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Bryony Kimmings has been creating and performing shows based closely on events in her own life since her award-winning Sex Idiot in 2010. Her latest solo show, Bog Witch, about her difficult move from the city to the countryside and growing awareness of environmental issues, is currently on a tour of the UK and Ireland. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Bryony about the show, her creative process, how she began creating this type of theatre, the role of a dramaturg, her surprise at finding she was influenced by Brecht and doing audience participation the correct way. Bog Witch has been performed so far at Soho Theatre in London, Attenborough Centre in Brighton and HOME Manchester. From May to October 2026, it can be seen at Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells, Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry, Cambridge Junction, Bristol Old Vic, Connaught Theatre in Worthing, Swan Theatre in Worcester, Newbury Corn Exchange, Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire, Nottingham Playhouse, Chester Storyhouse, St George's Hall in Bradford, The Dukes in Lancaster, Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and Leeds Playhouse. For more information, see www.bryonykimmings.com. (Photo of Bryony Kimmings in Bog Witch at Soho Theatre, credit: Rosie Powell)

Northern Stage and Derby Theatre are joining forces to present the musical Little Shop of Horrors. Kristian Cunningham will play Seymour while Amena El-Kindy will take the role of Audrey. BTG Midlands editor Steve Orme spoke to director Sarah Brigham about her take on the play before chatting to Kristian and Amena. Little Shop of Horrors will run at Northern Stage in Newcastle from Friday 8 until Saturday 23 May 2026. It will then transfer to Derby Theatre from Saturday 30 May until Saturday 20 June.

London's Marylebone Theatre is soon to present a revival of Arthur Miller's 1968 play The Price, directed by Jonathan Munby and starring Henry Goodman in the role of 89-year-old Gregory Solomon. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Henry about the role and the play and its current relevance as well as about rehearsing, directors, political theatre, the influence on him of playing Freud in Terry Johnson's Hysteria and the types of roles he is currently looking to play. David then spoke to Jonathan about the play, his reasons for wanting to direct it now, the production's design and style, how he will approach rehearsals and the influence his five years working for Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama have had on his directing. The Price will run at Marylebone Theatre in London from 17 April to 7 June 2026.

The 2016 Palme d'Or and BAFTA-winning film I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty and featuring comedian and actor Dave Johns in the title role, was adapted by Johns for a stage production in 2023 directed by Mark Calvert. The production is to be revived for a short tour in 2026 produced by Northern Stage in Newcastle and Leeds Playhouse featuring most of the original cast and production team. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to director Mark Calvert about the play and its strong message, how playing the title role in the film fired up Dave Johns politically and made him keen to bring it to the stage, the reactions from audiences across the political spectrum in 2023, the fear of having Loach and Laverty in the audience on press night and more. I, Daniel Blake opens at Northern Stage in Newcastle from 20 March to 2 April 2026 before touring to Citizens Theatre in Glasgow 7–11 April, The Dukes in Lancaster 14–18 April, HOME Manchester 21–25 April and Leeds Playhouse 28 April–9 May. (Photo of Mark Calvert, credit: Von Fox Promotions)

English Touring Opera has been taking live opera productions and educational and community projects around the UK since 1979. The company has been based in London up to last year, when it began a move to Sheffield, and its spring 2026 season will be its first to open in the South Yorkshire city. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to ETO's Artistic Director and CEO, Robin Norton-Hale, about the three productions about to open as well as about what makes the company unique, the challenges of touring, developing new opera works and about why no one should be afraid or daunted about going to the opera. Ada and the Code Crusaders by Anna Pool visits mainly schools and libraries around the country from 17 March to 23 May. Gilbert and Sullivan's The Gondoliers and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci will open at Sheffield Lyceum on 20 and 21 March respectively before touring to Cheltenham Everyman, Hackney Empire, Buxton Opera House, Norwich Theatre Royal, Storyhouse Chester, the Marlowe in Canterbury, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Hall for Cornwall in Truro and Gala Durham. For more information and tickets, contact the theatres themselves or see English Touring Opera's own web site.

Ockham's Razor was founded in 2004 by its current Artistic Directors, Alex Harvey and Charlotte Mooney, who have directed and toured many large-scale circus-based productions over the last two decades. Their latest show, Collaborator, is an intimate two-hander that sees the company founders back on stage together for the first time in five years. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Charlotte about the origins of the show and how it came together, the company's approach to making work, the challenges of touring a circus show to conventional theatre venues, adapting running a theatre company around raising a family and a great deal more. Charlotte also spoke about seeing a contemporary circus performance in Chile about the 'disappeared' during the Pinochet regime that still made her feel emotional to talk about 25 years on and that probably set a smoking, drinking literature student on track to what she does today. Ockham's Razor's Collaborator will open at The Place in London from 29 to 31 January before touring to The Lowry in Salford from 5 to 7 February and the Corn Exchange in Newbury on 11 March 2026. (Photo of Charlotte Mooney and Alex Harvey in Collaborator, credit: Kie Cummings)

BTG's Panto Editor Simon Sladen spoke to Allan Stewart, who marks an extraordinary milestone of 50 years in pantomime. Allan reflected on his early start as a teenage club performer, his unexpected first role as Buttons without ever having seen a panto and the lessons learned from mentors such as Jack Radcliffe and producer Paul Elliott. He shared stories from working alongside stars including Les Dawson, Danny La Rue and Frank Bruno and offered insight into the craft of comedy and the traditions that make pantomime unique. Simon and Allan also discussed his long-standing partnership with Andy Gray and Grant Stott, the enduring appeal of Edinburgh's Kings Theatre and how pantomime has evolved from single microphones to spectacular, high-tech productions. Allan also considered the sense of family that develops within a company and why panto remains such an important introduction to theatre for audiences of all ages. Jack and the Beanstalk continues at Edinburgh Festival Theatre until 11 January 2026. (Photo of Allan Stewart as Auntie May in Jack and the Beanstalk (c) Douglas Robertson)

The Big Tiny Productions Ltd, founded in 2019 by Will Cousins and Ben Richards, is producing four shows in the North West for Christmas 2025, three of which are pantos written by Ben and designed by Will. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to them both, with a few contributions from their dog, Toby, about the company and this year's shows, as well as about the changing nature of panto, the balance between tradition and innovation (it's like a lasagne…), choosing panto stories, Northern v Southern humour, funding spectacular shows in small venues and Ben's panto-related PhD, amongst other things. The Big Tiny's shows for Christmas 2025 are Rumpelstiltskin at Contact in Manchester from 9 to 31 December 2025, The Pied Piper of Hamelin at The Met in Bury from 6 to 28 December, Hansel and Gretel at Millgate Arts Centre in Saddleworth from 6 December to 3 January and Mrs Claus Saves Christmas at Bolton Octagon from 10 to 24 December. The set, prop and costume exchange service that Ben and Will mention in the interview is Pursued By Bear. (Photo of Will Cousins & Ben Richards, credit Howard Barlow)

The British Theatre Consortium, headed by playwrights Dan Rebellato and David Edgar, has followed up its reports on the state of the British theatre repertoire in 2013 and 2014 with a study into how things have changed in the industry between 2019, the year before the COVID lockdowns began, and 2023. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Dan Rebellato about the findings of the report, what it tells us about the problems, vulnerabilities and stability of British theatre over those four years and how it was changed by the pandemic. The report British Theatre Before & After Covid was published on 26 November 2025 by the British Theatre Consortium based on the work of a research team led by Catherine Love-Smith. The full 143-page report can be read at or downloaded from the BTC web site.

David Ireland is an Irish playwright with a reputation for writing hard-hitting drama such as The Fifth Step, Ulster American and Cypress Avenue, but director Max Elton is reviving a very different play by him, Most Favoured, which can be seen at Soho Theatre in London over the Christmas period. BTG David Chadderton spoke to David about the play and his influences as a writer, as well as how his love of Shakespeare began in a Blackpool guest house at the age of 9 and why he wants to write romantic comedies and feels he couldn't face watching some of his earlier plays now. Most Favoured, starring Lauren Lyle and Alexander Arnold, will run at Soho Theatre in London from 11 December 2025 to 24 January 2026. (David Ireland photo credit Tommy Ga-Ken Wan)

Buzz Goodbody was the first female director at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford where she was instrumental in setting up the venue The Other Place. She died just 50 years ago at the age of 28, and her nephew, Adam Goodbody, has created a new theatre company, Buzz Studios, in her honour. The company's first production is Petty Men at London's Arcola Theatre. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Adam and his co-writer and fellow performer, John Chisham about the play and its creation, adapting Shakespeare's Julius Caesar to create a modern piece, the importance of theatre and Shakespeare education and of course the legacy of Adam's aunt, Buzz Goodbody. Petty Men runs at the Arcola Theatre in London from 19 November to 20 December 2025. (Petty Men image of John Chisham and Adam Goodbody, photography by Tom Dixon.)

Steve Marmion is currently in his second season as Chief Executive and Director of Programming for Watford Palace Theatre, but he also ran Soho Theatre in London for eight years and founded PantoCo Ltd. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Steve about the upcoming panto production of Jack and the Beanstalk with the voice of Stephen Fry as the Giant, but he also spoke at some length about the value of panto in general, the challenges of running and programming theatres for diverse communities, why theatres need to conquer TIkTok and how his social media reels resemble Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Jack and the Beanstalk will run at Watford Palace Theatre from 29 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. Steve also mentioned Werewolf, which will run at the same theatre from 22 November to 24 December 2025, and The Mesmerist, running from 2 to 21 March 2026.

Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole, as Sh!t Theatre, have been making theatre together for fifteen years. They will be spending the 2025 Christmas season at London's Southbank Centre with their new show Evita Too, set in the presidency of Argentina, like the other Evita, but they are looking at the perhaps more interesting story of Juan Perón's second wife, Isabel, who became president after his death. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Rebecca and Louise about their discovery of the story of "gogo-dancer-turned-president" Isabel, how they turned this into a show and their research in Argentina and Spain, as well as how the company was originally formed and whether there are any regrets about its name. Evita Too from Sh!t Theatre will be performed in the Purcell Room at London's Southbank Centre from 9 to 31 December 2025.

Border Crossings, a UK-based theatre company that collaborates with artists from around the world, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, formed in 1995 by Artistic Director Michael Walling. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Michael about the history, methodology and extensive catalogue of work of the company over three decades and what he views as the increasing urgency of bringing together people from different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds through theatre. David and Michael both teach on the online BA in Theatre Studies from UK drama school Rose Bruford College (David was in its first intake of students in 1996, and Michael one of his tutors), which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary. They talk about the innovative and transformative nature of the course, pay tribute to its late founder, Tony Hozier, and lament its recent cancellation.

Jessica Norman is a playwright and screenwriter whose play This Little Earth, which was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Playwriting, will debut at London's Arcola Theatre this autumn. BTG Editor David Chadderton spoke to Jessica a couple of days before the production opened about the play and its development, conspiracy theories and those who believe them and about writing in general. This Little Earth runs at the Arcola Theatre in London from 22 October to 15 November 2025. A post-show discussion with Jessica and journalist and author Gabriel Gatehouse, Emeritus Professor of Anomalistic Psychology Chris French and CEO of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust Camilla Nichol will take place on Thursday 30 October. The Antarctic Climate Café, allowing people to come and talk about the climate crisis, will be before the show on Thursday 13 November.