Lyceum 60th season on sale
Five Lyceum productions in extensive season
Tickets for the Lyceum’s 60th season, and the first of James Brinning’s tenure as Artistic Director and joint CEO, goes on general sale today, with a handful of homegrown shows and a strong touring element.
The Lyceum has a new season ticket package for the year, offering 20% off, when tickets are bought for five or more of the seven core 25/26 Season shows. It also includes free ticket-exchange up to 24 hours in advance, 10% discount in the Lyceum Bar and partner restaurant DINE, and 50p off ice-creams.
James Brinning. Artistic Director of the Lyceum. Pic: The Lyceum.
Brinning said: “At the core of this season is a spirit of celebration as well as ambition. I take inspiration from the past whilst reflecting on our future – I want us to create theatre that resonates with our times, connects with our city, and reaches across generations.
“Stories help define us as humans and I hope that the stories we have chosen to tell and the way we tell them enriches your experience of life.”
There are five home-grown (or co-produced) shows in the 25/26 Season: The Seagull (9 Oct-1 Nov), The Glass Menagerie (4-8 Nov), Cinderella: A Fairytale (28 – 3 Jan), ONE DAY – The Musical (27 Feb – 5 Apr) and Sweat (3-20 June).
The season ticket package also includes touring shows for the first time. Apphia Campbell’s Black is the colour of my Voice (3-4 Sept) and Bill Kenwright’s tour of The Shawshank Redemption (20-24 Jan).
a landmark year
Speaking of the season as a whole, Brinning described this as a landmark year, celebrating 60 years of “bold, brilliant theatre at the heart of Edinburgh”, from the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.
Brinning said: “This season is especially exciting for me as it is my first as Artistic Director. I am thrilled to be returning to Scotland to lead this extraordinary company and to be part of its rich legacy and bright future.
“Throughout the year, we will present a vibrant range of work that reflects The Lyceum’s commitment to powerful stories and unforgettable performances. From timeless classics and compelling dramas to family fun and home-grown Scottish productions, this season offers something for everyone.”
The Lyceum was built in 1883 and the current Lyceum theatre company was founded in 1965 under the directorship of Tom Fleming. The company celebrates its 60th Anniversary Season in 2025/26.
Beside the shows in the season ticket package, the five visiting productions include two shows for children. The Curve production of Pirates Love Underpants (6 – 7 Sept) and the return of Freckle Productions with Zog (7 – 12 July 2026) another Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler adaptation. The already announced production of Prima Facie (3 – 7 Feb) is now sold out.
There is also a handful of comedy one-nighters. George Lewis has his The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do on 19 Sept, Gareth Joyner’s drag persona Myra DuBois will be your Cosmic Empath on 26 Oct, and he Gilded Balloon have The Big Comedy Roadshow with Kiri Pritchard-McLean on 9 Nov.
Connor Burns returns to with his new comedy hour GALLUS on 30 Nov (tickets not on sale yet) and in the new year BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News panellist Stuart Mitchell will have his Tips Not Included on 31 Jan.
leading from the front
James Brinning will be leading from the front, taking on the direction of The Seagull, the first homegrown production of the season (9 Oct – 1 Nov). Mike Poulter is created a darkly comic new adaptation of Chekhov.
“The play is an examination of theatre itself, which is why it felt like such a perfect introduction for myself as a director in this new role,” says Brinning. “To work with the incredible Caroline Quentin and a great cast of Scottish actors on such a theatrical classic is thrilling”.
Quentin will lead an as-yet-to-be-announced ensemble as the once-celebrated actress Arkadina, who dominates every room she enters, leaving little chance for anyone else to shine.
Caroline Quentin will play Arkadina in The Seagull. Pic: Steph Pyne and Mihaela Bodlovic.
Arkadina’s son, the tormented young playwright Konstantin, yearns to escape her shadow, revolutionise theatre, and win the heart of Nina, a luminous young woman with dreams of the stage. But when Nina’s gaze turns instead to Arkadina’s lover, the celebrated writer Trigorin, egos and passions collide with devastating consequences.
The season continues with Dundee Rep’s co-production with the Lyceum and the Citizens of Tennessee Williams’ momentous The Glass Menagerie (4 – 8 Nov). It will be directed by Rep AD Andrew Panton, who has just won a CATS award for A History of Paper.
The home-grown Christmas show Cinderella: A Fairytale (28 Nov – 3 Jan 2026), will also be part of the season. Tron AD Jemima Levick will be directing Adam Peck’s contemporary retelling of the fairytale, first produced by the Bristol Old Vic in 2011 and a London production of which, was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013.
The Lyceum turns to a musical world premiere for a second year, hoping to emulate the success of Wild Rose with ONE DAY – the Musical (Thurs 27 Feb – Sat 5 April 2026), an adaptation of David Nicholls acclaimed novel.
“It feels right that the story will start its theatrical life at home in Edinburgh where the book begins,” says Brinning. “The story of Dexter and Emma is entwined in this city, and I’m excited to see the show take shape in the very capable hands of David Greig with heartfelt music and lyrics from Abner and Amanda Ramirez and direction from multi-award winning director Max Webster.”
David Grieg is on book writing duties, with Abner and Amanda Ramirez in a co-production with Melting Pot, directed by Max Webster, who is hot from directing David Tenant and Cush Jumbo in Macbeth, and Ncuti Gatwa in The Importance of Being Ernest.
Completing the season is Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning gritty and moving play Sweat (Wed 3 – Sat 23 June 2026), billed as a deeply human portrait of working class America, where the fate of each generation unravels into the next. A co-production with the Glasgow Citizens, it will open there in May.
Sweat is set in a small Pennsylvania town at the dawn of the twenty-first century where friendships are forged in sweat and laughter. For decades, Tracey and Cynthia have stood shoulder to shoulder on the factory floor and at the end of Stan’s bar, bound by a shared past and hard-earned pride.
But when whispers of layoffs grow louder, and opportunity turns into betrayal, a community built on solidarity begins to splinter as bitter resentments and unspoken racial divides rise to the surface.
Lyceum At Home
The season is not just confined to the Lyceum itself. It will also include Lyceum At Home, an “ambitious and exciting project that will bring theatre closer to the people of Edinburgh.”
Four brand new 30-minute plays are being commissioned from local playwrights which will be taken out of the theatre building.
The aim is to perform in every ward of Edinburgh, so that more people get to experience the magic of live storytelling. Residents will be able to put themselves up for a ballot to get one of the plays performed in their own home, garden, local workplaces or community centre, and invite who ever they like as the audience.
Associate Artistic Director, Zinnie Harris commented: “For the past 60 years The Royal Lyceum has been at the heart of Edinburgh’s cultural life, creating theatre and inspiring audiences with work that is deeply rooted in Scottish culture and community.
“Now we want to spread this work into the community, bringing powerful performances and storytelling into Edinburgh residences homes. Whether it’s a living room, a garden or your office we want to give everyone in the city an opportunity to experience the works of some of Scotland’s leading writers.”
Details of how to enter the ballot will be announced at a later date. The four plays will also be staged as a quadruple bill in the Lyceum itself, on a date as yet to be announced.
Listing
See Æ’s Lyceum Listings page here for full details.
Black is the colour of my Voice (25/26 Season)
Written and directed by Apphia Campbell.
Wed 3/Thursday 4 Sept 2025
Evening: 7.30pm. Wed mat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Black is the colour of my Voice (25/26 Season)
Written and directed by Apphia Campbell.
Wed 3/Thursday 4 Sept 2025
Evening: 7.30pm. Wed mat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Pirates Love Underpants
Based on the book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort.
Sat 6/Sun 7 Sept 2025
Both dates: 11am; Sat only: 2pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Best Thing You’ll Ever Do (George Lewis)
Presented by Off The Kerb Productions.
Fri 19 Sept 2025
One show: 8pm
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Seagull (25/26 Season)
Adapted by Mike Poulton. Lyceum production.
Thurs 9 Oct – Sat 1 Nov 2025
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm. Mats Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Myra DuBois: Cosmic Empath
Written by Gareth Joyner.
Sun 26 Oct 2025
Evening: 7.30pm
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Glass Menagerie (25/26 Season)
Dundee Rep in association with Citizens Theatre and Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh.
Thurs 9 Oct – Sat 1 Nov 2025
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm. Mats Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
The Big Comedy Roadshow with Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Presented by Gilded Balloon.
Sun 9 Nov 2025
Evening: 7.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Cinderella: A Fairytale (25/26 Season)
A Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh production.
Fri 28 Nov 2025 – Sat 2 Jan 2026
Various times.
Tickets and details: Book here.
2026
The Shawshank Redemption (25/26 Season)
Presented by Bill Kenwright Ltd.
Tue 20 – Sat 24 Jan 2026
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm. Mats Wed, Sat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Stuart Mitchell: Tips Not Included
Presented by Live Nation.
Sat 31 Jan 2026
Evening: 8pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Prima Facie
UK Tour.
Tue 3 – Sat 7 Feb 2026.
Evenings: 7.30pm, mats Thurs & Sat: 3pm.
Sold Out.
One Day – The Musical (25/26 Season)
Book by David Greig. Lyceum production.
Thurs 27 Feb – Sat 5 April 2026
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm. Mats Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Sweat (25/26 Season)
By Lynn Nottage. Lyceum production.
Wed 3 – Sat 20 Jun 2026
Tue – Sat: 7.30pm. Mats Thurs, Sat: 2.30pm..
Tickets and details: Book here.
Zog
Based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Tue 7 – Sun 12 Jul 2026
Tue 7: 4.30pm; Wed – Sun: 10.30am, 1.30pm. Sat/Sun: 3.30pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Lyceum at Home
Summer 2026
Details soon. Book here.
ENDS
