Maureen Lipman to star in Allegra tour

Exclusive: Maureen Lipman will star in the world premiere of Allegra, a new comedy by Peter Quilter, which will tour the UK from Tuesday 12 May 2026 ahead of a planned West End run.

The tour opens at Theatre Royal Brighton in the week of Lipman’s 80th birthday, marking her first major UK tour in 20 years.

Written by Tony Award and double Olivier Award nominee Quilter, Allegra centres on a woman whose irrepressible optimism leads her to burst into song in everyday situations, sometimes imagined and sometimes very real, creating disruption in the village where she lives. Further casting and creative team details are yet to be announced.

Lipman returns to work with Quilter following her appearance in Rose in the West End in 2023. Commenting on the new play, she said: “To find a comedy which can turn our current face of gloom into an upturned grin of happiness, is rare. Allegra is about a woman who is relentlessly upbeat – in more ways than one. Ibsen it isn’t.”

Quilter added: “Maureen is one of the great theatrical treasures of this country, and to have her bring Allegra to life is a joy and an honour.”

The production is presented by Thomas Hopkins Productions and SAMS Entertainment.

After Brighton, the tour will visit Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May, His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen from Tuesday 26 to Saturday 30 May, and Malvern Theatre from 1 to 6 June. The production then plays Richmond Theatre in London from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 June, where a national press night will take place on Monday 8 June at 7.30pm, before continuing to Theatre Royal Windsor from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 June, Theatre Royal Glasgow from Monday 22 to Saturday 27 June, and Theatre Royal Bath from Monday 29 June to Saturday 4 July, with further dates to be announced.

Hopkins concluded: “Working again with Maureen after the remarkable West End success of Rose is an absolute privilege. Allegra is sure to be one of UK theatre’s highlights of 2026.”