The OT’s Artistic Director Tom Littler, together with outgoing Executive Director Hanna Streeter and incoming Executive Director Julie Weston, today announced full programming for 2025/2026. The season is comprised of six plays, three world premieres, two major revivals, and a classic comedy, coupled with OT’s continued community work and commitment to engage and support younger audiences through schemes including OT Under 30 Nights.

The autumn season opens with Charles Dance, Nicholas Farrell, and Geraldine James in Howard Brenton‘s adaptation of Strindberg’s Creditors, directed by the company’s Artistic Director Tom Littler. Following the critically acclaimed production of Churchill in Moscow earlier this year, this marks Littler and Brenton’s seventh collaboration.

Next, the world premiere of Tanika Gupta‘s Hedda, inspired by Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and directed by Hettie Macdonald. Pearl Chanda stars in this major new work set in 1948 London. 2025 culminates with the 250th Anniversary production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comic classic The Rivals, directed by Littler; and the OT Young Company present Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, in a new adaptation by Chinonyerem Odimba inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic, directed by Matt Hassall.

2026 commences with Richard Eyre‘s new adaptation of Strindberg’s Dance of Death, starring Lisa Dillon and Will Keen, which Eyre also directs. This is followed by Niamh Cusack‘s return to the OT in the first major revival of Nicholas Wright‘s Vincent in Brixton. Premiering at the National Theatre, Vincent in Brixton opened in 2002, winning the 2003 Olivier Award for Best New Play. It explores the young Van Gogh’s transformative period lodging in a South London boarding house – Carne Associate Director Georgia Green directs.

The OT Schools Programme announces two new workshops, including Primary Shakespeare: Julius Caesar directed by Francesca Ellis, for ages 7–12. This interactive retelling continues the OT’s 40-year tradition of introducing tens of thousands of young people to Shakespeare and live theatre. Each class experience includes a two-hour workshop ahead of the show and a one-hour interactive performance at the OT. The programme also features Shakespeare Up Close: Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, for ages 11–16, specifically designed to support the KS3 and KS4 curriculum.

The OT also continues its work engaging young people and those less able to travel to theatre with schemes including OT Under 30 Nights – providing 18–29-year-old theatregoers with a free drink, post-show talk, and a social event in the bar within their £15 ticket – and OT On Screen continuing to stream OT productions online following their runs.

Artistic Director Tom Littler said today, “I’m biased, but I can’t think of a better space than the Orange Tree to see great performances and hear great writing up close, and this season redoubles our commitment to exemplary acting and texts. There’s a strong Scandinavian theme, which sees Howard Brenton, Tanika Gupta, and Richard Eyre in conversation with masterpieces by August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen; we’ll also present a Northern Lights mini-season of Lunchtime Plays. Chinonyerem Odimba reinterprets Lewis Carroll; Richard Brinsley Sheridan gets his 250th birthday present; and Nicholas Wright’s exquisite work is rightly honoured. I can’t wait to see Pearl Chanda, Niamh Cusack, Charles Dance, Lisa Dillon, Nicholas Farrell, Geraldine James, and Will Keen lead a series of remarkable ensembles.”

Outgoing Executive Director Hanna Streeter said today, “As I depart the Orange Tree for Theatre Royal Stratford East, it’s a special pleasure to be welcoming directors and creative teams of all generations: the legendary and incisive Richard Eyre; Hettie Macdonald making a long-anticipated return to theatre; Georgia Green and Matt Hassall, two of the most exciting voices of the next generation; and of course our Artistic Director Tom Littler at the helm of two eagerly awaited productions. I’ll be cheering on from Stratford, and I’ve got my tickets booked.”

Incoming Executive Director Julie Weston said today, “What an honour to take the reins from Hanna Streeter at the announcement of such an extraordinary season. I’m particularly delighted that we’re renewing our commitment to the next generation of artists and audiences through our Young Company production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, our Primary Shakespeare and Shakespeare Up Close projects, a raft of talent development initiatives, and our continuing £15 tickets for Under 30s.”

Priority booking begins today, with general booking open at 12pm on Wednesday 25 June.