Shakespeare’s Globe to bring Pinocchio back for festive 2026 season

Shakespeare’s Globe has announced that its acclaimed new production of Pinocchio will return in 2026 for the festive winter season.

Based on Carlo Collodi’s original stories, Pinocchio is directed by Globe Associate Artistic Director Sean Holmes (Romeo and Juliet, 2025), with book and lyrics by Charlie Josephine (Cowbois, RSC/Royal Court) and music and lyrics by Jim Fortune (Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear).

This reimagining follows the restless maverick Geppetto, who creates a magical wooden puppet called Pinocchio while dreaming of a life beyond his traditional town. Together, the unlikely pair embark on a journey to find family and discover what it truly means to be human. The production features gorgeous original music by Jim Fortune alongside magical puppetry, directed and designed by Peter O’Rourke.

Director Sean Holmes, Associate Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe, says: “I’m thrilled that our production of Pinocchio will live again next year. It’s been a labour of love for so many of us and we are thrilled at how warmly audiences have embraced this new family musical – a musical infused with a joyful communal spirit unique to the Globe. “

The production opened in November 2025 to critical acclaim, with The Telegraph describing it as “one of the best family shows of the season” and The Independent calling it “full of heart”.

The 2025 cast included Lee Braithwaite (Cowbois, RSC/Royal Court) in the title role, Nick Holder (London Road, National Theatre) as Geppetto, Lucy McCormick (Wuthering Heights, National Theatre) as the Blue Fairy/Cat, and Steven Webb (The Book of Mormon, West End) as Jiminy Cricket/Coachman.

They were joined by Ed Gaughan (Black Mirror, Channel 4) as Stromboli, Kerry Frampton (Midsummer Mechanicals, Globe) as Fox, Michael Elcock (Romeo and Juliet, Globe) as Carpenter/Rabbit Prince Charming, Jennifer Caldwell (Six the Musical), Jamal Franklin (King Lear, Duke of York’s Theatre), Lizzy Ives, and Kody Mortimer (101 Dalmatians, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). Puppetry was performed by Stan Middleton, Aya Nakamura and Andrea Sadler.

The creative team featured design by Grace Smart, choreography by Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu, sound design by Tony Gayle, orchestrations by Zac Gvi, with Roberta Zuric as Associate Director and Benjamin Holder as Musical Director.

Casting and performance dates for the 2026 run are yet to be announced.

The Globe’s current season include A Midsummer Night’s and The Tempest, both in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

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