HOME brings together an exhilarating and moving theatre season for Spring / Summer 2026! From family-friendly musicals to hard-hitting solo shows - and everything in between.
- The newly announced shows will take place across the 2026 theatre season at HOME which covers Feb – Jul.
- Upcoming performances and events include a stunning musical production of The Lightning Thief - The Percy Jackson Musical; MISCHIEF, the team behind the multi award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong, rewrite ancient history with their first musical comedy, THESPIANS and Northern Broadsides bring the stage adaptation of Dostoyevsky's classic novel Crime and Punishment.
- Family favourite Julia Donaldson’s The Singing Mermaid and Tales from Acorn Wood form part of an array of family shows that includes The Loneliest Whale and Pirate Princess
- The Home We Made is a brand-new theatre production co-created by HOME, award-winning theatre company Malandra Jacks, and the people of Manchester.
Inspired by acclaimed Fringe performances, returning popular shows, exciting new co-production partners, and strengthened community collaborations across Manchester, HOME is delighted to announce its upcoming season of work for 2026.
The season opens in HOME’s main stage Theatre 1 with the award-winning Company Chameleon with Obscura (**** The Guardian), a stunning dance piece from a company who have long been trailblazers for creating socially relevant, thought-provoking and visually captivating dance performance. The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical takes the stage by storm in February, bringing to life the best-selling books and the popular films and TV series. Paying homage to 90s club culture, the raucous and raving Mr.Wilson’s Second Liners returns, and they welcome their greatest hero Mr. Tony Wilson to this special performance at HOME. Bog Witch is a new play by acclaimed playwright Bryony Kimmings, renowned for tearjerking and hilarious autobiographical theatre creations (I’m a Phoenix, Bitch, A Pacifist’s Guide to the War on Cancer, Fake It ‘Til You Make It).
Coming to Manchester with his new standup tour is multi-award-winning comic Alastair Beckett-King: King of Crumbs stops at HOME. The highly acclaimed stage adaptation of the award-winning Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake, makes a welcome return to HOME after sellout performances in 2023.
Hofesh Shechter’s exhilarating new, full-length work for Shechter II, IN THE BRAIN, will be a stunning and dynamic performance that the company has become world renowned for.
Emma Rice Company returns to HOME as part of the co-production partnership that brought North by Northwest and Bluebeard to Manchester and now brings the 'magic' Malory Towers (The Guardian). Based on the popular series by Enyd Blyton, this is a high jinks and sensational live musical that has previously toured and recieved rave reviews.
Co-produced by HOME, JPT Production, Mercury Theatre Colchester and MISCHIEF, the team behind the multi award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong, rewrite ancient history with their first musical comedy, THESPIANS with comedy and choreography the musical is about Greece, but not as we know it.
HOME’s intimate studio space, Theatre 2, new season opens in February with The Last Picture, a compelling piece from York Theatre Royal, ETT & An Tobar and Mull Theatre. After a sellout run at Edinburgh Fringe and The Roundhouse, the critically acclaimed one-woman piece Golden Time inspired by primary school ‘golden time’, it explores how we incentivise joy as adults.
From the creators of Gallifrey Cabaret is Eastbenders, transforming Theatre 2 into the legendary London pub The Queen Vic for a wild cabaret show. Northern Broadsides bring Crime and Punishment, famous for their bold and playful style; the classic novel is brought to life with a 3-piece ensemble cast.
A Grain of Sand, a one-woman show, adapted from A Million Kites: Testimonies and Poems from the Children of Gaza - looking at war through a child's eyes will be a moving and relevant piece. International theatre-collective fish in a dress show The City for Incurable Women that follows the history of hysteria through the male gaze (**** The Guardian, ***** The Stage).
Infamous drag impresario and film maker Peaches Christ and film icon Mink Stole bring a heartfelt cabaret show to HOME – friends for over two decades IDOL WORSHIP brings these two legends together for an evening of stories and expose. Based on lived experiences, Troubled is a 60-minute solo performance that blends storytelling, projection, and audience interaction to reckon with the past and offer us hope for the future.
YesYesNoNo presents Nation a dark fable about nationhood and national identity, a timely piece that has received critical acclaim (**** The Times, **** The Stage, **** Whatsonstage).
Woven throughout the 2026 Spring and Summer season during key school term breaks are family shows for all ages: Julia Donalson favorites The Tales from Acorn Wood (April) and The Singing Mermaid (May), both shows bring her beloved children’s stories to life through lively music, engaging storytelling, and playful puppetry. League of Curiosity’ Box of Tales (March) blends storytelling, puppetry, comedic nonsense and live performance, encouraging audience engagement and fun. The Loneliest Whale (April) from Hoglets Theatre is a deep-sea adventure that celebrates and encourages young audiences to be themselves.
Pirate Princess (June) is an inspiring story created and performed by circus performer Gemma Bond, using physical theatre, clowning and circus.
An exciting outcome of HOME’s work within the Greater Manchester community is a brand-new theatre production in Theatre 1 The Home We Made, a powerful celebration of belonging that explores the bonds between neighbours, friends, and strangers who come together to create a sense of home.
HOME’s community programme, HOME from Home, delivers long-term creative projects with young people and adults across Manchester. Working in partnership with housing associations, grassroots initiatives, and third-sector organisations, the programme ensures creative opportunities reach communities that may have limited access to cultural activity.
Tickets for our new season went on sale to HOME Friends on Mon 12 Nov, HOME Members on Thu 13 Nov, with tickets on general sale from Fri 14 Nov.
