Stanley Tucci, © Gerhard Kassner
Hampstead Theatre has announced its plans for 2026, featuring the European premiere of the Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, five world or European play premieres, and Stanley Tucci’s London stage directing debut.
The hit Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, will have its European premiere – which we’ve covered in more detail here.
The 2026 programme includes the world premiere of Alexi Kaye Campbell’s new play, Bird Grove, directed by Anna Ledwich. It offers a focus on George Eliot, exploring themes of family ties and self-determination. Bird Grove runs on the venue’s main stage from 13 February to 21 March.
The Devil Wears Prada and Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy star Stanley Tucci will direct the world premiere of Springwood by Richard Nelson, marking Tucci’s London stage directing debut. The play is based on a meeting in 1939 between King George VI and President Roosevelt. It takes to the main stage from 19 June to 25 July.
Three further premieres are scheduled for Hampstead Downstairs. Aaron Loeb’s R.O.I (Return On Investment), directed by Chelsea Walker, is a world premiere making Loeb’s UK debut. It concerns a venture capitalist backing an entrepreneur’s invention. It plays from 6 March to 11 April.
Firewing is the debut play by David Pearson, a graduate of the Hampstead Theatre INSPIRE programme. Directed by Hampstead associate director Alice Hamilton, the play features a wildlife photographer and his apprentice searching for the Firewing. It has its world premiere from 17 April to 23 May.
Joshua Harmon’s We Had A World receives its European premiere following a run Off-Broadway. The play explores Harmon’s New York childhood and family relationships over 30 years. Directed by Josh Seymour, it runs downstairs from 29 May to 4 July.
Hampstead Theatre’s producer and chief executive, Greg Ripley-Duggan, said today: “It’s a privilege to be announcing our plans so far for 2026 – and we’ve more to come! These productions will start the year in classic Hampstead Theatre style – thrilling new plays, exciting debuts and, later in the year the European premiere of a Broadway hit musical. It’s a real joy to welcome David Lindsay-Abaire, Jeanine Tesori and Michael Longhurst back to Hampstead for Kimberly Akimbo and I’m really looking forward to introducing our audiences to a raft of new writers and some truly wonderful new plays by some familiar playwrights.”
Beyond the stage, Hampstead Theatre has received a second year of funding from Camden Council for its “ENGAGE” programme for adults at risk of loneliness and isolation in Camden, in partnership with Camden Disability Action, Camden Carers, and the Winch. Participants will have access to creative writing and dramaturgy sessions, community nights, and a large-scale community production on the main stage.
The theatre will continue to offer £10 tickets across all performances. A new Young Friends scheme will launch for 2026, offering benefits to under 30s.
Priority booking for Patrons opens on Friday 28 November, for Friends Plus on Tuesday 2 December, for Friends on Wednesday 3 December, and for Young Friends on Thursday 4 December. Public booking opens on Friday 5 December at 10.30am.
