Lisa Spirling today (1 October 2025) announces her first season as new Artistic Director and Co-CEO of Stratford East. Alongside new Executive Director and Co-CEO Hanna Streeter and Associate Artistic Director Jade Lewis, she will lead the historic 140-year-old East London venue into an exciting new era. Comprising world premieres of razor-sharp new writing, compelling international theatre and a critically acclaimed London transfer, the season ahead will embody the theatre’s mission to tell vital stories that elevate unheard voices and reflect the world around us. The inaugural programme for Winter, Spring and beyond includes:
The UK premiere of Here There Are Blueberries by Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich, a co-production between Tectonic Theater Project and Stratford East. Based on real events, this powerful play tells the story of a mysterious album featuring Nazi-era photographs which arrives at the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist. A 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist, 2025 Lucille Lortel Award winner for Outstanding Play and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner. 31 January – 28 February 2026.
After an award-winning run at Bristol Old Vic, the London premiere of Nancy Medina’s acclaimed production of Choir Boy by the Academy Award-winning writer of Moonlight, Tarell Alvin McCraney, is a tender coming of age story which rejoices in all that it means to march to your own drum, threaded throughout with soul-stirring a cappella gospel hymns and spirituals. 26 March – 25 April 2026.
Acclaimed stage and screen writer Ava Pickett (1536, Almeida; upcoming Baz Lurhmann film about Joan of Arc) interrogates one of history’s most mythologised figures in Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy as Lisa Spirling makes her directorial debut as Artistic Director of Stratford East. Dates to be confirmed.
Over 3500 tickets for the new season will be on sale at £10. Priority booking for Stratford East Members and customers with access requirements opened today at 11am. Public booking opens 12pm, Friday 3 October.
Also coming up:
Nice n’ Spiky presents Ed Gamble. An evening of stand-up comedy headlined by the Off Menu star, with host Jessica Fostekew and more exciting names to be announced (7 November 2025).
Stand with Palestinians: Messages from Gaza. Following a series of sold-out events at Arcola Theatre, Bush Theatre, Rich Mix and Tara Theatre, White Kite Collective bring their galvanising evening of music, monologues, poetry, stand-up and other performances to Stratford East. White Kite Collective are fundraising for Water is Life and Bridge of Solidarity (8 November 2025).
Mama Goose. A retelling of the classic story with an East London twist, this year’s panto is written and directed by Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu, with music by Robert Hyman and lyrics by Robert Hyman and Vikki Stone (21 November 2025 – 3 January 2026).
A Merry Old Variety Night. A good old-fashioned knees-up on the panto set, just like Joan Littlewood would have wanted (4 December 2025).
Bring the Laughter. Stand-up comedy with performers Kae Kurd, Nabil Abdulrashid, Esther Manito, Eshaan Akbar and more (8 December 2025).
Shoot From The Hip bring their award-winning, internet-viral improvised comedy back to Stratford East (18 December 2025).
Legend – The Music of Bob Marley. The country’s leading Bob Marley tribute act celebrate a musical icon (9 May 2026).
Plus a brand-new production from Stratford East’s Young Company directed by Lilac Yosiphon, the launch of Newham Neighbours – a new initiative to welcome in the local community – and popular programme Young Techs continues to offer young people the chance to gain backstage and technical skills.
Lisa Spirling, Artistic Director and joint CEO of Stratford East, said today: “For our first season we’ve been led by open hearts and inquisitive minds, and we can’t wait to share with you these stories from near and far. We’re thrilled to welcome Tectonic Theater Project and to have Moisés Kaufman create with Stratford the UK production of ‘Here There Are Blueberries’, exploring the human condition and our capacity for complicity in the unimaginable. It’s a joy to welcome Nancy Medina and her Bristol Old Vic production of ‘Choir Boy’ written by Tarell Alvin McCraney. This coming of age, heart-warming play epitomises the warmth with which we want to hold our audiences. Later in the year I will direct the world premiere of rising star Ava Pickett’s play ‘Bloodsport: After Helen of Troy’, a firecracker of a story that will burst onto our stage and leave a lasting impression. These, along with our ‘Mama Goose’ pantomime, brilliant one-nighters including the galvanising White Kite Collective, our standout comedy events, and ‘A Merry Old Variety Night’, are an invitation to join us, to gather, to feel and to think.”
Hanna Streeter, Executive Director and joint CEO of Stratford East, also commented: “Lisa’s bold and brilliant programming, and our vision for Stratford East’s future, builds on the legacy of our incredible predecessors. Our first season together celebrates our wonderfully vibrant East London communities, welcomes world-class artists, and reaffirms our commitment to young people and the next generation, creating pathways to success for those who need it most. With our free learning and participation programme, thousands of £10 tickets, and pay what you can nights, affordable access remains at our heart, made possible thanks to our generous supporters. So come for a great night out, to connect, feel, escape in our beautiful 140-year-old theatre, or dance at a DJ night with our signature rum punch. We can’t wait to welcome you in 2026.”
Jade Lewis, Associate Artistic Director of Stratford East added: “Our first season welcomes beautiful and nuanced stories which explore the highs and lows of our world and time. Each piece centred around the foundations of humanity; where we triumph and where we fall short. Our audiences at Stratford East have a taste for political stories with a social commentary as well as plays which are full of heart, warmth and joy and being a part of building this bold programme is exciting. I cannot wait for audiences to respond.”
Founded in 1884, Stratford East tells global stories in the heart of East London, welcoming everyone to share in its magic. Some of Britain’s most renowned stage and screen artists including Clint Dyer, Cynthia Erivo, Tanika Gupta, Indhu Rubasingham, Meera Syal, Don Warrington, Roy Williams and Barbara Windsor are part of the theatre’s rich history. Today, with Stratford emerging as one of London’s most dynamic cultural quarters, home to the V&A East and Sadler’s Wells East, Stratford East remains a beacon of heritage and cultural innovation. With a programme for 2026 that captures the creative spirit the venue is known for, the new season carries the baton of the past brightly into the future.
A commitment to support young people and the wider Newham community will continue to be at the heart of Stratford East. Following a six-month training programme, a new cohort of Stratford East’s Young Company will take the stage with a brand-new production directed by Lilac Yosiphon (whose recent work as an associate director includes Oedipus, Old Vic). Full details of the show will be announced shortly. Meanwhile, new initiative Newham Neighbours will welcome residents into the building who may not have encountered theatre before, offering free tickets to community groups and opportunities to connect with other locals in the borough through socials, workshops and events. Stratford East also celebrates the continued success of its Young Techs programme, which offers young people the chance to gain essential backstage and technical skills. A brand-new cohort of Young Techs will begin training in early 2026, building on Stratford East’s commitment to creating pathways into the theatre industry.
STRATFORD EAST
Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN
Box Office: 020 8534 0310 | www.stratfordeast.com
Bluesky: @stratfordeast.com
Instagram: @stratford_east
Facebook: /theatreroyalstratfordeast
