New Diorama Theatre announces autumn 2026 season

New Diorama Theatre has announced its autumn 2026 season, featuring three productions including two world premieres and a London premiere.

Emma Clark, head of programme, and Vanessa Stone, interim executive producer, said: “This autumn New Diorama re-announces itself as the premiere destination for theatre makers creating bold, ambitious, collaborative work with an independent spirit. The projects and companies at the heart of this season are fearless and singular, with a razor-sharp sense of their theatrical vision and an expansive imagination for how their work reverberates beyond the boundaries of the stage. We are proud to be championing the next generation of ensembles ready to tear up and redefine the landscape of UK theatre and can’t wait to throw our doors wide open to adventurous audiences ready to dive head first into new perspectives and experiences.”

Opening the season is The First Year (of the Gaza Genocide in the Media), running from 22 September to 10 October. Presented by British-Romanian collective Béznǎ Theatre, the production examines media reporting between October 2023 and October 2024 through testimony from Palestinians in Gaza, multimedia performance and original music. Developed in collaboration with Shadow World Investigations and the International State Crime Initiative, the piece features an ensemble of four Palestinian performers, exploring the human impact of journalistic decisions.

Ugly Bucket’s Stuffed follows from 13 to 24 October. The Liverpool-based ensemble combines clowning, physical theatre, electronic music and personal testimony to explore the realities of food bank use in the UK. It has been created in association with Unity Theatre Liverpool.

Each performance will be accompanied by a free community meal and local food donation drive, while all performances will be captioned. The show previously won a Stage Fringe Five Award.

The final production of the season is Orlando: A Pornobiography, running from 10 November to 12 December. Commissioned by New Diorama and presented by piss / Carnation, the work reimagines Virginia Woolf’s Orlando through an ensemble of transfemme performers.

Alongside the theatre programme, New Diorama will launch a new Artist Support Season focused on design and devising practices. The initiative will offer development opportunities for devised theatre-makers, companies and ensembles.

The theatre will also continue its community programmes. Camden Youth Theatre, run jointly with Camden People’s Theatre, will be led this season by actor and director Omar Bynon and will conclude with an annual showcase created with participants and professional artists.

Tickets for all productions remain under £20, with previews starting from £5 for unemployed audiences and those on strike. Pay What You Can performances and the venue’s multi-buy season offer will also return.