ThereS no shortage of ambition in the new year from some of the UK’s cultural powerhouses.Michael Sheen is kickstarting the new welsh National Theater, while Wicked star Cynthia Erivo promises to show some bite in a new Dracula, and Kenneth Branagh returns to the RSC. A new Ring Cycle begins at Grange Park Festival in Surrey, and Florence + the Machine – never short of operatic ambition herself – is on the road again. And how could the dance world cope without the hairy men of the Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo?

Tell us in the comments what you are looking forward to – or perhaps even dreading – in 2026.

Few actors have done as much to champion theatre as a people’s art as the indefatigable Michael Sheen. For this inaugural outing by his newly formed Welsh National Theatre, he’s taking on Thornton Wilder’s venerable portrait of small-town life. he plays the stage manager in this co-production with Kingston upon Thames’s Rose Theatre.

Swansea Grand Theatre,Jan 16-31; Venue Cymru,Llandudno,Feb 3-7; Theatr Clwyd,Mold,Feb 11-21; Rose Theatre,Kingston,feb 26-Mar 28,welshnationaltheatre.com

I’m sorry, Prime Minister

Stage Watch: From dracula to Risky Liaisons – Your Theatre Guide

Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated theatrical productions hitting stages across the UK.

Dracula

Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s gothic horror continues its run, promising a thrilling and atmospheric experience. The production, starring Clifton Duncan, is currently captivating audiences with its blend of classic storytelling and modern staging.
Lyceum Theatre, London, until May 25, draculawestend.com.

the Greatest Showman

Not to be confused with the boutique circus show that has taken up residence in Earl’s Court, this is the Disney spin-off musical that’s also based on the 2017 film. No Hugh Jackman, alas, but along with the hit songs, the production will also feature new numbers from the team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Oliver Tompsett takes on the role of the impresario PT Barnum. bristol Hippodrome, Mar 15-May 10, thegreatestshowman.co.uk

John Proctor Is the Villain

Arthur miller’s The Crucible is placed under the microscope in one of the most talked-about Broadway plays of the past year. Kimberly Belflower’s drama is set in a Georgia high school where the pupils have their own take on sexual ethics. Danya Taymor directs at the same venue where The Crucible had its London premiere.
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs, Royal Court, london, Mar 20-Apr 25, royalcourttheatre.com

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos’s scandalous 18th-century novel returns to the stage with a new production at the National Theatre. Starring Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner, this promises a compelling exploration of seduction, manipulation, and societal hypocrisy.
National Theatre, London, Mar 15-May 11, nationaltheatre.org.uk

Stage Door: Spring/Summer Highlights

(image: Kenneth Branagh returns to the RSC for The Tempest)

Kenneth Branagh’s last stage outing in the West end, as a buff King Lear, wasn’t an unqualified success, if truth be told. Still, there’s excitement at the prospect of seeing him return to the RSC, where he made his name decades ago. He plays Prospero in a production directed by Richard Eyre. And in the summer Branagh will be opposite the hollywood star Helen Hunt in chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, directed by Tamara Harvey.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, may 13-Jun 20, rsc.org.uk

Springwood

The American actor Stanley Tucci – who has made a home on this side of the Atlantic – makes his directorial debut with the world premiere of the Tony award-winning writer Richard Nelson’s drama about a 1939 encounter between George VI and FDR. The decorous old world comes face-to-face with an upstart nation.
Hampstead Theatre,London,Jun 19-Jul 25,hampsteadtheatre.com

Cats

After Evita set the Instagrammers buzzing at the Palladium, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Indian summer continues with a revival of that exploration of the lighter end of TS Eliot’s verse. It’s being staged in the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, one of the capital’s most atmospheric venues (even when the weather misbehaves). the run will be followed by a national tour opening at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal in October.
Regent’s Park open Air Theatre, London

Opera Highlights: Spring/Summer 2024

The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny

Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s opera depicts a loving city in an anarchic satire. English National Opera presents a fresh spin on Jeremy Sams’s sharp translation, conducted by the company’s new music director, André de Ridder. Danielle de Niese stars as Jenny, delivering the standout performance of the night with the Alabama Song.

London Coliseum, Feb 16-20, https://www.eno.org/events/rise-and-fall-of-the-city-of-mahagonny/

The Flying Dutchman

Welsh National Opera joins the recent wave of stagings of wagner’s briny drama with Jack Furness’s new production. Emma Bell plays the desperate fantasist Senta, and the company’s music director Tomas Hanus conducts.

Wales Millennium Center, Cardiff, Apr 16 and 19, then touring to May 15, https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2026/welsh-national-opera-the-flying-dutchman

La fanciulla del West

This stirring gold rush-era romance is a connoisseur’s choice within the Puccini canon, boasting his richest orchestral score. Amanda Echalaz, who impressed in Tosca at Opera Holland Park last year, takes on the title role of the gun-toting barmaid Minnie, and reunites with Jose de Eça.

Opera Holland Park, London, May 26-Jun 12, https://operahollandpark.com/productions/la-fanciulla-del-west-2/

• Read more opera reviews, guides and interviews

Das Rheingold

English National Opera’s abandoned Ring cycle finds new life as Grange Park Opera launches a new cycle for the Surrey festival. Charles Edward

Comedy Highlights: Ania Magliano, Harry Enfield & Tim Key

Will the fabled “Taskmaster effect” take Magliano from cult success to the mainstream in 2026? Especially since she made history (OK, Taskmaster history, but still) by becoming the first joint winner with phil Ellis, before the pair were bested by Maisie Adam (both of whom are also touring in 2026, how did you know?) in a tie-breaker. We’ve long championed Magliano as one of the best young comics around – let’s see her take her erudite, confessional but also gossipy and joke-rich approach to some bigger stages.
City Varieties, Leeds, feb 6, then touring to Jun 11, aniamagliano.com

Harry Enfield and no Chums!

like his former collaborators in The Fast Show, who are mounting a show that mixes reminiscence with new and old routines for old characters, Enfield likes the idea of touring on his own terms. so get ready for talk about – and the return of – Loadsamoney, Stavros, Tim Nice-But-Dim, Kevin the Teenager and more, plus a chance to ask him questions.
Grand opera House, York, Mar 8, then touring to Nov 24, fane.co.uk/harry-enfield

Tim key

(Image of Tim Key)

Tim Key is back on tour with his unique brand of storytelling and character work. Expect a show filled with observational humour and relatable anecdotes, delivered with key’s signature deadpan style. A master of the one-liner and the extended bit, Key’s performances are always a delight for comedy fans.
Tour dates and tickets available at timkey.com

## Pop

Will hodgkinson

### Florence + the Machine

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine

BIANCA DE VILAR/WIREIMAGE

Nobody belts it out while dancing barefoot across a stage dressed as a pre-Raphaelite heroine like Florence, so her concerts are always florid, colourful affairs. Expect old favourites like Dog Days Are Over and Shake It Out, alongside highlights from her latest album, everybody Scream.
SSE Arena, Belfast, Feb 6, then touring to Feb 17, florenceandthemachine.net

### Lily Allen

In case anybody didn’t notice, Lily Allen is most definitely back. The woman who ushered in a cheeky and conversational tone to Noughties pop put all the details of her former marriage to the Stranger Things actor David Harbour on show for West End Girl.

Gorillaz

The mask of this fictional cartoon band may have been ripped off decades ago but Damon Albarn’s side project to Blur has proved remarkably enduring. That’s as of the quality of the material: 2020’s Plastic Beach, a cartoon environmental concept album, is a modern classic. Gorillaz are famous for their plethora of guest stars too,so a few may well appear here.
Co-op Live, Manchester, Mar 20, then touring to Jun 20, gorillaz.com

Metallica

Everyone should experience a full metal onslaught at least once in their life and it doesn’t get better than at a massive concert by the Los Angeles-born masters of thrash. It’s worth the price of admission for the ominous opening chords and slow-building mayhem of Enter Sandman alone.
Hampden Park, Glasgow, Jun 25, then touring to Jul 5, metallica.com

Ariana Grande

After the blockbuster success of Wicked: For Good,the woman with the most dynamic four-octave vocal range in pop will be all over 2026. Grande’s own material tends towards pure saccharine pop,with massive hits like Into You and We can’t Be Friends guaranteed,but she really comes alive with musical theatre,so with any luck some of her numbers as Glinda in wicked will make their way in there too.
O2 Arena,London,August 15-24,theo2.co.uk

• Read more music reviews, interviews and guides on what to listen to next

Dance

## Dance Listings: Spring 2024

Everybody, it seems, wants something by Crystal Pite and English National Ballet is no exception. It presents the UK premiere of her Body and Soul (Part 1), a “haunting reflection on grief”. This double bill also features a ballet by Kameron N Saunders, whose credits include working with Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan.Sadler’s Wells, London, Mar 19-28, then touring to May 2, [https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/body-soul/](https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/body-soul/)

### The Trocks

Choreography meets comedy as the Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, those fabulous men in tiaras, tutus and foot-long pointe shoes, return for a lengthy tour that will bring their affectionate parodies of ballet’s greatest hits to more than a dozen theatres around the UK. Pirouettes and pratfalls – it’s an unbeatable combination.
Sadler’s Wells, London, May 5-9, then touring to June 24, [http://danceconsortium.com](http://danceconsortium.com)

### BalletBoyz

Celebrating 125 Years of Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall, a globally renowned concert venue, marks its 125th anniversary in 2024 with a special season of 24 concerts spanning two weeks around May 31st. This landmark party features performances by some of the most celebrated musicians in the world, solidifying Carnegie Hall’s legacy as a premier destination for classical music and beyond.

A History rooted in Philanthropy

Carnegie Hall wasn’t built as a dedicated music venue initially. It was the brainchild of Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. In the late 19th century, New York City lacked a hall suitable for orchestral performances. Carnegie, a passionate music lover, decided to fund its construction. He believed in the power of music to uplift society and wanted to provide a space where it could flourish. Construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1891.

The hall is named after Andrew Carnegie, who contributed $2.2 million (equivalent to over $65 million today) towards its construction. It officially opened on May 5, 1891, with a performance led by the renowned Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The opening concert was a resounding success, instantly establishing Carnegie Hall as a world-class venue.

Architectural Meaning and Acoustics

Designed by architect William Burnet Trowbridge, Carnegie Hall is a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture. Its exterior features a red brick and limestone facade, while the interior is known for its warm, inviting atmosphere and exceptional acoustics. The main hall, seating approximately 2,800 people, is especially celebrated for its natural reverberation, which enhances the sound quality for both performers and audiences.

The Importance of Acoustics

Acoustics are crucial in a concert hall. Carnegie Hall’s acoustics are considered among the best in the world due to several factors: its shoebox shape (a rectangular design with a high ceiling),the materials used in construction (brick,wood,and plaster),and the careful attention to detail in its design. These elements work together to create a balanced and clear sound that allows listeners to fully appreciate the nuances of the music. Over the years, the hall has undergone several renovations to preserve and enhance its acoustic properties.

A century of Musical History

Over the past 125 years, Carnegie Hall has hosted countless legendary musicians, including Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini, Vladimir Horowitz, and Ella Fitzgerald. It has been the stage for groundbreaking performances and world premieres, shaping the landscape of classical music, jazz, and popular music. The hall has also played a role in important cultural and ancient events.

• 1961: The first televised concert from Carnegie Hall, featuring Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.
• 1964: The Beatles performed at Carnegie Hall, marking a pivotal moment in the British Invasion.
• Throughout its history: Numerous benefit concerts and fundraising events have been held at Carnegie Hall, supporting various charitable causes.

The 125th Anniversary Season

The 2024 season celebrating the 125th anniversary features a diverse lineup of world-class artists. Highlights include performances by pianist Yunchan lim,pianist Igor Levit,soprano Lise Davidsen,soprano asmik Grigorian,and early music ensembles Les Arts Florissants and Hespèrion XXI. The season aims to showcase the breadth and depth of musical talent while honoring the hall’s rich history.

Beyond Concerts: Education and Community Outreach

Carnegie Hall is more than just a performance venue; it’s also a centre for music education and community engagement. through its educational programs, Carnegie Hall reaches thousands of students each year, providing opportunities for music learning and thankfulness. These programs include masterclasses, workshops, and performances designed to inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers.

Key Takeaways

• Carnegie Hall was founded by Andrew Carnegie in 1891 as a gift to the city of new York.
• The hall is renowned for its exceptional acoustics and architectural beauty.
• It has hosted countless legendary musicians and pivotal musical moments throughout its history.
• Carnegie Hall is committed to music education and community outreach.
• The 125th anniversary season features a stellar lineup of performers.

As Carnegie Hall embarks on its next chapter, it remains dedicated to its founding mission: to inspire and enrich lives through the power of music. the hall’s continued success will undoubtedly shape the future of classical music and cultural experiences for generations to come.