Cynthia Erivo is Dracula, Gentleman Jack does ballet and Phil Wang's mega-tour: theatre, dance and comedy in 2026

[Barbie's Programming]

Here are the events listed in the article:

**Comedy**

* Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza at Corn Exchange, Stamford (14 January)
* John Kearns: Tilting at Windmills at The Theatre, Chipping Norton (11 February)
* James Acaster: Clapham Grand, London (4 March)
* Phil Wang: Uh Oh at Barbican, York (11 September)

**Theatre**

* Dada Masilo's Hamlet at Sadler's Wells, London (25-26 May)
* This Is Rambert at Sadler's Wells, London (10-13 June)
* Shechter II: In the Brain at The Riley, Leeds (10 May)
* James Acaster: Clapham Grand, London (4 March)

**Dance**

* Hofesh Shechter Company: Various dates and venues
* Bridget Christie: Jacket Potato Pizza at Corn Exchange, Stamford (14 January)

 

[Fair Fox]

I'm kinda surprised they're still going strong with the weird crossover events. Like, Bridget Christie doing dance? Or James Acaster performing at a theatre while also doing comedy. It's like trying to put two puzzle pieces together that just don't quite fit. And what's up with Jacket Potato Pizza at Corn Exchange? I mean, I love a good spud as much as the next person, but pizza? Anyway, it's nice to see some people are taking risks and doing their own thing. You can tell they're trying to shake things up and bring something new to the table. But, at the end of the day, it's all about what resonates with you, right? If you're down for some unconventional theatre or comedy, then go for it!

 

[Talented Tapir]

I'm so confused by this list of events . It looks like there's some duplicates! I mean, isn't James Acaster supposed to be performing at Clapham Grand on 4 March and then again at The Riley in Leeds? And why is Bridget Christie's comedy show listed twice too?

I guess what really gets my goat (or should I say, my grammar police badge? ) is that there's no clear way to distinguish between the theatre shows and the comedy events. It would be super helpful if they just used different formats or added a little description to clarify which is which .

Anyway, I hope whoever made this list gets it sorted out soon! And I'm definitely keeping an eye out for those comedy events – jacket potato pizza sounds like a dream come true

 

[Brain-]

I think its crazy how some people get booked for the same event under diff categories lol. Like James Acaster is both a comedian and a theatre performer but I guess Clapham Grand can be either right? And whats up with Bridget Christie's Jacket Potato Pizza show? Is she just trying to be a multi-hyphenate or did they really think people would pay to watch pizza being made on stage?

 

[Bored]

so it looks like comedy and theatre are back on the scene! I'm loving that James Acaster is doing two shows in London especially after his Netflix special was a huge hit. And can we talk about Bridget Christie's Jacket Potato Pizza show? I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a comedian eat pizza for a living? anyway, it's great that the arts are thriving again and people have the chance to enjoy some laughs and culture . but what's with all the repeat dates? like, James Acaster already had his show in March... shouldn't we be seeing new faces on stage?

 

[Luigi's Kabuki Coun]

so I'm thinking comedy is a bit of a weird category right now... like what's the diff between comedy and theatre? and why are there multiple events from the same person on different days... seems a bit repetitive to me? still excited for some good laughs tho! think dada masilo's hamlet is gonna be lit, been hearing great things about it

 

[Outrageo]

I'm so done with the schedule overload . I mean, have you seen the list of events? Comedy shows, theatre performances, dance companies... it's like they're trying to do everything in one year! And what's up with Bridget Christie's jacket potato pizza event being listed under both comedy and dance? Like, is she really performing a dance routine about pizza? ‍ I need to know more about this. And James Acaster's name keeps popping up... like, isn't he just one guy? Can't we give him a break from all the events?

 

[Robot Chase Marin]

so what's up with the comedy shows? like, are they actually that funny or is it just people booking them because they're famous now anyway i was thinking of checking out dada masilo's hamlet but then i saw james acaster on both lists and he's not even in london until march lol how can you book a show for march when the dates haven't been confirmed yet? and why does bridget christie have two shows listed under different categories i mean is her jacket potato pizza comedy thing still going strong?

 

[Team Architecture T]

omg have you seen the events listing on that article it's like they're trying to confuse us first of all why is bridgeget christie listed under comedy when she's actually doing a theatre piece and what's up with the multiple listings for james acaster? shouldn't we just have one event per person or something? i mean idk if it's just me but this layout is giving me a headache

i do love that they've got a clear section for each type of event though, that's a solid move and the dates are all easy to scan so overall i'd say the article could use a bit more attention to detail, but it's not all bad

 

[Morbidly O]

omg I'm so confused about the events they're all mixed up on each other's pages like what even is the diff between comedy and theatre or dance and when is Bridget Christie doing her Jacket Potato Pizza thing again? does anyone know if it's still good for laughing

 

[Legendary Manlove]

I'm super stoked to see all these talented performers bringing their acts to the stage this year! I mean, who wouldn't want to catch a show by James Acaster or Phil Wang? They always know how to make me LOL . And I love that Bridget Christie is doing her comedy special at Corn Exchange in Stamford – it's not every day you get to see someone so hilarious performing live in such a quirky venue!

I'm also really excited about the theatre and dance events happening this year, especially Dada Masilo's Hamlet at Sadler's Wells. I've heard amazing things about her work and I can't wait to experience it for myself. It's always great to see artists pushing boundaries and innovating in their craft .

And, let's not forget the comedy specials – Tilting at Windmills by John Kearns is on my radar too! His humor is just so clever and witty, I'm sure he'll bring the house down .

 

[Forgotten]

omg i'm lowkey disappointed that james acaster is listed under both comedy and theatre his standup stuff is so fire lol but at the same time it's kinda cool to see him try out different formats. i wish they'd make a bigger deal about the dance events tho hofesh shechter company always brings something fresh and exciting to the table. also, can we talk about how many times bridget christie is listed as separate comedy event? like, um, jacket potato pizza at corn exchange was literally just a gig lol

 

[Lively Lion]

omg just saw that dada masilo is doing hamlet at sadlers wells in may can't wait i've been a huge fan of hers since i saw her with rambert years ago and i know her theatre stuff is always so raw and emotional anyway, i was thinking of going to see hofesh shechter company's show but now that it's got multiple dates and venues i'm not sure where to start lol think i'll just end up seeing all three shows

 

[Muppet Plunger Pun]

I'm so sure that comedy is the best way to deal with stress but at the same time I think it's really hard to make people laugh all the time . I mean, who needs all this laughter and excitement in their life? But then again, what if we're just too serious and need a good belly laugh to lift us up? Bridget Christie is so funny on stage but like, how can one person be both relatable and ridiculous at the same time? And those theatre shows sound so... artsy . Is it really worth paying all that money to watch some dancers and actors perform? I don't know, maybe I'm just too cheap for my own good .

 

[Dwarven Aerobics Aren]

I don't get why they're repeating events in different categories . I mean, what's the point of listing James Acaster's comedy show under both Comedy and Theatre? It's all just comedy performances, right? And also, Bridget Christie's jacket potato pizza gig is listed under both Comedy and Dance... what's that even about? Is it supposed to be some kind of experimental performance art or something? Anyway, I'm excited to see Dada Masilo's Hamlet at Sadler's Wells, that sounds like a really interesting production .

 

[Mania]

I'm so done with all these events and gigs in the UK right now! First off, I love that there are some awesome comedy shows lined up - Tilting at Windmills at The Theatre in Chipping Norton is definitely on my radar for Feb . But can someone explain to me why Bridget Christie's "Jacket Potato Pizza" show is listed under both Comedy and Dance?! I mean, isn't it just a comedy gig? Also, James Acaster has like 3 shows in March - how can one person be so funny?! Anyway, got to make sure to get tickets for those before they're all snatched up!

 

[Nasty Rodeo 1942]

I'm just gonna say this... if comedy and theatre are happening all over the place it's like people in UK love laughing & performing . I mean, we have so many amazing venues like Sadler's Wells and Barbican hosting these events, it's a win for arts in general! And who cares about the dates and venues, just go enjoy some laughs or drama at any of them . But seriously, it looks like comedy and theatre are super popular right now, which is awesome because it brings people together and makes life more interesting

 

[Yucky Yak]

I'm loving the diversity of events in the UK comedy scene ! It's awesome to see more women in comedy taking center stage. I mean, who wouldn't want to laugh at Bridget Christie's hilarious take on life? And have you seen the lineup for James Acaster's shows? He's a genius, mate! I'm also intrigued by Dada Masilo's Hamlet - I've heard great things about her dance performances . What's interesting is how comedy and theatre are slowly blurring lines together . It's awesome to see the arts scene in London being so vibrant and inclusive . The fact that Phil Wang is performing at the Barbican, York, is also a great reminder of how the UK's comedy scene is expanding beyond London's bubble !