It’s back! Cambridge Arts Theatre unveils reopening programme
The Arts Theatre Cambridge has announced its reopening season, as it prepares to fling open its doors again after a year-long redevelopment project.
The grand reopening will be heralded by the arrival of the theatre’s homegrown Christmas pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, from 27 November to 4 January, 2026.
Cambridge’s favourite panto dame Matt Crosby celebrates his 20th year on the Arts Theatre stage and will be joined by UK Pantomime Award-winning actor Steven Roberts.
The cast is completed by a host of West End performers including Tricia Adele-Turner (Stranger Things: The First Shadow), Matt Harrop (The Phantom of the Opera), Tanisha Butterfield (Mamma Mia!), Joseph Hewlett (Madagascar the Musical) and Daisy Twells (Heathers).
Two highlights of the season include visits from Sir Derek Jacobi and Trevor Nunn, who both have special connections to The Arts Theatre Cambridge.
Sir Derek Jacobi in Conversation with Richard Clifford (29 January) will be a one-night-only opportunity of incredible insight and joy of Shakespeare, while Trevor Nunn’s production of Noël Coward’s risqué comedy, Easy Virtue (19 February-7 March), will brim with Coward’s mischievous charm and wit.
As part of its first ever UK tour, popular musical Operation Mincemeat (19-24 October), dubbed the best-reviewed show in West End history, will visit Cambridge.
Musical fans can also enjoy Guys and Dolls (14-17 January) by Cambridge Operatic Society, Rock and Roll Man (16-21 March), West End hit The Choir of Man (31 March-4 April) and Blood Brothers (15-19 September).
Families can enjoy a host of engaging children’s theatre, including There’s A Snake in my School (4-5 May), A Squash and a Squeeze (27-31 May) and The Gruffalo (17-21 June).
Star-studded dramas include The Rivals (3-7 February) starring Robert Bathurst and Patricia Hodge, Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts (10-14 February) starring Tom Chambers, Single White Female (10-14 March) starring Kym Marsh, The Constant Wife (23-28 March) starring Kara Tointon, and Death on the Nile (12-16 May) starring Mark Hadfield.
There will be three world-class operas to enjoy. OperaUpClose are to visit Cambridge for the first time with Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s A Will) (15 March), and the English Touring Opera (7-9 May) will return with The Gondoliers and Pagliacci.
The Arts Theatre will also welcome The Sixth Sense Collective and its production of What I (Don’t) Know About Autism (29 March), a celebration of autistic identity performed by a local cast of neurodivergent young actors.
Other highlights include the return of The Marlowe Society with Twelfth Night (21-24 January), Murder, She Didn’t Write (30-31 January), Cambridge Footlights (1 and 8 February), Pulman & Stilgoe: Hooray for Hollywood (22 March), Spitfire Girls (7-11 April), The Glenn Miller Orchestra (12 April), Noughts and Crosses (15-18 April), War of the Worlds (29 April-2 May) and the return of the hugely popular comedian Stewart Lee (14-16 June), with his Stewart Lee Vs the Man-Wulf show.
Rachel Tackley and Victoria Beechey, co-chief executives of The Arts Theatre Cambridge, said: “This season feels like a true awakening.
“With Sleeping Beauty opening our season, the theatre is not only waking up its stage but stepping confidently into a new chapter.
“We’re proud to share our reopening 2026 season - a celebratory mix of musicals, dramas, family shows and comedy for our beautiful new auditorium.
“A particular highlight is our very own production of Noël Coward’s glittering comedy Easy Virtue, directed by Cambridge alumnus and former National Theatre Artistic director, Trevor Nunn.
“We’re also delighted to welcome the phenomenally popular Operation Mincemeat as part of its first UK tour.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury, and the support of so many within Cambridge, the next two years will be a time of transformation.
“Alongside our revitalised main house, we are planning a daring new studio space – a home for fresh voices, bold stories, and the next generation of theatre-makers.
“The Arts Theatre has re-energised ambitions. We can’t wait to welcome you back.”
Since January this year, The Arts Theatre Cambridge has been undergoing a transformation redevelopment project, made possible by a generous £16million gift from Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury via the Gatsby Charitable Trust Foundation.
The redevelopment project, designed by architect Ian Chalk, includes a total refurbishment of the current auditorium, upgraded audience facilities, improved technical services, sight lines and acoustic performance.
Visit cambridgeartstheatre.com to book tickets.