Bristol Old Vic has announced a raft of new productions coming to the theatre in 2026 as it marks the theatre’s 260th Anniversary.

Leading the newly-announced shows is the world premiere stage adaptation of Max Porter’s folk horror Lanny, adapted by multi-award-winning West Country writer Bea Roberts (And Then Come the Nightjars).

When a family move out of London to a West Country village, their son Lanny awakens the interest of the mythical figure Dead Papa Toothwort. Reality and imagination intertwine in a dark and powerful story of folklore, fable and the nature of belonging.

Directed by Nancy Medina and commissioned by Bristol Old Vic, in association with ETT, Lanny will run at Bristol Old Vic from 16 Oct–7 Nov, with a National Press Night on Thu 22 Oct at 7pm.

Nancy Medina said: “Commissioned in 2024 as we announced a renewed focus on support for writers, Lanny is a brilliant example of the work we want Bristol Old Vic’s reenergized Literary department to cultivate; a story with its roots firmly in the South West, created by phenomenally talented artists, whose work we cannot wait to platform. We could not be more excited to share Bea’s beautiful adaptation of Max’s extraordinary novel with our audience here in Bristol. Looking to the future, there is a lot more to come from Bristol Old Vic’s literary engine room, watch this space”

Lanny was Max Porter’s fearless second novel, nominated for multiple awards including the Man Booker Prize in 2019. His first, Grief is the Thing With Feathers, won numerous awards including the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award and was adapted into a stage play starring Cillian Murphy and a film starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Max’s recent 2025 BAFTA-nominated Netflix adaptation Steve also starred Cillian Murphy and was based on his novel Shy.

Bea Roberts is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter from the West Country. Bea’s work explores rural stories through dark humour, and her plays include Ivy Tiller: Vicar’s Daughter, Squirrel Killer (RSC) and Infinity Pool.  Bea’s 2014 play And Then Come The Nightjars (developed with support from Bristol Old Vic) won the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and was adapted into an award-winning feature film with director Paul Robinson.

Bristol Old Vic also announced the next Christmas production for Dec 2026 will be a new production of the Olivier-nominated Cinderella: A Fairytale devised by Bristol’s own Sally Cookson, Adam Peck and the original company.

First seen at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in 2011 in co-production with Travelling Light, before being reimagined at venues across the UK, this dazzlingly original take will return to its hometown of Bristol in a brand-new production for Christmas 2026, where it will be directed by Bristol Old Vic’s Literary & Directors Associate, Lisa Gregan (Little Red & Other Winter Tales; Orpheus & Eurydice).

VISITING WORK:
These productions sit alongside a season of visiting work with additional productions announced today. These include legendary performance artist Bryony Kimmings’ (I’m a Phoenix, Bitch; Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model; Fake It Till You Make It) hit show Bog Witch, following a hugely critically-acclaimed London run, which comes to the Theatre for a strictly limited run (4–5 Jun). 

Bog Witch follows a part of Kimmings’ real-life story… uprooting her and her son’s life to live in a tumbledown cottage in the wilderness… to plug back into nature as a last-ditch attempt to be happy and sane.

In the autumn, firm favourite Murder, She Didn’t Write (15–19 Sep), the improvised murder-mystery returns after a sell-out run in November 2025. This is followed by physical theatre company Lost Dog’s Juliet & Romeo (22–26 Sep), the reimagining of the star-crossed lovers’ relationship through their blend of dance, theatre and comedy. Directed by Olivier Award-nominated Ben Duke, Juliet & Romeo has become a global phenomenon, performed in 7 countries and translated into 5 languages.

Richard Marsh, the creator of the Die Hard parody Yippee Ki Yay, returns at the end of September with a brand new 80’s homage, Top Gunchained (29 Sep–3 Oct), while the gleefully anarchic company Sh!t Theatre (Or What’s Left of Us; Dollywould) returns to Bristol Old Vic with their hit production Evita Too (11–14 Nov), telling the wild story of Isabel Perón, the go-go-dancer-turned-Argentinian-President who led the country for 18 disastrous months. While Sh!t Theatre endeavour to write a musical to match Evita, their lives surprisingly and tragically intertwine with Isabel’s.

In The Weston Studio, April hosts two weeks of work by young artists, including The Plough and The Stars from BSA (Bristol School of Acting) from 11–18 Apr, followed by the Young Artists Showcase (24–25 Apr) a co-production from Bristol Old Vic’s Young Company and Young SixSix.

I’m Not Being Funny from Prentice Productions in association with Bush Theatre, also plays in The Weston Studio this June (23–27), and joins the previously announced shows taking place this summer including Dyke Systems Ltd (5–9 May), Philosophy of the World (13–16 May) and Jonny Woo: Suburbia (30 Jun–4 Jul).

Bristol Old Vic also continues its hugely popular run of Comedy one-nighters with stand up from Ceyla AB, Morgan Rees, Kiell Smith Bynoe & Friends, Flo and Joan, Stevie Martin, and Lucy Beaumont going on sale this week.

Alongside the work on stage, Bristol Old Vic also outlined a raft of opportunities for artists and theatre-makers to continue to address systemic inequalities in the sector.

Nancy Medina said “The 260th anniversary is a moment for us to look to the future and ask what sort of industry do we want to leave behind? How do we make it more equitable and with opportunities for all voices to form part of the story – on stage and off.”

The 2026 cohort of Early Career Writers who will be developing their practice through Bristol Old Vic’s Literary Department, led by South West playwright Ross Willis. This scheme recognises new writers, at any age or background and provides free year-long support.

The 15th year of Bristol Old Vic’s Made In Bristol, the free scheme for local 18–25 year olds. Made In Bristol 260 (MIB260) has been restructured to reflect the needs of new theatre makers; to better fit the industry as it is today and prepare for the sector’s future. Writers Muneera Pilgrim and Sam Parker will create two new plays that MIB260 will perform for free in secondary schools across Bristol during 2026, filling the gap in cultural engagement many schools are currently able to offer.

For more information and tickets to upcoming shows, visit www.bristololdvic.org.uk.