Alphabetti Theatre Announces Spring Season and New Artist Development Focus Ahead of 2027 Relaunch
Alphabetti Theatre - Newcastle’s award-winning home for fringe performance, artist development and creative community - today announces its Spring 2026 season, alongside plans for a shift in programming focus and relaunch in early 2027.
The Spring season showcases the venue’s distinctive blend of new writing, comedy, emerging talent and creative experimentation. Then, from June onwards, Alphabetti will temporarily reshape its programme to prioritise artist development, regional voices and experimentation, deepening its support for freelance creatives across the North East.
This transitional period will build towards a full relaunch in early 2027, when Artistic Director Edward Cole will look to write a new chapter in the organisation’s story –inspired by the North East’s creative community.
In a statement, Cole writes: Since arriving at Alphabetti 18 months ago I’ve been guiding the organisation through a period of thoughtful transition, working alongside our staff and trustees to consider the best path forward for Betti, and more importantly, for the artists who rely on us.
It has always been my ambition to reimagine and revitalise what fringe theatre can be, and for Alphabetti that will mean a renewed and direct focus on opportunities for artists, genuine creative nurturing and dedicated idea development.
Spring Season Highlights
The forthcoming Spring 2026 season is packed with local talent bringing their shows to the Alphabetti stage, with familiar faces, new stories, award-winning comedians and even the odd Viking invasion sprinkled throughout.
Headliners
From 5th - 7th March we welcome Our Little Hour, an exciting new musical from Live Wire Theatre in association with Show Racism the Red Card, telling the story of Walter Tull - the first black footballer to play to the highest level and the first non-white British officer to fight in WW1.
From 29th April - 2nd May, we’re over the moon to be hosting Heaton’s own Sam Macgregor with his brilliant new play, Hold the Line. Following up on Sam’s debut hit Truly, Madly, Baldy; Hold the Line puts us in the middle of an NHS 111 call centre, untangling the story on both sides of the phone line.
Other Theatre
Other theatre highlights include Fixing (27th – 28th February) returning to our stage after debuting at Alphabetti Theatre in 2024; Jorvik (19th – 20th March), which uses the Viking sagas to explore the modern day, and Post Traumatic Slay Disorder (22nd – 23rd April) –where we welcome Offie-nominated local performer and writer Lois-Amber Tool.
Works in Progress
Alphabetti Theatre is providing artist support, rehearsal space and stage time to new Ideas in development through its Work in Progress offer, with this Spring season featuring Rhian Jade’s The Whetherman (21st February), exploring themes of queer culture.
InterAct Festival
Alphabetti is delighted to be hosting The Northern School of Art as they present InterAct Festival 2026, with students from BA Acting for Stage & Screen performing Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile (18th February), My Mother’s Funeral: The Show (26th February), and Joseph K (18th March).
Comedy
Award-winning comedians are bookending this season; Sam Nicoresti: Baby Doomer (27th February) and Ayoade Bamgboye: Swings and Roundabouts (22nd May).
Creative Community Opportunities
Common Thread and Writing Group return for their second year with a new monthly offering of guest-artist led workshops. Meanwhile a new partnership with Live Theatre introduces a monthly play reading group, Reading Room.
Reimagining Alphabetti Theatre: June – early 2027
June 2026 will mark Edward Cole’s second year as Alphabetti Theatre’s new Artistic Director. After taking the reigns from founder Ali Pritchard, Cole spoke of taking the organisation through a period of transition, and with this latest announcement, has stated: That transitional period is now approaching its most exciting phase as we move from imagining the next chapter for Alphabetti, to making it real’.
From June 2026 until early 2027, Alphabetti will be increasing its offer for artists to experiment and create, while also taking the time to reflect and develop as an organisation ahead of their major 2027 reset. Throughout this period the theatre will be hosting a series of open houses, conversations and planning events asking audiences and artists to lend their voices to the future of this organisation. The first of these events, Story Board, takes place on the 15th April, and details will be available soon via Alphabetti’s website, mailing list and channels.
