The Breakfast Club, Wuthering Heights and more set for Sadler’s Wells 2027 season

Sadler’s Wells has announced its 2027 season.

The programme includes seven world premieres and four UK premieres, along with new adaptations of The Breakfast Club, Wuthering Heights, and the 25th anniversary production of Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words.

The company has also reported that audience figures are up by eight per cent, with nationwide participation in dance workshops up by 23 per cent.

At Sadler’s Wells East, Leeds-based Phoenix Dance Theatre will present their interpretation of the 1985 classic film The Breakfast Club, running from late April. An 18-month development programme which supports five UK-based artists will culminate in a building-wide takeover at the same Stratford venue, where audiences will be able to see five new shows in one sitting and around the building in Five Dances.

Newcastle’s balletLORENT will offer a retelling of Hansel and Gretel for younger audiences, while Welsh-Zimbabwean brothers Anthony and Kel Matsena return with their reimagining of Cain and Abel. Manchester-based associate artist Dan Daw’s Exxy will explore life in the working-class Australian outback, whilst Pagrav Dance Company from Milton Keynes will present the London premiere of Khoj, a collaboration with artist Hetain Patel exploring identity, migration and cultural hybridity.

Meanwhile, at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Angel, ballet companies featured in the season include Scottish Ballet with Coppélia by Jess and Morgs and Bourne’s New Adventures Play Without Words returns for the 25th anniversary of the production, running from 27 July to 21 August. Northern Ballet will celebrate 25 years of Wuthering Heights, and also present a new take on the classic folklore of Robin Hood at Sadler’s Wells East for younger audiences.

English National Ballet will perform Johan Inger’s award-winning Carmen and presents a family version of Cinderella at the Peacock Theatre. Also at the Peacock Theatre, London Children’s Ballet returns with Snow White featuring an all-child cast of dancers aged nine to 16.

Breakin’ Convention International Festival of Hip Hop Theatre returns, hosted and curated by Jonzi D, with a takeover at Sadler’s Wells Theatre including performances, live DJs, dance workshops, graffiti and emcees.

Internationally renowned contemporary choreographers will present work across Sadler’s Wells venues this season. At Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch returns with Palermo Palermo, part of Bausch’s legendary World Cities series, associate artist Wayne McGregor’s Deepstaria returns, utilising Vantablack Vision technology with score from Lexx.

Associate artist Crystal Pite’s company Kidd Pivot will present Assembly Hall, the Olivier Award-winning production which tells the story of a group of medieval re-enactors, and Alexander Ekman’s Hammer will be performed by GöteborgsOperans Danskompani. In the Lilian Baylis Studio associate artist Alesandra Seutin will reflect on her experience of being of both white European and Black Southern African heritage. From the producers of previous Peacock Theatre hits The Merchants of Bollywood and Taj Express, brand-new show Bad Boys of Bollywood will pay tribute to Bollywood stars.

A three-hour durational piece from Ewa Dziarnowska, programmed as part of the LIFT line-up, will also run at Sadler’s Wells East. At the Peacock Theatre, Mythos: Ragnarök receives its West End debut, the cult classic fusing storytelling, comedy and stage combat. Acclaimed Irish theatre company THISISPOPBABY returns with Wake, set at an all-night Irish wake honouring and subverting tradition. Two-time Olivier Award-nominated Italian illusionist Arturo Brachetti brings Solo to the Peacock Theatre for his London debut, bringing more than 50 iconic characters to life through quick changes. You can watch a behind-the-scenes tour of the show below.