As a glittering finale to this season’s MADE IN DERBY productions, Kiss Me Quickstep will take centre stage from Friday 6 June to Saturday 21 June. This sparkling, chandelier-filled show from the much-loved and award-winning Amanda Whittington is full of sequins, secrets and sensational ballroom dancing. Join us as we transform the main stage into the fierce rivalry of the Blackpool dance championships – where ambition is high and the drama is strictly scandalous!
To launch our 50th anniversary autumn season of MADE IN DERBY productions will be the glitter-filled tragic pursuit of love and legacy, The Great Gatsby, produced in partnership with Pitlochry Festival Theatre and on from Friday 3 until Saturday 25 October. This bold new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic will be brought vividly to life with live music and set against the glamorous backdrop of the Jazz Age in 1922. The Great Gatsby remains a timeless masterpiece, and we will be hosting a Fundraising Gala Performance to celebrate 50 years of Derby Theatre during its run.
Get ready for a magical Christmas at Derby Theatre with two joyful MADE IN DERBY shows for all the family. Step into a world of music, mischief and Dickensian magic with Oliver Twist in the Main House – a spellbinding new adaptation by Deborah McAndrew. With beautiful carols, folk tunes and original songs woven through the storytelling, this exciting take on the much-loved classic promises heart, drama and festive enchantment.
Meanwhile, in the Studio, younger theatre-goers can enjoy a lively reimagining of a timeless fable with Tortoise and the Hare. We’re teaming up once again with Hiccup Theatre and Polka Theatre (the brilliant team behind 2024’s sell-out hit Chicken Licken) to bring you a high-energy, music-filled adventure that’s full of laughs and perfect for ages 3+. It’s a festive shell-ebration the little ones won’t forget!
Our big main house MADE IN DERBY production for spring 2026, in partnership with Hull Truck Theatre and Octagon Theatre Bolton (the same team behind the highly acclaimed Of Mice and Men) will be Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Set against a backdrop of war and unrest, Macbeth’s encounter with three mysterious witches ignites a relentless and bloody quest for power. Driven by ambition and pushed by his wife, Macbeth’s descent into darkness unleashes violence and madness that threaten everything in their path. This gripping reimagining of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy exposes the devastating price of unchecked ambition and will be a must-see for 2026.
Pre-autumn, for three days only in July, Departure Lounge returns for its 13th year, transforming the theatre into a vibrant festival hub filled with bold performances, panels and playful creativity. The Eagle Awards follows later in the month, celebrating the region’s outstanding amateur theatre. Derby Youth Theatre groups will showcase their talents with a series of double bills in June and our CANVAS Takeover in September will see young people from across the city take over the theatre in a full day of creativity, performance and celebration as part of Derby Theatre’s 50th birthday.
For autumn 2025 and beyond, Derby Theatre’s packed season continues with some of the highlights including Murder at Midnight starring Jason Durr and Susie Blake; the stage premiere of the phenomenally popular Midsomer Murders starring Daniel Casey (who played Sgt Troy in the TV version), a new adaptation of Dickens’ The Signalman (with star cast to be announced); Glorious, a feel-good comedy based on the true story of American socialite Florence Foster Jenkins starring Wendi Peters from ITV’s Coronation Street; a return of the highly acclaimed Noughts and Crosses; The Very Hungry Caterpillar and David Walliams’ There’s a Snake in My School.
Derby Theatre’s one-nighters offer a mix of celebration, music and festive entertainment and includes: the 50th Anniversary of Carnival with EMCCAN Regional Costume Competition, award-winning local silver and brass band Derwent Brass with Stage and Screen: The Golden Edition, Des Coleman & The All-Star Big Band Signs Sinatra and the Musicals, Pasadena Roof Orchestra: The Music of Roaring 1920s &’30s, Best of British, Last Night of the Proms – and for the festive season, Christmas Sign & Sing, Count Arthur Strong as Charles Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’; and other comedians for the season include Chris McCausland, Babatunde Aléshé, Rosie Jones and Geoff Norcott. Expect an intimate crafting performance with Roshni…and all of this…just a glimpse of our spectacular seasons ahead.
For FULL season details, accessible performances and lots of ways on how you can
GET INVOLVED with Derby Theatre, take a look at our digital brochure Derby Theatre What’s on Guide: Autumn 2025 by Derby Theatre – Issuu or visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk.
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Friends of Derby Theatre…from ONLY £30 per year
Why not join our circle of Friends to receive great discounts on lots of productions, plus priority booking and much more. By becoming a Friend, your support will also help us to continue our work with young people, collaborate with our communities and produce new work for you to enjoy! Find out more here: Become a Friend – Derby Theatre
BEST AND GREAT DEALS 50 years. 50 tickets. £15.50.
To celebrate 50 years of theatre-making, we’re offering 50 tickets at ONLY £15.50 each on selected MADE IN DERBY productions. Book early to bag the best and great deals. Once they are gone, they are gone!
Access at Derby Theatre
Derby Theatre welcomes all customers and has an extensive range of services to ensure everyone has an enjoyable and comfortable visit. Across our season, we offer a range of accessible performances including Audio Described, British Sign Language interpreted, integrated and Captioned performances. On some productions, we also offer Relaxed and Dementia-Friendly Performances. Please visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk, call the Derby Theatre Box Office on 01332 593939 or text us on 07717 346964 for more information and performance schedules detailing accessible performances and services.