Park Theatre announces five new shows to take them into 2026
- Park Theatre partners with Papatango Theatre Company to present the winner of the Papatango New Writing Prize, The Meat Kings! (Inc.) Of Brooklyn Heights*
- Following their highly successful Forsyte Saga, Troupe revive Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap on its 100th anniversary
- Athol Fugard’s The Train Driver is based on true events in South Africa
- Additions to the Summer season include Theatre by the Lake’s Steel as part of their national tour, and a one night only evening of poetry and jazz with Maureen Lipman
X (Twitter): @ParkTheatre | www.parktheatre.co.uk
Park Theatre has announced five new shows, including two timely revivals at the start of 2026 and the winner of the Papatango New Writing Prize. The first time Park Theatre has partnered with Papatango Theatre Company will be on The Meat Kings! (Inc.) Of Brooklyn Heights by Hannah Doran, running throughout November. 2026 will start with the return of Troupe theatre after The Forsyte Saga with Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap a century after its premiere, and a revival of Athol Fugard’s The Train Driver to celebrate his work after his passing earlier in the year. Newly added to the Summer season are Steel by Lee Mattinson, and a special fundraiser with Dame Maureen Lipman.
In an evening of joyous entertainment. Maureen Lipman & Friends: Poetry & Jazz (11 May) is a stellar lineup from the worlds of poetry and jazz. With British poets Jeremy Robson and Pauline Prior-Pitt, multi-award-winning vocalist Jacqui Dankworth, acclaimed American jazz pianist Charlie Wood, British jazz stalwart Art Themen on sax, and an appearance from centenarian actress Thelma Ruby. With a number of surprise acts on the night, the evening will support Park Theatre’s initiatives including three programmes for those living with dementia and their carers, and also their access performances, ensuring there is at least one access performance for every run in the venue.
Steel comes to Park Theatre (11 – 14 June) as part of its national tour presented by Theatre by the Lake. Lee Mattinson’s play, set on the wet West Cumbrian coast, follows mates James and Kamran when one of them discovers he is heir to a single mile of the British railway system. The lads are forced on a town-wide treasure hunt where annihilated aunties, Snakebite-drenched drag queens and a zombie Princess Diana lay in wait. In a town once rich with coal seams and ore, with community and carnivals, with sea air and ale, James and Kamran are fed up with feeling different – tonight they’re painting the town technicolour and asking what it means to be a man in a play about first loves, forging identities and the wild, wild hearts of teenage boys.
For the inaugural partnering between Park Theatre and Papatango Theatre Company on the Papatango New Writing Prize, winning play The Meat Kings! (Inc.) Of Brooklyn Heights (30 Oct – 29 Nov) is Hannah Doran’s drama carving into the dark underbelly of America’s anti-immigration policies and the brutal sacrifices that drive the pursuit of prosperity. T is the new summer hire at Cafarelli & Sons, an iconic New York butcher, but life in a messy cutting room isn’t glamorous. With the American dream of a better life hanging in the balance, T and her colleagues-turned-competitors sweat for their jobs. Alliances form, romance sparks, and loyalties shift.
Kicking off 2026, The Train Driver (14 Jan – 7 Feb) is a timely revival of Athol Fugard’s soulful exploration of guilt, suffering, racial intolerance and the powerful bonds that grow between strangers, based on a true story. In December 2000, Cape Flats, South Africa, a woman steps in front of a train with her baby on the railway tracks between Philippi and Nyanga. Two months later Roelf, the train driver, has spent weeks searching for the identities of the victims. After a fruitless journey through shanty towns, he encounters an old gravedigger named Simon who helps the desperate man unburden his conscience.
And finally, returning to Park Theatre after their hugely successful The Forsyte Saga Part 1 and 2, Troupe will be giving Noël Coward’s The Rat Trap (28 Jan – 14 Mar) a stylish period revival on its 100th anniversary. In fashionable 1920s Belgravia, Sheila, a talented novelist, and Keld, an aspiring playwright, embark on married life. Both are fiercely ambitious, but when Keld’s career takes off and Sheila’s doesn’t, professional jealousy and an affair have a devastating effect on their marriage.
Artistic Director Jez Bond said, “I’m pleased to announce four plays and a fundraiser – with both spaces boasting a piece of new writing and a revival to enthral our audiences. We’re pleased to be working with two producers new to us, to begin a partnership with Papatango and to welcome back Troupe Productions (following their success with The Forsythe Saga). As we enter our thirteenth year, and arts funding seems more challenging than ever, we’re honoured by the continued support of our fabulous friends of stage and screen; and are delighted to welcome back Maureen Lipman and friends for a fundraising evening of poetry and jazz.”
Park Theatre presents exceptional theatre in the heart of Finsbury Park, boasting two world-class performance spaces: Park200 for predominantly larger scale productions by established talent, and Park90, a flexible studio space, for emerging artists. In eleven years, it has enjoyed 10 West End transfers (including Rose starring Maureen Lipman, The Boys in the Band starring Mark Gatiss, Pressure starring David Haig and The Life I Lead starring Miles Jupp), two National Theatre transfers, 14 national tours, seven Olivier Award nominations, has won multiple OffWestEnd Offie Awards, and a Theatre of the Year award from The Stage as well as their inaugural Campaign of the Year award in 2025 for their work reaching underserved audiences with Canadian/ Korean comedy drama Kim’s Convenience.
Listings information
Park Theatre, Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London N4 3JP
www.parktheatre.co.uk | 020 7870 6876*
* Telephone booking fee of £3 per transaction applies. All ticket prices are inclusive of a £1.50 building levy.
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Park200 11 May
Maureen Lipman & Friends: Poetry & Jazz | Presented by Park Theatre
An evening of joyous entertainment. Dame Maureen Lipman leads a stellar lineup from the worlds of poetry and jazz – from renowned British poets Jeremy Robson and Pauline Prior-Pitt to multi-award-winning vocalist Jacqui Dankworth, acclaimed American jazz pianist Charlie Wood and British jazz stalwart Art Themen on sax, this is set to be a delightful evening to remember. With an appearance from centenarian actress Thelma Ruby and a number of surprise acts on the night, don’t miss this special event – all in aid of Park Theatre.
Running time: 1hr 50 mins (inc interval)
Sun 11 May 7pm | £89.50 – £39.50
Park90 11 – 14 June | Press night: Fri 13 June
Steel | Presented by Theatre by the Lake in association with Park Theatre
Written by Lee Mattinson, directed by Liz Stevenson
Cast includes: Suraj Shah, Jordan Tweddle
Part of National Tour
Two lads. Twelve hours. One million pounds.
On the wet West Cumbrian coast, James and Kamran have been mates for more than a decade. At seventeen, the world should be theirs but Workington’s a ghost town – an unemployment blackspot where lasses drink Bacardi by the pint and boys don’t cry.
When James discovers he is heir to a single mile of the British railway system, the lads are forced on a town-wide treasure hunt where annihilated aunties, Snakebite-drenched drag queens and a zombie Princess Diana lay in wait. But who rightfully owns the mile of steel? Why is Kamran in such a strop? And what really happens in the pub down by the docks?
In a town once rich with coal seams and ore, with community and carnivals, with sea air and ale, James and Kamran are fed up with feeling different – tonight they’re painting the town technicolour and asking what it means to be a man in a play about first loves, forging identities and the wild, wild hearts of teenage boys.
Running time: 85 mins (no interval)
Weds – Sat 7pm, 3.15pm matinees Thu & Sat | £25 – £15 (standard), £9.50 (access), £10 (Park Up 16-26 years, throughout the run
For full tour dates see www.theatrebythelake.com/whats-on/steel-on-tour/
Park200 30 Oct – 29 Nov | Press night: Tues 4 Nov
The Meat Kings! (Inc.) Of Brooklyn Heights | Presented by Papatango Theatre Company and Park Theatre
World Premiere of the 2024 Papatango New Writing Prize Winner
Written by Hannah Doran, directed by George Turvey
T is the new summer hire at Cafarelli & Sons, an iconic New York butcher, but life in a messy cutting room isn’t glamorous. No-nonsense boss Paula tries to keep everyone in line, but the business is struggling: when the season ends, someone’s for the chop.
With the American dream of a better life hanging in the balance, T and her colleagues turned competitors sweat for their jobs. Alliances form, romance sparks, and loyalties shift. But how far will they go to secure their future?
The Meat Kings… carves into the dark underbelly of America’s anti-immigration policies and the brutal sacrifices that drive the pursuit of prosperity. Winner of the 2024 Papatango New Writing Prize from a record-breaking 1,589 submissions, Hannah Doran’s fierce and blisteringly funny debut play is directed by Papatango’s Artistic Director, George Turvey (Shook, National Tour & Sky Arts), following previous Prize discoveries that have won Olivier, Critics’ Circle and OffWestEnd awards.
Relaxed performance Thurs 13 Nov 5pm, captioned performance Fri 21st 7.30pm
Mon – Sat 7.30pm, matinees Thu and Sat 3pm I £57.50 – £22.50 (standard), £29.50 – £20 (65+ Mon eve and Thu mat, bands B, C and D only), £18.50 (access), £10 (Park Up 16-26 years Band C & D throughout the run) I Previews 30 Oct – 1 Nov £15 – £35
Park90 14 Jan – 7 Feb | Press night: Fri 16 Jan
The Train Driver | Presented by Proud Haddock and Sarah Lawrie in association with Park Theatre
Written by Athol Fugard, directed by Jimmy Walters
December 2000, Cape Flats, South Africa. A woman steps in front of a train with her baby on the railway tracks between Philippi and Nyanga.
Two months later Roelf, the train driver, has spent weeks searching for the identities of the victims. After a fruitless journey through shanty towns, he encounters an old gravedigger named Simon who helps the desperate man unburden his conscience. Based on a true story, The Train Driver is a soulful exploration of guilt, suffering, racial intolerance and the powerful bonds that grow between strangers.
After receiving its world premiere at the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town in March 2010, the play received it’s UK premiere in November 2010 at the Hampstead Theatre.
This production is the first UK revival in 16 years and will be directed by Jimmy Walters (Mrs Orwell, The Trackers of Oxyrhynchus) and presented by Proud Haddock and Sarah Lawrie in association with Park Theatre.
Running time: 75 mins
Dementia friendly performance 22nd Jan 3.15pm, captioned performance 27th Jan 7pm
Mon – Sat 7pm, 3.15pm matinees Thu & Sat | £25 – £15 (standard), £9 (access), £10 (Park Up 16-26 years, throughout the run I Previews 14 & 15 Jan (£15)
Park200 28 Jan – 14 Mar | Press night: Mon 2 Feb
The Rat Trap | Presented by Ashley Cook for Troupe in association with Park Theatre
100th year anniversary production
Written by Noël Coward, reimagined by Bill Rosenfield
‘When two brilliant egoists marry… there is bound to be trouble.’
In fashionable 1920s Belgravia, Sheila, a talented novelist, and Keld, an aspiring playwright, embark on married life. Both are fiercely ambitious, but when Keld’s career takes off and Sheila’s doesn’t, professional jealousy and an affair have a devastating effect on their marriage.
Startlingly moving, but full of customary sparkling wit and dark humour, Noël Coward’s first play is given a stylish period revival for its centenary year. The Rat Trap is lovingly revised by Bill Rosenfield and presented by Troupe, who return to Park Theatre after their critically acclaimed production of The Forsyte Saga Parts 1 and 2.
Running time: 2hrs 20 mins (inc interval)
Captioned performance Weds 11 Feb 7.30pm, audio described performance Sat 14 Feb 3pm
Tues – Sat 7.30pm (plus Mon 2 Feb), matinees Tues, Thu and Sat 3pm I £57.50 – £22.50 (standard), £29.50 – £20 (65+ Tue & Thu mat, bands B, C and D only), £18.50 (access), £10 (Park Up 16-26 years Band C & D throughout the run) I Previews 28 – 31 Jan £15 – £35