Big stories, fresh perspectives: our new Autumn 2026 season announced

It’s been eight months since we reopened, and in that time more than 70,000 people have visited the theatre. We have felt the love and support as Glasgow welcomed us back with open arms and that energy continues with our latest programme. This season reflects the world around us – complex, challenging, and full of possibility – while bringing back stories audiences know and love, reimagined in fresh and unexpected ways. The start of the Autumn Season will mark one year since our landmark reopening in August 2025.

Leading the way on our Main Stage is our new production of 1984 directed by Dominic Hill, opening at the end of August before touring across Scotland. It’s a story that feels more urgent than ever in the current world climate, and we’re proud to be collaborating with the Royal Lyceum Edinburgh and Dundee Rep to bring this powerful new adaptation by Chris Hannan to life.

In October, we’re also delighted to welcome the Emma Rice Company with Tristan & Yseult, a production that took the theatre world by storm when it first premiered and has become a modern classic. Bold, playful and deeply moving, it returns to our stage for a limited one week run.

A 30th anniversary production of East is East  follows, a co-production between Citizens Theatre, Octagon Theatre Bolton and Wiltshire Creative in association with Derby Theatre. This production is directed by Kash Arshad. The Citz was Kash’s local theatre in his early career and where he first set foot on a professional stage. He now returns to direct a main stage production. This funny, heartfelt story of family life in 1970s Britain feels especially meaningful to us, and we’re excited to share it with Glasgow audiences.

 Also in October, we are thrilled to host a major new staging of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, created by the National Theatre of Scotland in association with Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh and Pitlochry Festival Theatre. It’s a gripping and provocative story, centred on one of literature’s most fascinating and contradictory characters and directed by Vicky Featherstone.

Continuing our commitment to bold interpretations of classic work, we’re co-producing a striking new Othello directed by Anthony Almeida with Northern Stage and HOME Manchester in association with Royal & Derngate. This is Shakespeare through a contemporary lens – immediate, emotionally charged, and about love as much as hate.

And of course, winter wouldn’t be complete without a touch of magic. This year, we’re bringing Cinderella to the stage  for the festive season – Citz style. Expect something big-hearted, imaginative and full of sparkle, with a heroine determined to shape her own destiny. It’s the perfect festive treat for audiences of all ages. Directed by Jo Bowman who co-directed Beauty and The Beast last year and hot on the heels of her main stage production of Sweat this season.

Beyond the Main Stage, our Studio Theatre offers a fantastic line-up of shows, installations and events showcasing new voices and inspiring touring work from across Scotland.  

From The Caring Scotland Project (National Theatre of Scotland in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and the National Library of Scotland), sharing powerful real-life stories from the care system, to The Singer (A Dundee Rep Theatre and Solar Bear production in collaboration with Aberdeen Performing Arts) a vibrant gig theatre piece with music by KT Tunstall performed in both spoken English and British Sign Language, there’s a real breadth of voices and forms on offer.

We’re also presenting new work including These Are Our Neighbours (A Company of Wolves and Bijli production), revisiting the Kenmure Street protest through theatre and dance, and Do Not Pass Go (A Jordan & Skinner production), an inventive and irreverent piece about the overlooked woman behind Monopoly. In addition, audiences can experience music, movement and storytelling in many forms- including the 60+ coming-of-age story Revel (A Company Chordelia in association with the Byre Theatre and Luminate Production) and Magnetic North’s We Will Hear The Angels featuring music by Hank Williams, Orange Juice, Etta James, Moondog and J.S.Bach among others.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

 Autumn Season pre-sale opens to Members and Supporter on 22 April. General on sale on 29 April.