Citizens Theatre reveals new season including East is East and KT Tunstall

The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow has unveiled its autumn season, which runs from August to December 2026. Highlights include co-productions of East is East and Othello, and visiting work from the Emma Rice Company and National Theatre of Scotland.

Headlining the season is the major Scottish tour of 1984 (29 August to 26 September). Directed by Citizens artistic director Dominic Hill, and adapted by Chris Hannan from George Orwell’s classic novel, the show will also visit Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh, in a co-production with Dundee Rep Theatre and Royal Lyceum Edinburgh.

It’s followed by Emma Rice’s acclaimed production of Tristan and Yseult (30 Sept to 3 October), returning to the venue for the first time since 2017. Next up on the main stage is a co-production of East is East (7 to 17 October), which marks the 30th anniversary of Ayub Khan Din’s celebrated play. It’s directed by Kash Arshad, who started his career at the Citizens.

National Theatre of Scotland’s new production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie runs from 21 to 24 October, adapted by David Harrower from Muriel Spark’s much-loved novel and directed by Vicky Featherstone. The cast is led by Gayle Rankin and the piece is presented in partnership with the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

A new production of Shakespeare’s Othello (28 October to 4 November) is directed by Anthony Almeida, in a co-production with Northern Stage and HOME Manchester. And rounding out the year is a new festive staging of Cinderella (28 November to 31 December), written by Stuart Paterson and directed by Joanna Bowman.

Work in the newly opened studio space meanwhile includes The Singer (15 to 19 September), a new gig theatre performance featuring music and lyrics by Grammy Award-nominated KT Tunstall (Clueless) and with a book by Cora Bissett.

The start of the season will mark one year since the Citizens’ reopening in August 2025, following a major two-year redevelopment project.

“It’s been joyous to welcome audiences back and rediscover that shared experience of live theatre in our much-loved main auditorium as well as our exciting new studio theatre,” said Hill. “This season builds on that momentum – opening our stages to a wide range of voices, championing artists, and creating space for stories that spark conversation, challenge perspectives and bring people together.”