Following a landmark first year, Lisa Spirling, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Stratford East, today announces her second season at the helm of the historic London theatre. Alongside Executive Director and Co-CEO Hanna Streeter and Associate Artistic Director Jade Lewis, Spirling continues to shape an ambitious future for Stratford East, building on the success of a first year that combined international collaborations, world premieres and socially engaged storytelling, including the UK premiere of Here There Are Blueberries, Nancy Medina’s acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production of Choir Boy, and Lisa’s own directorial debut at Stratford East with Ava Pickett’s Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy.
Welcoming over 65,000 audience members across 21 productions, the inaugural season has consolidated the theatre as a vital home for bold storytelling and new voices. The second season, announced today, builds on this momentum with a programme that includes world premiere productions, bold revivals, a broad range of voices, and accomplished creative talent on stage and off.
- Paterson Joseph and Tameka Empson star in brand new production of Noises Off directed by Stratford East Artistic Director Lisa Spirling, 45 years after Michael Frayn’s riotous comedy was first staged (5 February – 13 March 2027).
- In the first revival since its premiere in 1991, Winsome Pinnock’s Talking in Tongues returns in a new production starring Tamara Lawrance and Kayla Meikle, directed by Stratford East Associate Artistic Director Jade Lewis (1 April – 1 May 2027).
- Bristol Old Vic Associate Artistic Director Rikki Henry brings a new vision to Anton Chekhov’s tragicomic masterpiece Uncle Vanya in this English version by David Lan, a co-production with Bristol Old Vic (19 May – 19 June 2027).
- The world premiere of The Fingerprint Bureau by Sonali Bhattacharyya, directed by Milli Bhatia, is a gripping story of scientific discovery, colonial power and resistance. A co-production with Kali Theatre Company (dates to be announced).
- Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu join forces again for Stratford East’s 2027 panto Jack and the Beanstalk after collaborating on the critically acclaimed Mama Goose which delighted Stratford East audiences in 2025 (20 November – 31 December 2027).
- A new free national schools’ project will bring a screen recording of Stratford East and Tectonic Theater Project’s acclaimed production of Here There Are Blueberries to classrooms across the UK for Holocaust Memorial Day 2027.
- Stratford East’s much-loved South Asian Season returns in May 2027, celebrating the diversity and vibrancy of South Asian stories, voices and talent on stage.
- Over 2,000 tickets for the new season will be on sale at £10, and over 2,000 tickets will be pay what you can starting at £6.
- Priority booking for Stratford East Members and customers with access requirements opens today at 12pm. Public booking opens 12pm Wednesday 4 November www.stratfordeast.com
