We are delighted to unveil the Autumn instalment of our thrilling 2025/26 season.

With a commitment to the transformative power of storytelling, the season builds on our reputation as the UK’s leading venue for bold, innovative work that helps children explore their identities and the world around them.

Bringing together a dynamic mix of timeless folk tales, physical comedy and musical cheer, the programme explores themes of courage, creativity and connection, while celebrating the rich diversity of global cultures. The season also sees us forging new partnerships – from internationally acclaimed company Told by an Idiot to Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Rep – expanding our reach and continuing our mission to push boundaries and create memorable experiences for young audiences across the country.

Rachel Bagshaw, our Artistic Director, comments, "Here at the Unicorn, we are deeply committed to offering the highest quality of work to young audiences, and this season exemplifies that. It’s a joy to curate a programme where we can introduce children to such a diverse range of stories and experiences, from sensory delights for our littlest theatre-goers to exciting musical adventures for our younger years. We’re excited to reveal even more in June, with plans for the rest of the season that will include work for a broader age range. Our mission is to create high-quality work that reflects the world we live in, and we are honoured and proud to take responsibility for shaping the future of theatre for young audiences."

This September there will be a lot of huffing and puffing as The Three Little Pigs (27 Sep – 2 Nov) by Stiles and Drewe (The Billy Goats Gruff,Honk!, Half a Sixpence) will be coming to the Weston. This ‘very curly musical tail’ will be full of catchy songs, humour and fun and will leave audiences squealing with glee, as superstar piglets Bar, Bee and Q set off into the big wide world, against the big bad wolf. Perfect for children aged 3-7, this heartwarming family fable will come to life through music, in an exciting co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre. The show will open at the Unicorn before touring to Chichester.

Returning to the Unicorn following a sold-out run in 2023, the critically acclaimed Anansi the Spider (3 Oct – 16 Nov) will tell one of the greatest tales ever spun. Adapted from timeless West African and Caribbean folk tales about a lovable spiders’ tricks and triumphs, this incredible production will be in a co-production with Birmingham Rep. With a fresh new take under the direction of Unicorn’s Associate Director Robin Belfield (Twelfth Night or What You Will, RSC; Princess Essex, Shakespeare’s Globe), this re-imagined version will bring a renewed energy and vision to this much loved Unicorn show.

Opening in November, the world premiere of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s hilariously funny picture book How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? (15 Nov – 3 Jan) will be spreading some festive cheer. This will be our first co-production with experimental theatre makers Told by an Idiot, a unique opportunity for young audiences to experience work by this internationally acclaimed company. Written and directed by the company’s co-founder and Artistic Director Paul Hunter, this comic Christmas caper will present a thrilling fusion of physical comedy, live music and anarchic fun for audiences aged 2 to 102.

From the makers of the incredibly successful Baby Show and rounding off the season will be Scrunch (30 Nov – 4 Jan), a multi-sensory experience for children aged 6 to 18 months and their grown-ups. Created by Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis, this piece is part of our Early Years programme of work.

Through our Creative Hub, we place children firmly at the centre of the creative process, creating theatre that not only reflects their world but amplifies young people’s voices. Through daring, imaginative, and boundary-pushing productions, we empower children to explore, question, and engage with the world in ways that inspire both joy and critical thought.

Each year, we support over 10,000 young pupils to experience our work through our subsidised ticket programme (more than 20% of all tickets sold). At a time when families and schools are so financially stretched and the arts’ place in the curriculum is continually undervalued, our mission to make theatre accessible to all remains firm.

With an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, the Unicorn nurtures talent, builds community and celebrates the power of young voices in shaping the future of theatre.

The full 25/26 programme will be announced in June.

With special thanks to Charles Holloway OBE, Weston Theatre Season Partner.