Open the door to a brand-new season with Hull Truck Theatre

Audiences are invited to come together to celebrate the incredible diversity of stories and voices that make up our community with a wide range of visiting shows. Whether you’re looking for a musical reimagining, a good laugh, or a story to be inspired by, Hull Truck Theatre has you covered.

Janthi Mills-Ward, Executive Director and Joint CEO at Hull Truck Theatre, said: 

“We can’t wait to share our new season with audiences at Hull Truck Theatre in 2026, to share an exciting line up of dramatic storytelling, inspiring experiences and joyful comedy. From gripping new productions to plenty of fun, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.”

Hull Truck Theatre are once again teaming up with regional theatre partners Octagon Theatre Bolton and Derby Theatre to present Macbeth (Thursday 5 February – Saturday 28 February 2026), a powerful, supernatural and chilling production of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy. Directed by Hull Truck Theatre’s Artistic Director, Mark Babych and set in a country ravaged by war and rebellion, this dystopian war zone will explore the consequences of unchecked ambition. Can Macbeth and his wife rise to glory through foul-play? Or will they pay the ultimate price for their destructive actions? A timeless tale brought to life on stage. Recommended for ages 13+.

Mark Babych, Artistic Director and Joint CEO at Hull Truck Theatre, said: 

“As conflicts continue to rage across the world throwing lives into chaos, and peace seemingly so hard to win, this feels like a pertinent time to be staging one of Shakespeare’s most enduring plays, examining the consequences of unchecked ambition.”

Included alongside Macbeth in Hull Truck Theatre’s Drama Deal is The Grand Babylon Hotel (Tuesday 10 – Friday 13 March), an Arnold Bennett comedy-drama, adapted by Deborah McAndrew, that promises a great night out. The Godber Company will also present John Godber’s Teechers (Tuesday 21 – Thursday 30 April), a classic hilarious comedy masterpiece by a Hull Truck favourite. Completing the line-up is comedy-drama Cured (Wednesday 24 – Saturday 27 June), a Laurence Clark play full of wit and humour, taking audiences on a trip to Lourdes. Will it be a chance for quiet contemplation, or an unholy mess? Hull Truck Theatre’s Drama Deal gives audiences the chance to access the best seats in the house whilst enjoying exceptional drama at affordable prices. Buy tickets for two or more of the shows included in the deal and get -25% off the total price of tickets. An offer not to be missed!  

Audiences can expect more dramatic storytelling with an exciting line up of drama. Lear’s Shadow (Thursday 15 January) is an engaging reflection on Shakespeare’s great domestic tragedy. Mixing kitchen-sink drama with dance-floor euphoria, Children Of the Night (Wednesday 25 – Thursday 26 February) is a coming-of-age story and a love letter to the working-class cultural pulse of the North. Glitch (Tuesday 17 – Wednesday 18 March) is an inspirational true story, based on the experiences Pam Stubbs, who found herself at the heart of the biggest miscarriage of justice in English legal history – the post office scandal. And Shelia’s Island (Tuesday 21 – Wednesday 22 April) will take audiences to the Lake District and asks, with only sausages, sarcasm and a questionable grasp of map reading, could you survive being shipwrecked? 

For everyone aged 3 to 103 and families in particular, there is a variety of shows to let your imagination run wild. The Gruffalo’s Child (Friday 20 – Saturday 21 March), adapted from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning picture book, will take families on an adventurous mission though ‘the deep dark wood’, encountering an array of mysterious creatures along the snowy tracks. More adventures can be had with Crafty Fools: Adventures in Science (Thursday 2 April). Aided by a collection of curious contraptions, meet Mr. west and cartoon companion Crowbert as they introduce you to a wonderful world of science. February, Easter and May Half-Term holidays will also welcome back adventurers, with three new fun Great Adventures, with Colosseum of Chaos (Saturday 14, Monday 16 & Tuesday 17 February), A Great Easter Adventure (Saturday 28, Monday 30 & Tuesday 31 March), and A Great Detective Adventure (Saturday 23, Tuesday 26 & Wednesday 27 May). Each adventure will start with an arts and crafts session followed by a full interactive play that makes use of the children’s colorful creations. 

Spring offers even more heartwarming stories for families to enjoy together, such as Doris The Dormouse (Friday 10 April), inspiring ages 3+ to dream big with original folk music and puppetry, a celebration of all creatures great and small with Amazing Animals (Saturday 18 April), a pre-historic journey of a lifetime as Natural History Museum Present Dinosaurs Live (Saturday 2 May), and the bright colorful musical Zog (Friday 5 – Sunday 7 June), another Julia Donaldon and Axel Sheffler favourite, will be a real treat for children and adults alike. 

And that is not all… Wifi Wars Easter Special (Tuesday 7 April) will bring a EGGstremley EASTERrific live comedy game show for age’s 6+. Inviting audiences to log into your smartphone or tablet and compete in a range of games, puzzles and quizzes to win the show, this will be a unique theatrical experience as well as chance to win some prizes too. 

Get ready for two huge nights of stand-up comedy as Chuckl.Hull returns! Chuckl. Hull With Seann Walsh and Brennan Reece (Friday 23 January) and Chuckl.Hull with Russell Kane (Saturday 14 March) will both presenting a line-up of top club comedians. 

Laugh along to Kevin Precious – The Reluctant Teacher (Thursday 15 March) as well as the variety of consistently hilarious stand-up comedians, such as: Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza (Thursday 15 January) with her brand-new show. An Evening With Crissy Rock (Wednesday 4 March), best known for appearing on TV shows such as Benidorm, I’m a Celebrity and Celebrity MasterChef, will present an outrageous evening of stand-up. Andy Zaltzman: The Zaltgeist (Saturday 7 March) already with ‘low availability’, extends his hit tour into 2026 to assess the state of the earth and humans once more. Sara Pascoe: I Am A Strange Gloop (Thursday 26 March) is also back with her biggest ever tour of the UK and Ireland, talking about how her children don’t sleep and her kitchen won’t clean itself, while Jen Brister: Reactive (Thursday 9 – Friday 10 April) can’t find her zen and has been told to chill the hell out. Jessica Fosterkew: Iconic Breath (Friday 17 April) can feel herself becoming an emotional wildebeest. Can you relate? Come and find out! The Very Best Of Tommy Cooper: Just Like That! (Saturday 2 May) is a one-man show celebrating one of Britan’s best entertainers. Join award-winning writer-comedian Marc Burrows with The Britpop Hour (Friday 8 May), a multi-media stand up celebration of one of British music's most iconic and enduring moments, marking 30 years since the Blur vs Oasis chart war. Alfie Moore: Acopalypse Now (Saturday 9 May) is back with a brand-new tour and breakdown of the law and order, fake news, and the price of baked beans. And Mark Simmons: Jest to Impress (Wednesday 10 June) is back with even more one-liners’ based on random audience suggestions. 

A brand-new hilarious comedy for adults 18+ is also set to take to the stage! Meet two idiot gladiators who will fight for your entertainment, inviting audiences to get involved in hilarious games and raucous fun in their Colosseum of Chaos (Friday 13 – Saturday 14 February). 

Family Open Day returns (Saturday 13 June), to once again invite audiences of all ages to join Hull Truck Theatre and the Albemarle Music Centre for a free fun-filled event full of activities and fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Join Hull Truck Theatre’s Youth Theatre in a journey through the medieval times of tyrants and swords, to the modern-day age of smartphones and social media in The Ring of Choice (Friday 20 – Saturday 21 March – Saturday Seniors & Young Company / Friday 27 – Saturday 28 March – Wednesday Young Company & Thursday Senior). 

Act III, Hull Truck Theatre’s community theatre group for retired adults are back for another year! Their recent productions To Infirmity & Beyond, Sense & Sustainability and Hullovision were a big hit with audiences! This year they will work with local writer Maureen Lennon (Guts! The Musical, Mary and the Hyenas, Baby He Loves You) to create Old Habits (Friday 26 – Saturday 27 June) a play about a group of elderly nuns who after many years of charity, they are finally doing it for themselves.

For musical theatre fans who want to try something new, In The Air Tonight (Friday 6 – Saturday 7 March), is a brand-new musical that will welcome you through the doors of a pub to hear the tales of the punters who pass through. Come and meet the regulars of the Victoria Inn, The place to pour your heart out. Get ready for an electrifying night of vocal wizardry for all the family in a raucous musical re-imaging of a medieval fairy-tale: Pied Piper (Tuesday 24 – Wednesday 25 March) will feature a hugely talented cast of beatboxers, musicians and special guest performances. 

Local amateur groups are also returning with high quality performances and much-loved show titles. Packed with outrageous humour, catchy songs and unforgettable puppets Tech It Seriously invite you to Avenue Q (Wednesday 13 – Saturday 16 May), the laugh-out-loud, Tony Award-winning musical that’s like Sesame Street…but strictly for adults! Napa will present Jekyll & Hyde The Musical (Wednesday 27 – Saturday 30 May) exploring the fine line between good and evil. Beverley Musical Theatre will present Grease (Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 June), one of the world’s most popular and enduring musicals, bursting with hits including Greased Lightning’, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re The One That I Want, and Summer Nights. Not forgetting State of the Arts Academy, who ask you to follow them down the yellow brick road in their delightful stage adaptation of L Frank Baum’s classic story The Wizard of Oz (Wednesday 1 – Saturday 4 July), featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. Finally, join Rare Productions for The Adams Family (Thursday 16 – Friday 17 July), for a fateful, hilarious and the spookiest iof nights.

This season promises to start the new year as you mean to go on, with night’s out that are fun, energetic and electrifying with musicians, singers and concerts. The Olivia Rodrigo Experience (Saturday 17 January) is a tribute to the pop rock sensation celebrating all her biggest hits. With low availability, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club: The Ronnie Scott’s Story (Saturday 24 January) will combine world-class live jazz, narration, rare archive photo, and video footage. Paradise Found (Wednesday 1 April) will deliver a two-hour high-octane tribute performance that will blaze though Meat Loaf’s greatest hits, while Radio GAGA: The Ultimate Tribute to Queen (Friday 17 April) will play all your favourite hits, celebrating the magic, fun and showmanship of the band’s touring days. Finally, join Olivier award winner and leading lady Cassidy Janson (Tuesday 19 May) as she honours the music of icon Carole King who she played for two years in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical in London’s West End. 

Hull Truck Theatre is proud to screen some of the best art and independent cinema from around the world. In 2026 Hull Truck Theatre will start the season presenting: Cinema Live: Bat Out of Hell – The Musical (Tuesday 20 January). NT Live: The Fifth Step (Wednesday 21 January) and Hamlet (Wednesday 18 February). And the Exhibition On Screen series will begin with Caravaggio (Friday 23 January), Turner & Constable (Thursday 2 April), and Frida Kahlo (Tuesday 19 May).  Further dates and titles to be announced throughout the season.  These screening run alongside the Hull Independent Cinema (HIC) programme, further dates and titles to be announced soon. 

Hull Truck Theatre are also proud to continue celebrating the incredible diversity of stories and voices that make up their community. Keep an eye out for the rainbow flags throughout the brochure marking Pride Season. Productions celebrating a selection of queer stories will include: Smoke (Thursday 4 June) a new queer thriller meets savage comedy. The Fit Prince (Thursday 11 June), a new queer rom-com. Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story (Friday 12 – Saturday 13 June), combining drag, multimedia, audience interaction, puppetry and a lot of queer joy. Remember, Remember (Thursday 18 Jun) will take you on a history lesson and back to November 1605. Last but not least, Dyke Systems LTD. (Saturday 20 June) invite you to the most prestigious seminar of the year, a glittery, unhinged world of multi-level marketing mayhem. 

Luke Dankoff, Producer & Programmer at Hull Truck Theatre, said:

“We are delighted to present another Queer season of work during Pride month, with productions that celebrate queer stories, artists, and allies. These performances are a vital part of our commitment to representing everyone on our stages and ensuring that all who come through our doors feel seen, welcomed, and inspired.”

We also have events that make for the most unique and entertaining night’s out. Invite your friends for something different and come along to The Makings of A Murderer – The Undercover Detective (Friday 27 March) for an unforgettable evening of true crime. A hilarious and epic adventure for Lord of the Rings fans, with Parody of The Rings (Thursday 16 April). For all the Jessica Fletcher fans, and featuring games, prizes, and audience participation, get involved with Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote (Wednesday 20 May). 

Have you ever fancied trying your hand at stand-up comedy? Introduction to Stand-Up Comedy with Kevin Precious (Tuesday 20 January – Tuesday 24 February) will once again, give audiences a chance to step out onto the stage. Participants will develop methods and techniques for generating self-authored comedy material; combined with the ability to deliver the material in front of a live audience on Tuesday 3 March. 

With Hull Truck Theatre’s Introduction To Courses, you can also experience an introduction to Acting with Peter McMilan and Screenwriting with Lydia Marchant (Tuesday 20 January). Both will make the perfect gift for someone to try something different in the new year. 

Also, back once more is Hull Truck Theatre’s First Theatre Club: Monthly Drama Sessions designed for adults 18+ to learn, discuss, and be creative together. Keep a look out for various dates that will be announced on the Hull Truck Theatre website throughout the season. 

Hull Truck Theatre gratefully acknowledges support from Arts Council England, and Hull City Council.

Tickets are now available to purchase for all the shows included in our new Spring/Summer season, now on sale by visiting the Hull Truck Theatre website via What's On | HullTruckTheatre.