Pleasance London Autumn Theatre Season

From political drama and musical mayhem to community storytelling and unexpected perspectives, Pleasance London's Autumn 2026 theatre season brings together ambitious new work, international collaboration, emerging voices and returning favourites, as the venue celebrates 30 years of championing artists and new ideas. Across the Main House and Studio, audiences can expect everything from a building-wide celebration of Palestinian arts and culture and world premiere musicals to award-winning theatre, queer comedy and, for anyone wondering how Pleasance could possibly follow last year's viral panto success, not one but two pantomimes this festive season. Oh yes they did!

Taking over the entire Pleasance Islington venue for the opening two weeks, is PALArt Festival (23rd September – 3rd October) transforming the venue into a hub for Palestinian performance, storytelling and cultural exchange. Bringing together theatre, comedy, music, dance and spoken word, this multidisciplinary festival including The Shroudmaker; SCREW, a Farce; 2077: Who Wants to Survive; Hanna Shammas Takes it to Heart; and contemporary drama Two Names, That meet and part.

The world premiere of BOYHOOD (14th – 31st October) arrives in the Main House for a three-week run and Fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe and winner of Pleasance's prestigious Charlie Hartill Fund, Remember, Remember! (4th - 21st November) lights the fuse on Bonfire Night, featuring a special voice cameo from Stephen Fry. Spotlighting Asian representation is Dragon Boiz Present: The Full Monty (20th November) a cheeky, feel-good queer cabaret reimagining of the iconic film.

Following last year’s viral sell-out Christmas season, Pleasance is once again decking the halls with a festive programme bursting with mischievous holiday madness. Yankl and the Beanstalk (2nd – 12th December). And It’s Behind Who! (9th – 19th December), a wildly unhinged queer Doctor Who panto bringing its TARDIS to London for the very first time. Finally returning after two years of sell-out runs, Our Gay Maria brings its outrageous Christmas extravaganza to the Main House for its biggest edition yet.

As Halloween approaches, Pleasance serves up a theatrical trick-or-treat packed with horror, camp and cult classics, including SCARY MOVIES: Gigi and Crusty Play Literally Everybody (30th – 31st October); Champagne (29th October); THE ROGERING (28th – 29th October) and The Triumph of Death (30th – 31st October).

Over in the Studio, the season opens with the emotionally charged two-handler BROS (6th – 10th October). For audiences craving high-energy comedy, Terry's: An American Tragedy About Cars, Customers, and Selling Cars to Customers and I Was Always Here (20th – 22nd October) brings uplifting verbatim theatre to the stage, celebrating trans and gender-expansive lives across generations.

Closing Pleasance’s 30th Anniversary Season, Tale of a Crescent (17th – 19th December) is a community production from Islington exploring gentrification and city life through both human and animal perspectives.

Location: Pleasance London 5 Carpenters Mews, North Road, N7 9EF

Further Information: Pleasance Theatre Trust