The new season promises a mix of classic plays and new writing.
The Animals Come to the Table runs from 1 December 2026 to 24 January 2027.
The plays include Julius Caesar, King John, and The Seagull.
The programme will show new and classic work at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.
Shakespeare’s Globe has announced its 2026–27 winter season. While the open-air Globe Theatre is a spectacular spot, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse offers magical memories of its own. The intimate space comes to life with glowing candlelight and stories that warm the cold evenings.
The 2026–27 winter season at Shakespeare’s Globe promises a mix of classic plays and new writing. Opening the season is Shakespeare’s political drama Julius Caesar, which runs from 6 November 2026 to 14 February 2027 and is directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins. Chekhov’s The Seagull follows from 15 January to 10 April 2027, before the season concludes with Shakespeare’s rarely performed King John, which runs from 20 February to 11 April 2027. Families can also celebrate the festive season with the return of the much-loved musical Pinocchio, playing outdoors at the Globe Theatre from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027.
The Animals Come to the Table runs from 1 December 2026 to 24 January 2027 and is the latest addition to the Globe’s new writing programme. The story sees animals gather around a negotiating table, demanding answers for the exploitation of the natural world. The new play is written by acclaimed playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker.
Timberlake says: “I believe theatre is the perfect place to explore complex subjects where the answers aren’t easy and we can see different points of view. The more I learned about animal communication, the more fascinated I was by what the animals might have to say to us, and the Playhouse is such a mysterious and magical space, I felt anything could happen there.”
Shakespeare’s Globe Artistic Director Michelle Terry added: “Timberlake Wertenbaker is one of our greatest living playwrights. When she writes a new play, you take notice, and we must certainly take notice of this one and the questions it raises about nature, human nature, and our shared future. We are so proud to premiere this vital play by this most extraordinary of playwrights in one of the greatest playhouses in the world.”
Tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe’s 2026–27 winter season go on sale on 14 July. The prices for each show have not yet been confirmed. Check in with FACT for the best things to do in London.
Where: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, 21 New Globe Walk, London, SE1 9DT
Contact: www.shakespearesglobe.com