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The Young Vic Theatre has today announced the inaugural season from new Artistic Director and CEO Nadia Fall – a programme of timely reimaginings of classic work, UK, European and World premieres and creatively bold, inventive productions from internationally acclaimed theatre makers and exciting new voices.
Running from September 2025 – July 2026 across the Main House and The Maria Studio the Young Vic’s 25/26 Season features seven productions, six from directors making their Young Vic directorial debuts.
In the Main House
- Opening the 25/26 Season, Young Vic Artistic Director and CEO Nadia Fall (Three Sisters) will direct Tamzin Outhwaite (Abigail’s Party) and Daniel Cerqueira (A Gentleman in Moscow) in Joe Orton’s queer cult classic Entertaining Mr Sloane– a ruthless, dark comedy that remains as provocative and shocking today as it did 62 years ago. 15 Sep – 8 Nov.
- Rajiv Joseph’s Pulitzer and Tony-nominated Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo – a high-octane, funny yet moving examination of the futility of war – receives its European Premiere at the Young Vic. Directed by Omar Elerian (Rhinoceros) this new production stars Olivier and BAFTA award-winner David Threlfall (Hangmen), Olivier Award-nominee Arinzé Kene (Misty), Ammar Haj Ahmad (The Jungle) and Hala Omran (I Medea). 2 Dec – 31 Jan.
- Olivier Award-nominee Jordan Fein (Fiddler on the Roof) directs a timely revival of Arthur Miller’s rarely-performed play Broken Glass. Set in Brooklyn in 1938 and written in response to the rise of fascism in Europe, Broken Glass is a passionate story about the consequences of disconnecting with the realities of our world. 21 Feb – 18 Apr.
- Alexander Zeldin (The Other Place) writes and directs the UK premiere CARE. Co-produced with A Zeldin Company, CARE is a life affirming examination of the realities of ageing and the elusive connection between loss and rebirth. 11 May – 11 Jul.
The 25/26 season will see the Maria Studio programmed alongside the Main House as a space for creative and imaginative approaches to storytelling that include gig theatre, installations and fearless new writing.
In The Maria
- An intimate and rousing new musical experience from Obie Award-winning duo Abigail and Shaun Bengson (The Bengsons) and directed by Caitlin Sullivan. Ohio is a celebratory true story about losing faith and finding hope in the darkest of places, bringing together creative captions, evocative Indie-folk music and deeply personal storytelling. Following its initial debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, Ohio is produced by Francesca Moody Productions and piece by piece productions in association with the Young Vic. 30 Sep – 24 Oct.
- An arresting mixed reality installation from theatre/XR director Sacha Wares and editor of Disability News Service John Pring, the award-winning Museum of Austerity will bring the human stories of Austerity Britain to the Young Vic, laying bare the consequences when state safety nets fail. A number of supporting events will accompany the run, including an event with Healing Justice Ldn, further details to be announced. An ETT, Trial and Error Studio, and the National Theatre co-production, presented in association with the Young Vic, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. 5 Dec – 16 Jan.
- Casting a scathing light on systemic injustice in the institutions that are sworn to protect us, Sophie Swithinbank (Bacon), winner of the 2023 Peggy Ramsay/Film4 Award and the Sonia Friedman Productions Prize for Best Play, will present the world premiere of her urgent new play Sting directed by Nancy Medina (A Good House). 18 Jun – 18 Jul.
As part of the Young Vic’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of theatre makers, this season will see The JMK Award return to the Young Vic, offering an early career director the opportunity to direct a full-scale professional play in the Young Vic’s Maria Studio. Applications for the Award will open in autumn 2025.
Nadia Fall, Artistic Director and CEO of the Young Vic said: “Vivid stories are the key to this season. We have seven wildly different works across our Main House and The Maria Studio Theatre, which journey from the shady underbelly of the London suburbs to the chaos of Baghdad after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. We will time travel to Brooklyn in 1938 where fascism is on the rise in Europe, on to a residential care home for a tender and surprisingly joyful look at life in our winter years, before returning to the streets of our metropolis for an eerily modern tale involving misogyny within the MET Police.
Alongside the shows in our Main House, we are delighted to be cracking open our studio theatres this season for new forms and voices. Some of the most arresting theatre I have ever experienced was in the Maria and Clare spaces; productions which have stayed with me over the years. Studio theatres can conjure an immersive and potent connection with an audience, achieving a close up and unparalleled intimacy.
I can’t wait to share this work with our audience. It’s a season that invites us to hold a mirror up to ourselves and see the unflinching truth about who we really are. Behind closed doors, beyond curated online profiles, and painted smiles: it’s an interrogation of who we are, at our core.”
Nadia Fall on the 25/26 Season, show by show:
“I’m so excited to be directing Joe Orton’s audacious cult-classic Entertaining Mr Sloane. I was particularly drawn to the way Orton calls us all out, in a world where humankind is demonstrating a scarcity of both humanity and kindness. Orton’s dark play pokes fun at our incessant dog eat dog nature and still remains downright shocking, sixty-two years after it was first written.”
“Ohio is autobiographical gig-theatre at its best, brought to us by the connoisseurs of platforming fresh talent Francesca Moody Productions. The piece sees real-life husband and wife The Bengsons tell their story of being raised in the church and then losing faith, it explores living with congenital hearing loss as a musician. The soulful folk music is woven with the storytelling. It’s a magical tonic of a show.”
“The European premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo is an adrenaline shot – a striking and imaginative commentary on war. With director Omar Elerian at the helm we have a dexterous navigator of the political and the poetic.”
“Museum of Austerity is the creation of master craftswoman Sacha Wares together with John Pring, Founder of Disability News Service. An installation that unlocks real-life testimonials from people who have lost disabled family members due to changes to the benefit system. The multitude of stories appear as audiences move around the space, it’s an emotional and necessary work.”
“Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass feels achingly prescient. Miller examines how world events, with the rise of hate and fascism, can infiltrate and impact our psyche, our relationships and our bodies. It’s a beautiful study of marriage and intimacy, of connection and the fractures between couples over time. Director Jordan Fein is an exciting talent and I can’t wait to see his modern take on this powerful play.”
“CARE from true auteur Alexander Zeldin, is a finely drawn and disarmingly recognisable family portrait where a grandmother has no choice but to live in a care home. Care looks at ageing and life in a delicately, affecting yet uplifting way.”
“Sting is a riveting new play by Sophie Swithinbank which follows a young woman, Ash, who at first glance seems to be her own worst enemy. As the play unfolds, we see there are darker forces deliberately working to undo her. The story exposes a disturbing misogyny within the police force. Sophie is a young writer with a deliciously witty and disconcerting voice. Nancy Medina will be directing Sting and the partnership of these two women promises to be dynamite.”
“I am also delighted to announce as part of my inaugural season the return of the JMK Award for emerging Directors to the Young Vic. We have long been known as a directors theatre and this award gives young directors time and space to practice and experiment, but also, most importantly, to direct!”
Co-Chairs of the JMK award Emma Baggott & Derek Bond said:
“We are so delighted that the JMK is coming back to its spiritual home at the Young Vic, and we would like to thank the executive team for their support of emerging directors. In an increasingly risk-averse landscape, the JMK award can provide producers with the nudge they need to take a risk on emerging artists.”
Throughout the 25/26 season the Young Vic will continue to foster deep, lasting relationships with both the communities of Southwark and Lambeth through Young Vic Taking Part and with early career artists and producers through the Creator’s Program. Young Vic Taking Part provides year-round creative and artistic opportunities that range from developing, producing and performing shows and offering skills-based workshops, to providing free tickets to all Young Vic productions. With a network of over 2,500 artists and producers, The Creator’s Program provides support and development opportunities for multi and anti-disciplinary artists that range from workshops to Assistant Director roles. Details of the Young Vic Taking Part programme for 25/26 and opportunities via the Creators Program will be announced in due course.
Tickets for Entertaining Mr Sloane, Ohio, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, and Museum of Austerity go on sale to supporters from 12 noon on Wednesday 14 May, and to the general public at 12 noon on Monday 19 May.
Broken Glass, CARE and Sting will go on sale to supporters and the general public in autumn 2025.
The Young Vic’s 2025/2026 Season is supported by the Season Circle.
Young Vic presents
Entertaining Mr Sloane
By Joe Orton
Directed by Nadia Fall
Young Vic, Main House
15 September – 08 November 2025
Press night: 24 September 2025
Nadia Fall launches her first season as Young Vic Artistic Director with Joe Orton’s 1964 cult classic brimming with manipulation, seduction, and a devilish wit.
“Tell him to put some trousers on. Cantering around the house with a bare bum… Can’t leave you alone for five minutes.”
When lonely Kath (Tamzin Outhwaite) offers the mysterious Mr Sloane a room to rent in the family home, her businessman brother Ed (Daniel Cerqueira) does not approve. After all, what will people say? But soon, he becomes equally taken with the charismatic young Sloane. Only their old Dada remains wary, convinced that he recognises this stranger. What begins as a convenient living arrangement spirals into a dangerous game of desire and deceit.
The creative team also brings together Designer Peter McKintosh, Lighting Designer Richard Howell, Sound Designer Tingying Dong, Movement Director James Cousins, Casting Director Amy Ball CDG, Wig, Hair & Make-Up Designer Carole Hancock, Fight and Intimacy Director Haruka Kuroda, Costume Supervisor Yvonne Milnes, and Props Supervisor Jamie Owens.
Full casting and further creative team to be announced.
BSL Performances (interpreted by Martin Fox-Roberts): Thu 16 Oct, 7.30pm & Wed 29 Oct, 2.30pm
Captioned Performances (captioned by Miranda Yates): Mon 20 Oct, 7.30pm & Fri 31 Oct, 7.30pm
Audio Described Performances (audio described by Miranda Yates and Eleanor Margolies): Sat 18 Oct, 2.30pm & Thu 23 Oct, 7.30pm
Relaxed Performances: Mon 20 Oct, 7.30pm & Sat 01 Nov, 2.30pm
Entertaining Mr Sloane goes on sale to Soul Mates today, and Friends on 16 May. Public booking opens 19 May.
Francesca Moody Productions and piece by piece productions in association with the Young Vic presents
Ohio
By The Bengsons
Directed by Caitlin Sullivan
Young Vic, The Maria
30 September – 24 October 2025
Press Night: 3 October 2025
What happens when we die?
An intimate and rousing new musical experience by real-life couple Abigail and Shaun Bengson, known for their evocative Indie-folk music and deeply personal storytelling.
When Shaun turned his back on the church, he found a new home in music. Confronted now with acute degenerative hearing loss, he’s making the choice to live joyfully in the face of life’s many unanswerable questions.
Featuring creative captions, Ohio is an exhilarating and celebratory true story about losing faith and finding hope in the darkest of places, directed by Caitlin Sullivan.
From Obie-winning duo The Bengsons, brought to you by the Olivier Award-winning producers of Fleabag, Baby Reindeer and An Oak Tree.
BSL Performances (interpreted by Becky Barry): Sat 18 Oct, 3pm & Thu 23 Oct, 8pm
Relaxed Environment: Tue 14 Oct 8pm (the show itself will not be adapted, but the audience environment will be relaxed with house lights up and the ability to leave and re-enter as needed)
An Audio Guide will be available to download ahead of all performances. The visuals of this production remain static throughout and will be described in this guide.
Ohio goes on sale to Soul Mates today, and Friends on 16 May. Public booking opens 19 May.
Young Vic presents
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
By Rajiv Joseph
Directed by Omar Elerian
Young Vic, Main House
2 December 2025 – 31 January 2026
Press night: 9 December 2025
Omar Elerian directs the European Premiere of Rajiv Joseph’s surreal and profoundly dark comedy Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Following its premiere on Broadway, the play received multiple Tony nominations and recognition as a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
When an atheist suddenly finds himself walking around after death, he has got some serious re-evaluating to do.
Iraq, well into the new millennium. A fast-talking Tiger haunts the streets, plagued by a fundamental question: “Why am I here?”.
And he’s not the only one.
US forces have long since toppled Saddam Hussein, yet Baghdad remains aflame. In the chaos, the lives of American Marines Tom and Kev collide with Iraqi translator Musa after their chance encounters with the Tiger. Iraqi or American, man or beast, they are all searching for meaning, revenge, forgiveness, and a solid gold toilet seat that’s worth a fortune.
Olivier and BAFTA award-winner David Threlfall (Hangmen) stars as the Tiger, with Olivier Award-nominee Arinzé Kene (Misty) as American Marine Kev, Ammar Haj Ahmad (The Jungle) as Musa, and Hala Omran (I Medea) as Iraqi woman/Leper. Full cast to be announced.
The production will feature Designs by Rajha Shakiry, Lighting Design by Jackie Shemesh, Sound Design by Elena Peña, Casting Direction by Heather Basten CDG,Costume Supervisor, Male Arcucci, and Associate Designer Yimei Zhao.
BSL Performance (BSL interpreter Vinessa Brant): Wed 14 Jan, 2.30pm & Fri 16 Jan, 7.30pm
Captioned Performances (captioned by Miranda Yates): Sat 10 Jan, 2.30pm & Fri 23 Jan, 7.30pm
Relaxed Performances: Sat 10 Jan, 2.30pm & Wed 21 Jan, 7.30pm
Audio Described Performances (audio described by Miranda Yates and Eleanor Margolies): Sat 17 Jan, 2.30pm and Thu 22 Jan, 7.30pm
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo goes on sale to Soul Mates today, and Friends on 16 May. Public booking opens 19 May.
An ETT, Trial and Error Studio, and National Theatre co-production, presented in association with the Young Vic, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Museum of Austerity
A mixed reality exhibition directed by Sacha Wares.
Specialist advisor John Pring
Young Vic, The Maria
5 December 2025 – 16 January 2026
Witness the human stories of Austerity Britain in this arresting mixed reality installation.
In 2016, the UN found that “grave or systemic violations” of the rights of disabled people were taking place throughout the UK. Wearing a mixed reality headset, you will enter a striking, holographic gallery that lays bare the consequences when state safety nets fail.
Museum of Austerityis more than an exhibition; it’s a blend of theatre, history and humanity. A place to reflect on the past, and confront the future.
This powerful installation combines verbatim testimony with the skills of theatre/XR director Sacha Wares and the in-depth knowledge of John Pring, editor of Disability News Service. It was a finalist in the XR History Awards, nominated for Best Digital Innovation at the UK Theatre Awards and won International Documentary Festival Amsterdam’s (IDFA) Best Immersive Production.
Museum of Austerity is accessible to wheelchair users and can be tailored in a variety of ways at every performance, including captions which appear within the headset, audio description, the assistance of a sighted guide host, and optional removal of sensitive content. What to Expect information, including access options, can be found in the visitor guide here.
A number of supporting events will accompany the run, including an event with Imogen Day and China Mills from the Deaths by Welfare project at Healing Justice Ldn, further details to be announced.
Imogen Day has been campaigning for changes to the welfare system ever since her sister, Philippa Day, died in 2019, due to fatal mistakes within the benefits system.
Deaths by Welfare investigates deaths of disabled people linked to welfare state violence and documents disabled people’s resistance. Link: https://deathsbywelfare.org
Healing Justice Ldn builds the capacities, skills, and infrastructures we need to support community-led health and healing.
Museum of Austerity goes on sale to Soul Mates today, and Friends on 16 May. Public booking opens 19 May.
Young Vic presents
Broken Glass
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Jordan Fein
Young Vic, Main House
21 February – 18 April 2026
Press Night: 27 February 2026
Olivier Award nominated Best Director Jordan Fein (Fiddler on the Roof) brings this rarely performed Arthur Miller play to the Young Vic.
It’s like she’s connected to some… truth that other people are blind to.
Brooklyn, New York, 1938. Sylvia Gellburg reads about the violent attacks against Jewish communities carried out an ocean away in Germany. Most people look away, believing it will pass. Not Sylvia. Her obsession grows and soon she loses her ability to walk — a paralysis her husband, Phillip, believes is all in her head. Sylvia forms an undeniable bond with Dr Hyman and soon the cracks in her marriage become impossible to ignore. In the face of silence, Sylvia rises in defiance.
A bold and passionate story about the consequences of disconnecting with the realities of our world.
Full cast and creative team to be announced.
Broken Glass will go on sale in autumn 2025.
A Young Vic and A Zeldin Company co-production
CARE
Written and Directed by Alexander Zeldin
Young Vic, Main House
11 May – 11 July 2026
Press night: 19 May 2026
Internationally acclaimed auteur Alexander Zeldin (LOVE, The Confessions, The Other Place) makes his Young Vic debut to direct CARE, his life affirming play about the elusive connection between loss and rebirth.
I never saw any of that before. All that the birds do… I see it now
Will they be gone too?
A single mum, two feuding pre-teens, and their gran. When Grandmother takes a fall, she is hastily moved to a care home she doesn’t want to be in, surrounded by other elderly people longing for comfort and missing home. But as time passes, she comes to see what really matters in life and between loss and loneliness, we glimpse the unexpected joy in life’s everyday moments.
Full cast and creative team to be announced.
CAREwill go on sale in autumn 2025.
CARE is translated and adapted from Zeldin’s play Une Mort dans la Famille, which premiered in Paris at Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe in 2022.
Young Vic Presents
Sting
By Sophie Swithinbank
Directed by Nancy Medina
Young Vic, The Maria
18 June – 18 July 2026
Nancy Medina directs the World Premiere of Sophie Swithinbank’s (Bacon) urgent new play Sting. Sophie is the recipient of the 2023 Peggy Ramsay/Film4 Award and the Sonia Friedman Productions Prize for Best Play.
I should never have let you in. I usually don’t let people in.
Ash is off the rails.
Going straight from the sparkly sweat and tequila shots of the club to her first day of a new job, her new boss Lily is unimpressed. Their assignment: to catalogue historic cases of women accused of being witches. After an incident at work, Ash’s boyfriend Dom enters the scene as a knight in shining armour, even providing Ash with the best present she could hope for: a pet rabbit. But as the women delve into researching a disturbing series of murders, Lily starts to get the sense that something is wrong with Ash. Or maybe, something is wrong with Dom.
Sting casts a scathing light on the systemic injustice that permeates the very institutions sworn to protect us.
Sting will go on sale in autumn 2025.
Kelly Lacey & Love Books Tours 