RSC announces new shows including Sharon D Clarke-led Othello and Rufus Norris

The RSC has revealed further details of its 2026 to 2027 season line-up.

Revealed by co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey, highlights include a revival of Othello starring Sharon D Clarke and a world premiere directed by Rufus Norris.

Over the festive period, Toby Olié and Tom Brady’s adaptation of David Litchfield’s The Bear and the Piano will debut in The Other Place from 11 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Commissioned for an early-years audience, it is a co-production with Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and uses puppetry and music.

After that, three-time Olivier Award winner Clarke will make her RSC debut in the title role of Othello. Monique Touko reimagines Shakespeare’s tragedy through the lens of misogynoir. Described as being “set in a climate threatened future in which a black lesbian holds a seat of power,” this movement and music-infused revival plays from 13 February to 3 April 2027 in the Swan Theatre.

In the spring, Norris will join the RSC for the first time in his career to direct Brock’s Mill, written by the company’s writer-in-residence, Stewart Pringle. The family drama follows Bernard, who, 40 years on from the heyday of his professional career as a stop-motion animator for Bluebell Studios, finds himself confronted with the reality of a past far removed from what he imagined. The homage to the craft of stop-motion filmmaking, the piece will have animation by Astrid Goldsmith. It will run in The Other Place from 26 March to 8 May 2027.

Through 2028, Blanche McIntyre’s production of The Merry Wives of Windsor will embark on a tour following its premiere in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

In addition, the RSC has announced the appointments of Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning composer, orchestrator and music supervisor Martin Lowe as New Music Associate and Paula Stephens as Head of Voice. Meanwhile, Emily Burns and Ryan Day join Elizabeth Freestone as new associate directors.

Priority booking opens for members and supporters for all new productions from 10am on 3 July, with public booking opening from 10am on 16 July.