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Shows include Romans: a novel, The Line of Beauty, Christmas Day, American Psycho, A Doll’s House, Under the Shadow, Cleansed, Golden Boy, Desire Under the Elms

New season stars Kyle Soller, Romola Garai, Leila Farzad, Josh O’Connor, Zackary Momoh

Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, Michael Grandage, James Macdonald, Rupert Goold, Sam Pritchard, Joe Hill-Gibbins, Nadia Latif, Sam Yates, Ebenezer Bamgboye

Writers include Alice Birch, Jack Holden, Alan Hollinghurst, Sam Grabiner, Henrik Ibsen, Anya Reiss, Carmen Nasr, Sarah Kane, Clifford Odets, Eugene O’Neill

The Almeida Theatre in London has announced the final season of its outgoing artistic director Rupert Goold.

10 productions make up the final season, including four world premieres, a musical revival of American Psycho, and “reimaginings” of classic plays including A Doll’s House.

Video: Hear from the cast and creators of the new season

Highlights of the new Almeida season include:

  • The world premiere of Romans: a novel, a new play by award-winning writer Alice Birch, featuring Kyle Soller and directed by Sam Pritchard
  • Tony Award winner Michael Grandage directs the world premiere of The Line of Beauty, adapted by Olivier Award nominee Jack Holden from Alan Hollinghurst’s Booker Prize-winning novel (More about The Line of Beauty coming to the Almeida)
  • Olivier Award winner Sam Grabiner presents the world premiere of Christmas Day, directed by James Macdonald
  • Rupert Goold revisits his acclaimed production of musical thriller American Psycho (Read more about the Almeida’s American Psycho announcement)
  • Following her Olivier Award-winning performance in The Years, Romola Garai returns to the Almeida in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, in a new version by Anya Reiss, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins (Read moreaboutA Doll’s House at the Almeida)
  • An adaptation of Babak Anvari’s BAFTA-winning film Under the Shadow by Carmen Nasr, featuring Leila Farzad and directed by Nadia Latif
  • Rebecca Frecknall (Cabaret) directs Sarah Kane’s masterpiece Cleansed, her final production as Almeida Associate Director (Read more about Rebecca Frecknall’s new production of Cleansed)
  • Sam Yates directs BAFTA winner Josh O’Connor in Clifford Odets’ American classic, Golden Boy (Read more about Golden Boy coming to the Almeida)
  • Former Almeida Resident Director Ebenezer Bamgboye returns to direct Zackary Momoh in a revival of Desire Under the Elms by Eugene O’Neill
  • 81 (Life), the second in a trilogy of plays exploring what it means to live, work, love, pray, celebrate and mourn in Islington, co-created by Rhianna Ilube with 81 local people and presented in partnership with All Change and Cardboard Citizens

Outgoing artistic director of the Almeida Theatre, Rupert Goold, said in a statement: “Today we announce my final season as Artistic Director at the Almeida. A season that, I hope, captures the spirit and values of our past 12 years. We present 10 productions including four world premieres, four revivals of classic plays and a revisit of the musical from my first season at the Almeida.

Rupert Goold on his new Almeida 2026 season

“New writing has always been a central pillar of our work so I’m proud to be premiering brand new plays from four of the most exciting voices in the country. Three of the writers are new to us in Alice Birch, Jack Holden and Sam Grabiner, while Carmen Nasr returns following her Almeida Young Company production The Maladies in 2022. Another artist continuing their journey with us is Ebenezer Bamgboye who was on our Resident Director Scheme in 2018 and now gives his take on Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms, featuring Zackary Momoh. This great American play joins Joe Hill-Gibbins and Anya Reiss’ new version of A Doll’s House, with Romola Garai following up her Olivier Award-winning performance in The Years; Rebecca Frecknall’s production of Sarah Kane’s infamous Cleansed; and Josh O’Connor featuring in Clifford Odets’ Golden Boy, directed by Sam Yates. I will be revisiting my production of American Psycho, the show with which I launched my tenure back in 2013 – partly to explore what may have changed since then. It’s a complex feeling to leave Islington and this unique theatre for a new challenge south of the river so it’s particularly pleasing that before I go, we will also present the second instalment of our Islington Trilogy community productions – a project that celebrates Islington and everyone who lives and works here. While we have looked to the world for our stories, our artists and our influence, our identity has remained as a local theatre. I look forward to seeing you over the next 18 months and thank you to everyone – artists, makers, supporters and above all audiences – for your support over the last decade.”

Almeida Theatre 2026 season – Shows & Dates

  • 81 (LIFE): Thursday 21 August – Saturday 23 August 2025
  • ROMANS: A NOVEL: Tuesday 9 September – Saturday 11 October 2025
  • THE LINE OF BEAUTY: Tuesday 21 October – Saturday 29 November 2025
  • CHRISTMAS DAY: Tuesday 9 December 2025 – Saturday 10 January 2026
  • AMERICAN PSYCHO: Saturday 24 January – Saturday 14 March 2026
  • A DOLL’S HOUSE: Tuesday 31 March – Saturday 16 May 2026
  • UNDER THE SHADOW: Tuesday 2 June – Saturday 4 July 2026
  • CLEANSED: Tuesday 21 July – Saturday 22 August 2026
  • GOLDEN BOY: Tuesday 8 September – Saturday 31 October 2026
  • DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS: Tuesday 10 November – Saturday 19 December 2026

What’s currently playing at the Almeida Theatre?

Currently playing at the Almeida is 1536 by Ava Pickett, until 7 June 2025. Coming up is A Moon for the Misbegotten starring Michael Shannon, Ruth Wilson and David Threlfall, from 18 June until 16 August 2025. 

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Main photo: Almeida Theatre London. Photo provided by PR

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