The Fifth Step, 27th November to 15th December, various dates
See Theatre at the Cinema.
An NT Live production. The critically acclaimed and subversively funny new play by David Ireland. After years in the 12-step programme of Alcoholics Anonymous, James becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka. The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend.

Robin Hood and Maid Marian, 28th November to 3rd January
Step into the magical forest of Newburyshire and join our swashbuckling hero Robin and his band of merry outlaws. The awful Sheriff of Newburyshire has been in power for 14 long years, persecuting the poor, rewarding the rich and eating the local swans. But Robin, after a daring stand-off at the roundabout named in his honour, is feeling deflated. Will he ever defeat the evil Sheriff before he and his merry band are locked up for good? Or will (equally swashbuckling) Marian with her smarty-pants brain, kick-ass moves and a pair of fabulous shoes outwit the dastardly Sheriff? Enjoy toe-tapping songs through the decades and plenty of jokes that’ll have you bowing with laughter. See the reviews below.

Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty, 27th to 28th January
London, 1901. As the British Empire wages war in the name of a Queen whose health is failing, a series of mysterious events reveal a crack in the high corridors of power. A crack that threatens to destabilise monarchy, government and empire. And at its centre, controlling the flow of information and influence, a shadowy figure plans a final deadly move. Drawn into the game and unsure who to trust, Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson find themselves confronting figures from their past in a desperate race against time, aware that the most powerful person in the world could be in the pocket of one of the most corrupt. But just how much is Holmes willing to sacrifice as he faces ‘checkmate’? A thrilling adventure based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty is a world premiere combining powerful performances, a haunting soundscape and innovative design for an exhilarating theatrical experience.

NT Connections: Fishville, 24th to 25th February
Connections is the National Theatre's annual, nationwide youth theatre festival championing the talent of young people from across the UK. Each year the National Theatre commissions new plays for young people to perform, bringing together some of the UK’s most exciting writers with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. This year's production is Fishville by Afsaneh Gray. The story starts when a young man named Jared takes to the sea in swimming gear but never starts swimming… His death, which follows on from the unexpected sale of his parents’ house, throws the community into chaos. When the daughter of the man who bought Jared’s house arrives in Saltwell and finds a severed foot washed up at her feet, she and the daughter of the ‘second homers’ decide to investigate what drove Jared into the sea.

The Makings of a Murderer: The Undercover Detective, 26th February
Join Peter Bleksley, a founding member of Scotland Yard’s undercover unit and former star of Channel 4’s Hunted, as he lifts the lid on the most dangerous and hidden aspects of murder investigations. From the gritty realities of infiltrating criminal gangs to his own terrifying experience of becoming the target of a murder plot, Peter shares the untold stories of the most high-stakes cases. For over a decade, Peter worked undercover, posing as everything from drug dealers to contract killers. His double life gave him access to the darkest corners of humanity, uncovering secrets that would save lives - but at the cost of his own safety. Forced into witness protection by an FBI-uncovered assassination plot, his career as a detective came to an abrupt end, leaving him with chilling memories of murderers and the justice system that hunts them. Prepare for an unforgettable evening of true crime as Peter Bleksley reveals the harrowing reality behind solving murders and battling the criminal underworld. This is crime-fighting as you’ve never seen it before.

1984, 4th March
Known for their ingenious sets and slick storytelling, Box Tale Soup’s unique puppetry becomes a striking metaphor for Orwell’s chilling vision of power and control. The year is 1984, perhaps - it is impossible to tell for certain. We are being watched, Big Brother is everywhere, truth changes daily, and everyone conforms. But for Winston Smith, an insignificant cog in the Party’s vast machine, this half-life is not enough. He dreams of freedom, but is he the only one? Dreams can be deadly when rebellion begins with a thought. Featuring the voices of Sophie Aldred and Joanna Lumley, with Simon Russell Beale as the voice of Big Brother.

The Gruffalo's Child, 13th to 15th March
Follow the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures – but the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist... does he?

Parody of the Rings: A Hilarious and Epic Adventure!, 26th March
At the local cinema, all hell breaks loose when the ushers misplace the DVDs of The Lord of the Rings trilogy – every single copy! With only the soundtracks left in hand, the team of hapless ushers must somehow improvise an entire three-film saga in front of a live audience. Get ready for an uproarious evening of comedy, chaos, and utter nonsense, as they attempt to recreate the epic tale of hobbits, elves, and orcs – without any visuals, any planning, or any clue what they're doing. Will Frodo ever make it to Mordor? Will Aragorn get crowned king? Will Gollum stop stealing the show? Will anyone even remember who’s supposed to be who?! It’s a show that’s more fun than a barrel of hobbits, and definitely more chaotic than a Gandalf speech. If you’ve ever wanted to see Gollum fight a battle with sound effects, or Gandalf desperately trying to remember what happens next, then you’re in for a hilarious treat!

The Dinosaur that Pooped: A Rock Show, 28th March
Adapted from the number 1 best-selling book by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter from McFly, the whole family will have a poopy good time enjoying a brand-new story for the stage. This Easter holidays, when Danny and Dino’s favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest to get the last two tickets. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan. Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino’s rumbling tummy save the day? Featuring new songs by Tom and Dougie, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of poo!

The Playboy of the Western World, 28th and 30th May
10th and 17th June
See Theatre at the Cinema.
Pegeen Flaherty’s life is turned upside down when a young man walks into her pub claiming that he’s killed his father. Instead of being shunned, the killer becomes a local hero and begins to win hearts, that is until a second man unexpectedly arrives on the scene… Filmed live on stage at the National Theatre, Caitríona McLaughlin directs this darkly funny tale full to the brim with secrets.

Reviews of Robin Hood and Maid Marian

28th November 2025 to 3rd January 2026