As announced at the AGM, the 2026 season at Kelvin is as follows:

 

The Long Road by Shelagh Stephenson

17-21 February 2026 (incl. Saturday matinee)

Directed by Fiona Morrison

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Mary and John have lost their son Danny in a senseless murder. Together with their surviving son Joe, they are each struggling to deal with the loss in their own way. For Mary, the only way to move through her hatred is to understand why it happened – and that means meeting the perpetrator, Emma, in prison.

 

A deeply emotive play laced with hope and humour, charting the complex journey through grief and towards forgiveness.
 

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The King adapted by Chris Thomas from a novel by Donald Barthelme

14-18 April 2026 (incl. a Sat matinee)

Directed by Chris Thomas

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It is the darkest period of World War II. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have returned… to do battle with the Nazis. Along the way, the knights uncover clues that will lead them to The Grail – a terrifying bomb, the weapon to end all wars.

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Two giants of European history and legend collide outside of time in this irreverent and comedic adaptation of Donald Barthelme’s mildly absurd novel of the same name. 
 

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Brassed Off by Paul Allen, based on the screenplay by Mark Herman

1-4 and 8-11 July 2026

Directed by Sam Grayston

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Set in the fictional Yorkshire mining town of Grimley in the mid-1990s, Brassed Off tells the story of a colliery brass band struggling to survive amid the threat of pit closure. The town’s miners face redundancy, and with it the collapse of their livelihoods, families, and community. 

 

Deeply rooted in the cultural and political moment of the 1990s, this is a story of resilience, community, hope, and the rousing power of music. When everything is at risk, music becomes more than sound – it becomes survival.

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The Rabbit & The Rain by Chris Hawkins (BLACK BOX)

28-30 August 2026 (afternoon and early evening)

Directed by Chris Hawkins

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“There was once a rabbit who wanted to know how to stop the rain…”

 

When it begins raining in the Woodland, the Rabbit shuts herself away in her warren and refuses to come outside. The Rain feels bad – it feels like all of her worst thoughts and feelings. The Rabbit’s woodland friends come to visit her, trying to offer advice and to cheer her up, but to no avail. Together, the Rabbit’s friends work out what will truly help her through until the Sun comes back out again.

 

The Rabbit & the Rain is a sweet, heartfelt, family-friendly fable exploring depression, mental health, community, and emotions. 

 

The story is as much for adults as it is for children – we recommend age 6 and above, but this is at parents’ discretion. There’s no bad language, violence, or adult themes.

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The Dying Wish by Mauro Fazion

27-31 October 2026 (incl. Saturday matinee)

Directed by Peter Spence

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Paul has been sentenced to death, for reasons they aren’t fully certain of. The two executioners supervise as they await the judgement of the attorney’s appeals, which seem to involve an increasingly complex system of bribery and a tangle of fresh accusations. 

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Paul has a final request, a dying wish: to play the piano.

 

The bureaucracy of law and the macabre absurdity of capital punishment are held up to scrutiny in this surreal and incisive black comedy, grounded by glimmers of humanity.
 

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Welcome to Thebes by Moira Buffini

1-5 December 2026 (incl. Saturday matinee)

Drected by Katie Kneen & Tim Whitten

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It could happen anywhere; it could happen here.

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Fresh out of a bloody civil war that tore their country apart, Eurydice rules as the newly elected president of the nation of Thebes. The new government has a mammoth task at hand; reconciliation between the two sides, who have each suffered heart-wrenching losses and colossal horrors. 

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As the nation dives headlong into a new, more progressive era, larger and more powerful political players circle like sharks, ready to exploit Thebes for their own gain.

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This clever, gripping, and haunting political drama marries the machinery of modern war with characters and stories from Greek mythology. Laced with witty dialogue and mythological story beats woven expertly into the narrative, Welcome to Thebes asks us to consider the fallout of conflict which feels both very familiar and a million miles away.

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Bristol One Act Festival Entry:

Three in a Lift by Zoltan Mraz

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A fast-paced comedy about reactions to an unexpected situation and rising tensions it creates.

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NB. All matinee performances begin at 2:30pm. All evening performances begin at 7:30pm, with the exception of The Rabbit & The Rain, which will begin at 6:30pm.