MTFest reveals 2026 line-up

MTFestUK will return in 2026.

The annual event has been running since 2019 and will feature six new musicals over three weeks, from 27 January to 15 February at the Other Palace Studio.

Audiences can expect to see the six new pieces in intimate hour-long workshop sharings.

Paul Taylor-Mills, artistic director at the Other Palace, said: “This is so exciting! I can’t wait to see the next season of MTFestUK coming to life. MTFestUK has become such an important platform for musical theatre, giving many emerging and established artists the chance to share their work. Year after year, we see musicals from the festival move on to full productions, which proves its impact and success. It’s inspiring to witness the festival continually open doors for creativity and innovation in the art form.”

The 2026 productions are:

Shining in Misery: A King-Size Parody

This new musical parody sees five people drawn to the Overlook Hotel during a blizzard, where the mysteries grow with the storm.

Music: Andrew Abrams

Book and lyrics: Mark-Eugene Garcia

Book: Colleen DuVall

Director: Gary Lloyd

Playing on Tuesday 27 January at 7pm, Wednesday 28 January at 5pm and 7pm, and Thursday 29 January at 7pm.

Legendary

Guided by Chinese mythology, Legendary traces a queer Asian immigrant’s journey to reclaim their lineage and language.

Book, music and lyrics: Cheeyang Ng

Director: Emilio Ramos

Playing on Friday 30 January at 7pm, Saturday 30 January at 5pm and 7pm, and Sunday 1 February at 5pm.

Tristan

Nick and Philly are both in love with the charming, gorgeous, lying fantasist, Tristan. It’s only when they both end up in the same room that they discover the lie they’ve been sold.

Writer: Matt Jones

Composer: Kele Okereke

Plays on Tuesday 3 February at 7pm, Wednesday 4 February at 5pm and 7pm, and Thursday 5 February at 7pm.

That Witch

The Sunny High Drama Club are presenting the world premiere read-through of their original musical, That Witch, based on witch-like happenings that occurred in their hometown of SunnyVille. When Olivia, a lonely new girl with hidden power,s arrives, queen bee Taylor feels threatened.

Book, music and lyrics: Billy Cullum and Robert Tregoning

Director: Jess Edwards

Plays on Friday 6 February at 7pm, Saturday 7 February at 5pm and 7pm and Sunday 8 February at 5pm.

The Guild: The Musical

Adapted from the cult classic web series by Felicia Day, The Guild: The Musical, Cyd Sherman thrives on killing monsters with her band of online friends, until one member breaks digital anonymity. Day will reprise her role as Cyd/Codex.

Based on the original series by Felicia Day

Book: Allison Frasca

Music: Mark Schenfisch

Lyrics: Sam Balzac

Director: Dean Johnson

Plays on Tuesday 10 February at 7pm, Wednesday 11 February at 5pm and 7pm, and Thursday 12 February at 7pm

Glimmer

While doomscrolling, Billie meets Nakiss, a magnetic influencer preaching radical self-belief through small acts of revenge she calls “glimmers.” Set in Bristol in 2025, the online world bleeds into her real life.

Book and lyrics: Frankie Bunce

Music and lyrics: Kat Kleve

Plays on Friday 13 February at 7pm, Saturday 14 February at 5pm and 7pm, and Sunday 15 February at 5pm.