Cap Theatres new shows on sale
New shows announced for Festival, Kings and Studio theatres
Capital Theatres has announced a raft of 32 new productions being staged at the Festival, King’s and Studio theatres between this May and next May 2027.
Big hitters include the return of Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show to the King’s, for the first time since 2022, Martin Shaw starring as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons at the Festival Theatre and Tortoise in a Nutshell’s brilliant and award-winning Ragnarok in the Studio.
A scene from Tortoise in a Nutshell’s Ragnarok. Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic
Tickets for all the newly announced shows will go on sale to Friends of Capital Theatres today, Wednesday 29 April 2026 at 11am, with general booking opening on Friday 1 May 2026.
Early openings at the Festival Theatre include the ballet of Dracula in June, circus from Circa as they re-imagine Swan Lake as a Duck Pond in October and Martin Shaw starring as Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons in November.
Next year’s Festival Theatre treats include Agatha Christie’s The Hollow in February, Heathers: The Musical in March, Fascinating Aïda in April and the return of Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella in May 2027.
Things kick off at the Kings Theatre as early as this August 7, with Wanging On Live with Graham and Maria in what appears to be the opening production at the theatre after its refurbishment.
Autumn productions at the King’s include one night stands for Chunky Jewellery, the story of two single mothers navigating life, death and everything in-between in; comedian Alan Davies with Think Ahead; and Stories: The Tap Dance Sensation, as well as Marc Brew’s semi-autobiographical piece an Accident / a Life, for two nights.
Thereafter, in 2027, there is Pitlochry Festival Theatre’s A Toast Fae The Lassies and the tour of By Royal Appointment to look forward to in January, Paranormal Activity in February, and the return of Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show in March.
The Studio Theatre has plenty of smaller shows to fill your evenings between now and Christmas.
It starts in May with Tortoise in a Nutshell’s brilliant and award-winning Ragnarok, then in June there’s the LYRA young company with Take Up Space and Bijli with Revolution Days.
Autumn treats include Company Chordelia with Revel, DJ set-cum-play My Mum Told Me Not to Marry an Aethiest, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, It Walks Around the House at Nightand the ever excellent Jordan & Skinner with Do Not Pass Go.
After The Littlest Yak in October, the Christmas Show for very young people is Bananas for Christmas from Frozen Charlotte.
Listings
Click on the name of the show or the Book here link to go to its ticketing site.
Festival Theatre
13/29 Nicolson Street EH8 9FT.
NT Live: The Playboy of the Western World
Tue 9 Jun 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Film screening from the National Theatre. Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton) joins Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) and Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls) in John Millington Synge’s riveting play of youth and self-discovery. Book here.
NT Live: All My Sons
Wed 10 Jun 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Film screening from the National Theatre. Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star, triumphantly acclaimed new production of Arthur Miller’s classic play, from visionary director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge). Book here.
Dracula
Fri 12 – Sat 13 Jun 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sat Mat: 2.30pm.
Driven by masterpieces from Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Liszt, Mussorgsky, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns and Debussy, this haunting retelling unleashes a collision of desire, torment and immortality. Choreographed by Joel Burke, the production features a powerhouse international cast of alumni from ballet companies across the world. Book here.
Circa: Duck Pond
Fri 30 & Sat 31 Oct 2026
Fri: 7.30pm; Sat: 2.30pm.
The world’s most romantic ballet is re-imagined as a circus spectacular, full of Circa’s signature physicality and shot through with cheeky humour and a thoroughly contemporary energy. Book here.
A Man For All Seasons
Tue 24 to Sat 28 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Martin Shaw stars as Sir Thomas More – scholar, ambassador, lord chancellor and friend to King Henry VIII. The most powerful and dangerous figures who shaped English history are brought vividly to life in Robert Bolt’s award-winning play. Book here.
The Ultimate Classic Rock Show
Sat 7 Feb 2027
One perf: 7.30pm.
Dust off your air guitars for an evening of the best classic rock anthems from legends past and present. A roller coaster journey of classic rock nostalgia, hit after hit performed live with stunning accuracy and high energy accompanied by an incredible light and projection show. Book here.
Agatha Christie’s The Hollow
Tue 9 to Sat 13 Feb 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Following sell-out tours of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, Fiery Angel reunites with director Lucy Bailey to bring this darkly seductive new staging of one of Agatha Christie’s most compelling mysteries The Hollow. Book here.
Heathers: The Musical
Tue 23 to Sat 27 Mar 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death. Based on the iconic movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers the Musical is wickedly funny, deliciously dark and full of big fun! Book here.
Fascinating Aïda
Sun 4 Apr 2027
One perf: 7.30pm.
The world’s greatest cabaret troupe are back with a brand new show featuring the devilishly funny and gloriously glamorous Dillie, Liza and Adèle. With brand new songs generated by human neural networks and using their combined deep-learning age of 278 years, they have data-mined their back catalogue to bring audiences their greatest, most sensationally analogue show ever! Book here.
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella
Tue 4 to Sat 8 May 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Thurs, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
New Adventures returns with the 30th anniversary celebration of one of their beloved productions, Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella – a thrilling and evocative love story, set in London during the Second World War. Book here.
King’s Theatre
2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Wanging On Live with Graham and Maria
Fri 7 Aug 2026
One perf: 7pm.
A live version of Wanging On with Graham and Maria, the weekly podcast where Graham Norton and Maria McErlane dispense average advice and questionable solutions to life’s dilemmas. Armed with their trademark wit and decades-long friendship, they’ll tackle audience submissions and pass judgement in “Am I Weird?” – all with precisely zero expertise. Book here.
Chunky Jewellery
Wed 21 Oct 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Chunky Jewellery tells the story of two single mothers navigating life, death and everything in-between. Two friends, one year, two births, a death, 18 bursts of laughter, 34,000 tears (each), and one piece of chunky jewellery. It was a year to forget, but instead Natasha and Jude co-created an epic autobiographical show with Ben Duke (Olivier Nominated / Lost Dog). Book here.
Alan Davies: Think Ahead
Thu 22 Oct 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
He thinks he’s Marty McFly but he’s older than Doc Brown. He spends more time in the pharmacy than the gym. Subject to relentless eye rolls from his kids. What is he? A late middle-aged stand up on tour for the first time in a decade. Funnier than ever, he says. Book here.
Stories: The Tap Dance Sensation
Mon 9 Nov 2026
One perf: 7.30pm.
Urban jazz, tap and percussion collide in this high-energy phenomenon. Icarus – a young actor – is already a big hit on screen. Yet, behind the scenes, he’s under the oppressive influence of his director. After an epic argument, Icarus finds himself unable to escape the film director’s stranglehold. Book here.
an Accident / a Life
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
A rich visual theatre experience that unravels key moments in our lives, exploring difficult things using humour, storytelling, film, music, dance and a car. For Marc Brew, this was his car accident when he went from ballet dancer to paraplegic in a split second. Book here.
A Toast Fae The Lassies
Sun 24 Jan 2027
One perf: 6pm.
Following on from its sell-out success at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, this dynamic musical play celebrates the life and art of Robert Burns as experienced by the three most important women in his life – his mother, his wife and his mistress Book here.
By Royal Appointment
Tue 26 to Sat 30 Jan 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
By Royal Appointment is a behind the scenes peek into the world of our most popular monarch and the image she presented to the world. Starring national treasure Jane Asher as The Queen, this smash hit play is written by Daisy Goodwin, creator of the hit ITV series Victoria. Book here.
Paranormal Activity
Tue 2 to Sat 6 Feb 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
This thrilling West End hit is inspired by the iconic film series, with a brand-new story live on stage. James and Lou move from Chicago to London to escape their past, but they soon discover that places aren’t haunted, people are… Book here.
São Paulo Dance Company
Fri 12 & Sat 13 Feb 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm.
The electrifying São Paulo Dance Company returns to the UK for its highly anticipated second tour, bringing bold Brazilian energy and world class dance to the King’s Theatre. Internationally celebrated for its dynamic repertoire, São Paulo Dance Company showcases a distinctive artistic voice – where classical technique meets contemporary innovation, driven by a powerful Latin pulse. Book here.
Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show
Tue 23 to Sat 27 Mar 2027
Evenings: 7.30pm; Wed, Sat mat: 2.30pm.
Allan Stewart is back at the King’s! Forget your troubles and enjoy a night of music and comedy with Allan Stewart and some very special guests. Book here.
Scottish Dance Theatre: Pirates!
Fri 21 to Sat 22 May 2027
Fri: 6pm; Sat: 11am & 3pm.
Best friends Tom and Daisy as they are swept away into the world of Captain Sandy Rogers and her rowdy crew. Featuring a playful mix of dance, theatre and storytelling, Pirates! is the latest creation from Scottish Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Joan Clevillé, featuring the full company of dancers, lavish set and costume design and original music by Luke Sutherland. Book here.
Studio Theatre
The Studio, 22 Potterrow, EH8 9BL.
Ragnarok (Tortoise in a Nutshell)
Sat 23 May 2026
Evening: 7.30pm.
Æ review from 2024: ★★★★☆ Dark
Taking inspiration from Norse mythology’s cyclical tale Ragnarok creates a bold, haunting and multisensory theatrical world. Tortoise in a Nutshell fuse forms to stunning effect, blending human performance, puppetry and hand-crafted live animation to tell a story about fate and determination, mortals and gods, the world’s end and its rebirth. Book here.
LYRA: Take Up Space
Thu 18 Jun 2026
Evening: 7.30pm.
A Lyra Young Company x Crew invite you to an immersive gig‑theatre show you won’t forget. Too old for the playpark, too young for the pub, this space is theirs — somewhere to be loud, free, and feel alive. Book here.
Revolution Days
Fri 19 & Sat 20 Jun 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Scottish Aid Worker, Samira, fuelled by the belief she can make a difference, is confronted by the reality of war, aid work and her own disillusionment during the Arab Revolutions. Book here.
Revel (Company Chordelia)
Sat 26 Sep 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
Taking place in the theatre dressing room of every show Kally & Steinvör have ever been in, past, present and future, this dance theatre show combines physical theatre with dance, dialogue and music. A Company Chordelia production, this 60+ coming of age story explores adaptability, resilience, loss, irreverence – and dancing. Book here.
My Mum Told Me Not to Marry an Aethiest
Tue 29 Sep 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
A play/DJ set exploring the relationship between Dadi, a sharp-tongued Pakistani radio host, and her granddaughter Kamal as they navigate love, marriage, and the joys of being intergenerational troublemakers. Book here.
It Walks Around the House at Night
Sat 10 & Sun 11 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Sun mat: 2pm.
Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, It Walks Around The House At Night draws audiences into a world of creeping dread, unexpected twists and dark humour. A haunted house story for a new era, brought to life through inventive staging, immersive sound and bold visual effects. Book here.
The Littlest Yak
Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct 2026
Daily: 11.30am & 2pm.
Gertie is great at being The Littlest Yak, with the curliest, whirliest wool and the grippiest of hooves for clip-clopping up cliffs. Only, Gertie doesn’t want to be little, she wants to grow up! Book here.
Do Not Pass Go (Jordan & Skinner)
Wed 21 & Thu 22 Oct 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm; Thur mat: 2pm.
Award-winning theatre company Jordan & Skinner bring their irreverent physical theatre style to an epic true story of games, money, and the forgotten woman who invented Monopoly. With integrated BSL. Book here.
Gaggle
Sat 24 & Sun 25 Oct 2026
Sat: 2pm & 4pm; Sun: 11am & 12.30pm.
A physical comedy, circus and live music performance, made for audiences of young people with complex additional support needs, and their families. Book here.
Dance Horizons: Innovations
Fri 6 & Sat 7 Nov 2026
Evenings: 7.30pm.
This dynamic mixed-bill programme showcases bold new work by four choreographers, bringing together leading artists from across Scotland and international guests from Spain and Germany. Audiences can expect a vibrant exploration of movement, creativity and fresh ideas, celebrating the diversity and innovation of today’s dance scene. Book here.
Bananas for Christmas (Frozen Charlotte)
Thu 17 to Thu 31 Dec 2026
Daily: 11am & 2pm (Thu 24: 10am & 1pm). Not Mon 21, Fri 25/Sat 26.
Life is mellow (and yellow) for a pair of banana-loving beach-dwellers until one of them goes a bit Bananas for Christmas. Banana splittingly fun and full of festive cheer. Book here.
ENDS
