A legendary new season of shows is coming to York Theatre Royal 

Emma Rice’s acclaimed Wise Children will be returning to York Theatre Royal next spring in a world premiere production of Blue Beard (27 Feb – 09 Mar 2024).

Rice brings her own brand of theatrical wonder to this most beguiling and disturbing of folk tales, which promises to be full of music and magic.  

This will be Wise Children’s fourth visit to York Theatre Royal, following the previous success of Wise Children, Malory Towers and most recently Wuthering Heights. Blue Beard is a coproduction between Wise Children, York Theatre Royal, Birmingham Rep, HOME Manchester, and Royal Lyceum Edinburgh. 

Vicky Biles, Communications & Development Director at York Theatre Royal, said: "We’re delighted to be collaborating with our friends Wise Children once again. It is always a thrill to see Emma bring her unique voice and style to classic stories. In Blue Beard, audiences can expect exactly the kind of brilliant spectacle that makes theatre the unique, collective experience that people treasure.” 

Other shows in the season include Merchant of Venice 1936 (14-18 Nov 2023) starring Tracy-Ann Oberman (Eastenders, Doctor Who) as Shylock. Alongside this production on 18 Nov, Oberman will lead a lantern procession from YTR to Clifford's Tower (the site of the Jewish massacre in 1190), to celebrate all our local communities coming together to stand shoulder to shoulder against prejudice and persecution. 

York’s legendary pantomime returns this Christmas with Jack and the Beanstalk (08 Dec 2023 – 07 Jan 2024) starring Nina Wadia as Fairy Sugarsnap (EastEnders, Citizen Khan, Still Open All Hours, Goodness Gracious Me), James Mackenzie as the villainous Luke Backinanger (CBBC’s adventure game show Raven and CBeebies' Molly and Mack) and York favourite Robin Simpson (Mrs Smee in All New Adventures of Peter Pan and Manky in Cinderella), as the hilarious Dame Trott! 

Kicking of 2024 is stand-up comedian and comic actor Guz Khan (31 Jan). Guz is the creator and star of BBC’s Man Like Mobeen, and has also appeared on Taskmaster and The Last Leg (Channel 4), and Live at the Apollo, Would I Lie To You, and QI (BBC). 

York Light Opera Company will return with the classic Disney musical The Little Mermaid (07-17 Feb) with a large cast made up of talented York locals. 

York-based Pilot Theatre will return with their adaptation of David Almond’s A Song for Ella Gray (20-24 Feb), a co-production with York Theatre Royal and Northern Stage. Recent Pilot Co-productions with York Theatre Royal include Run Rebel, The Bone Sparrow, and the hugely popular Noughts and Crosses. 

CLUDEO 2 The Next Chapter (12-16 Mar) is a whodunnit comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. 

There will be more laughs with the return of Le Nevet Bete, who will use their inimitable style of comedy to retell the Arthurian legend in King Arthur (21-23 Mar). Le Nevet Bete most recently delighted York Theatre Royal audiences with Treasure Island and Dracula: The Bloody Truth. 

Closing out the season is the John Godber’s classic Northern comedy play Bouncers (05-06 Apr).  

For younger audiences, celebrated children’s theatre company Tall Stories are bringing their production of The Gruffalo’s Child (01-03 Feb), an enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

There will be more family fun at Easter with There’s A Monster in Your Show (26-28 Mar) adapted from the popular children’s books by McFly’s Tom Fletcher, who is also providing music for the production. Northern Ballet return with Tortoise and the Hare (02-03 Apr), another ballet for children after this year’s incredibly popular Ugly Duckling. 

Box office 01904 623568 | yorktheatreroyal.co.uk 

Five day priority booking for our Members opens online and in person on 25 September at 1pm. 

Tickets go on general sale online and in person on 30 September at 1pm.