Bristol Old Vic announces 2027 season including new musical Disco Dracula

Bristol Old Vic has announced its 2027 season.

A 40th anniversary revival of Winsome Pinnock’s Leave Taking runs from 23 September to 16 October and is directed by Nancy Medina. Pinnock’s play premiered at Liverpool Playhouse in 1987, won the George Devine Award in 1991 and became the first play by a Black British woman to be produced by the National Theatre in 1994.

Set in North London, the play follows Enid, a British-Jamaican mother who came to Britain as part of the Windrush generation, and her teenage daughters Del and Viv.

In 2024, Pinnock became the first writer appointed to Bristol Old Vic’s Five Year Commitment residency.

Disco Dracula, a co-production between Bristol Old Vic and Disco Dracula Productions, runs from 27 May to 19 June. The new musical has music by Charlie O’Connor and book and lyrics by Alena Henke and O’Connor, and is directed by Robyn Grant.

The story follows John and Mina, a couple whose attempt at a normal night out leads them to a disco vampire lair, where Dracula and his Brides are holding auditions for eternity. As the couple encounter the Lord of Darkness, their relationship is put to the test. The production features an original disco score and audience participation.

From 22 April to 15 May, Rikki Henry directs Uncle Vanya in a co-production with Stratford East. The production uses David Lan’s English version of Chekhov’s play.

Henry’s production relocates the action to a rundown office, where Vanya, his niece Sonya and local doctor Astrov are visited by Alexander, the widower of Vanya’s late sister and Sonya’s father, and his new wife Yelena. Henry’s production concept previously played at Theater Dortmund in 2023.

Visiting work includes Dog Man: The Musical, based on Dav Pilkey’s book series, from 24 to 27 June, while Hijinx’s Housemates, in association with Sherman Theatre, runs from 30 June to 3 July, Being Mr Wickham, starring Adrian Lukis, runs from 22 to 23 June.

Other visiting productions already on sale include The Signalman (19 to 21 January), Food of Love (28 January), Austentatious (29 to 30 January) and Bristol School of Acting’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along(12 to 17 July).

In the Studio, Until I Find You runs from 6 to 17 April. Created by Ad Infinitum and Mexico’s El Ingenio del Caldero, the production follows Alma, a mother searching for her missing daughter in Mexico, while New Perspectives and Royal and Derngate’s Let The Whale Die follows from 18 to 22 May.

Further 2027 shows will be announced in November. General sale opens at midday on 14 October.