Elizabeth Newman unveils first season at Sheffield Theatres

Sheffield Theatres will create its own beach for a production of musical Summer Holiday that forms part of new artistic director Elizabeth Newman’s first season, which also includes a revival of Dancing at Lughnasa.

The season also features Karis Kelly’s Consumed, The Ladies Football Club adapted by Tim Firth and based on Stefano Massini’s drama, and a new version of Macbeth, called Crown of Blood.

Newman said her year-long programme was “packed with a mix of new and familiar work”.

Summer Holiday will wrap up her 2025-26 programme, described as a “fresh version of the 1960s classic musical” in the Crucible Theatre.

“We’re excited to bring this to life, spilling out from the auditorium and into our square, where audiences can enjoy the Sheffield Theatres Beach,” the venue said when announcing the season.

Summer Holiday will run from June 20-July 18, 2026, with press night on June 25.

Directed by Newman and Ben Occhipinti, the stage adaptation is by Michael Gyngell and Mark Haddigan and based on the film Summer Holiday, directed by Peter Yates.

Newman will also direct the first show of the new season – Brian Friel’s play Dancing at Lughnasa, in the Crucible.

It will run from September 13-October 4, 2025, with press night on September 18, in a co-production with Manchester’s Royal Exchange, with dates for the run there yet to be announced.

Also in the Crucible will be a new production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Aisha Khan and directed by Elin Schofield.

It runs from November 29 to January 10, with press night on December 4.

The Crucible will also host Crown of Blood – A Yoruba Adaptation of Macbeth, adapted by Oladipo Agboluaje and directed by Mojisola Kareem, from February 2-7, with press night on February 3, in a co-production with Utopia Theatre.

Firth’s adaptation of The Ladies Football Club follows, running from February 28 to March 28, with press night on March 5. It is directed by Newman and “celebrates the founding of women’s football in Sheffield in a munitions factory in 1917”.

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