Men Behaving Badly stage adaptation and Honk! set for Barn Theatre season

Exclusive: The Barn Theatre in Cirencester has announced the first details of its 2026 season.

The year will open with the world premiere of Men Behaving Badly: The Play, written by the sitcom’s original creator Simon Nye and directed by Joseph O’Malley. It is based on the seminal 1990s sitcom of the same name.

The production runs from Friday 30 January to Saturday 7 March 2026, with a national press night set for Tuesday 3 February. Priority tickets are available now, with general booking opening on Saturday 22 November at 1pm.

Set at the turn of the millennium, the story picks up where the television series left off, as the characters face a wedding, the looming Y2K scare and their own unresolved issues.

The creative team includes Alfie Heywood as set and costume designer, Denise Cleal as associate costume designer, Amanda Priestley as sound designer and Marc Frankum as casting director. The production is presented by arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd.

Director O’Malley said, “I’m delighted to be joining Simon in bringing one of Britain’s best-loved comedies to the stage for the first time. The misadventures of Gary, Tony, Dorothy and Deborah have always held a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to bring these much-loved characters to a 2026 audience.

“To me, this show is a celebration of friendship, of the 90s and of the healing power of sitting on a sofa with people you love and talking absolute rubbish. Less doomscrolling and social media anxiety, more real human interaction and, of course, bad behaviour!”

Later in the year, the theatre will stage a revival of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s musical Honk!, which will run over the 2026 festive period from Saturday 21 November to Sunday 3 January with an opening night scheduled for Wednesday 25 November.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, the musical centres on Ugly, a duckling who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after being singled out for his appearance.

According to the venue, the production will introduce a refreshed visual and musical interpretation of the story. Creative team and casting will be confirmed in 2026. The production is licensed by Music Theatre International.

Chief executive and artistic director Iwan Lewis said: “This is just a taste of what’s to come in 2026. With the Barn’s production of I’m Sorry, Prime Minister opening in the West End early in the year, our mission is clearer than ever – to build work on our small stage in Cirencester and share it on the biggest stages around the world.”

Further titles for the 2026 season, including co-productions and partnerships, will be released in the coming months.