Theatr Clwyd to open with a tick, tick… BOOM!
Theatr Clwyd’s Artistic Director, Kate Wasserberg has announced an explosive opening season for their newly re-developed building
Following its major redevelopment Theatr Clwyd will re-open in 2025 with a new production of tick, tick…BOOM! Directed by Kate Wasserberg, Jonathan Larson’s smash hit musical comes hot on the heels of her West End production of Boys From the Blackstuff. The opening production will be followed by On Wednesdays We Wear Pink, a piece created and performed by Theatr Clwyd’s young people, the season will also include Alan Ayckbourn’s darkly comic thriller Snake in the Grass and Welsh playwright Chris Ashworth-Bennion’s The Red Rogue of Bala.
Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg said:
“This is a watershed moment for Theatr Clwyd and an absolute honour for me as Artistic Director. I am delighted to open this state-of-the-art building with a season that showcases the extraordinary wealth and diversity of talent to be found in Wales. This season reflects our communities and invites audiences back home to us, whatever your taste. We have musicals, comedies, thrillers, new takes on Welsh classics and our iconic pantomime as well as new work in the Welsh language in Wrexham.”
The opening show will be the hit musical tick, tick…BOOM! (2 Jun-28 Jun) by Jonathan Larson, the visionary creator of the cult-classic RENT. Kate Wasserberg, who has directed at the National Theatre and in the West End, directs this musical about the exciting mess of being young, chasing your dreams and reaching for greatness.
On Wednesdays We Wear Pink will be a joyous exploration of fashion and identity throughout history. Created and performed by young people working with a professional creative team, the show will be directed by Theatr Clwyd’s Gwennan Mair.
In the summer, Theatr Clwyd will once again partner with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Wales’ National Welsh language theatre company. Four new short plays about the North Wales experience will be commissioned and performed in Welsh at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.
Snake in the Grass (15 Sep-4 Oct) is Alan Ayckbourn’s darkly comic thriller about family, secrets and murder. Produced with the Octagon Theatre, Bolton, the show will be directed by Wales’ Francesca Goodridge.
Welsh writer Chris Ashworth-Bennion’s The Red Rogue of Bala (3 Nov-22 Nov) will have its world premiere. The hilarious, fast-paced drama set in the heart of Denbighshire is based on notorious jailbreaker, poacher and thief, Coch Bach y Bala. Directing this show is Wales’ Dan Jones, Artistic Director of The Other Room, Cardiff.
Also announced in 2026 and beyond is a new production of Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas’ greatest work, created as part of Craidd, a ground-breaking project improving mainstream theatre representation for and with Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people.
Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre will stage Emily White’s award-winning play about climate change and family in West Wales; Welsh writer Emily Burnett will premiere her hilarious family drama and Nia Morais will write a new take on a Victorian gothic classic. William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will be directed by Juliette Manon as a glorious celebration of queer culture.
Theatr Clwyd’s redevelopment is one of Wales’ most culturally significant projects. The transformative project will deliver a much-improved visitor experience, dedicated spaces for community and engagement programmes and enhanced income-generating and world class theatre making facilities and all within a greener, more efficient building, safeguarding high-quality cultural experiences in North Wales for current and future generations.
Selected performances will go on sale this year. Theatr Clwyd members will receive priority booking from 28 October. Booking opens to the public from 11 November. To book, visit Theatr Clwyd’s website (www.theatrclwyd.com) or the box office on 01352 344101.