments, ‘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 new season kicks off with a delightful tale for the very youngest theatregoers. Squirrel (17th January – 22nd February), an Egg production, is a story of new growth and beginnings told through music and puppetry. Written by Kate Cross and Tim Bell in co-creation with Caroline Garland and the Company, and directed by Tim Bell, Squirrel follows its acorn-loving hero as they search for their buried treasure under a tree — or was it the one on the right? Recommended for ages 6 months to 4 years, this charming and interactive show invites little ones to take part in the fun.

Swooping in from France, By Trial and Error (Entre le Zist et le Geste, 11th – 22nd February) by acclaimed company Le Cirque Content Pour Peu, brings a duo of disoriented acrobats to the Weston stage. With their seemingly well-oiled routine quickly thrown off course, the pair scrambles to keep the show going in a hilarious, acrobatic spectacle full of humour and physical comedy. A unique treat for ages 4 to 10.

From 6th March – 12th April, audiences will embark on an eco-adventure with Creatures, created and directed by Jo Tyabji (Marty and the Party). This original Unicorn Theatre production takes you on a globe-trotting journey to meet some of the most extraordinary creatures. Featuring music and plenty of animals, this inspiring new show invites children aged 3 – 6 to connect with the natural world and become young champions for our planet.

In a major new co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Unicorn presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream (21st March – 3rd May), Shakespeare’s most loved comedy reimagined for ages 7 and up. Directed by Unicorn’s Artistic Director Rachel Bagshaw and adapted by Associate Director Robin Belfield, this riotous retelling promises to delight young audiences with its mix of mischief, magic and mayhem. On sale in September.

A further partnership of the season sees the Unicorn working with Theatre Hullabaloo to create a brand new immersive playscape experience.  Inspired by ideas from local children, Whatever the Weather(3rd July – 16th August) is an artist-designed space that celebrates the different ways children naturally play – encouraging families to discover, imagine and explore together. Artists to be announced soon. On sale in September.

Rounding off the season with a roar is the return of a beloved story. The Lion Inside (14th July – 2nd August), a co-production with Rose Theatre, Nicoll Entertainment, Curve and MAST Mayflower Studios, is based on the bestselling book by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. Adapted and directed by Sarah Punshon, with music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer, this feel-good tale follows a tiny mouse on a big journey to find their voice. With humour, heart, and toe-tapping songs, this uplifting family show is perfect for ages 3 to 7.

Already announced, also part of the 2025/26 season:

This September there will be a lot of huffing and puffing as The Three Little Pigs (27th September – 2nd November) by Stiles and Drewe (The Billy Goats Gruff, Honk!, Half a Sixpence) will be coming to the Weston. This ‘very curly musical tail’ will be full of catchy songs, humour and fun and will leave audiences squealing with glee, as superstar piglets Bar, Bee and Q set off into the big wide world, against the big bad wolf. Perfect for children aged 3 to 7, this heartwarming family fable will come to life through music, in an exciting co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre. The show will open at the Unicorn before touring to Chichester.

Returning to the Unicorn following sold-out runs, the critically acclaimed Anansi the Spider(3rd October – 16th November) will tell one of the greatest tales ever spun. Adapted from timeless West African and Caribbean folk tales about a lovable spiders’ tricks and triumphs, this incredible production will be in a co-production with Birmingham Rep. With a fresh new take under the direction of Unicorn’s Associate Director Robin Belfield (Twelfth Night, RSC; Princess Essex, Shakespeare’s Globe), this re-imagined version will bring a renewed energy and vision to this much-loved Unicorn show.

Opening in November, the world premiere of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s hilariously funny picture book How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (15th November – 3rd January) will be spreading some festive cheer. This will be the Unicorn’s first co-production with experimental theatre makers Told by an Idiot, a unique opportunity for young audiences to experience work by this internationally acclaimed company. Written and directed by the company’s co-founder and Artistic Director Paul Hunter, this comic Christmas caper will present a thrilling fusion of physical comedy, live music and anarchic fun for audiences aged 2 to 102.

From the makers of the incredibly successful Baby Showand rounding off the season will be Scrunch(30th November – 4th January), a multi-sensory experience for children aged 6 to 18 months and their grown-ups. Created by Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis, this piece is part of the Unicorn Theatre’s Early Years programme of work.

With its mix of bold storytelling, cross-industry collaboration and essential values at its core, the Unicorn’s new season invites audiences of all ages to experience the wonder of theatre — whether it’s their first time or their fiftieth.

Main Image: Courtesy of Unicorn Theatre

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