Shakespeare's Globe announces 2026-27 winter season

Opening the season is Julius Caesar, which marks the first time Shakespeare's tale of friendship, betrayal and political violence has been staged in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

Shakespeare's Globe has announced its winter season for 2026-27.

Opening the season is Julius Caesar, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, and running from 6 November to 14 February 2027 in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. It marks the first time Shakespeare's tale of friendship, betrayal and political violence has been staged in the playhouse.

This will be followed by The Seagull, which runs from 17 January – 12 April 2027 in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, and reunites Caroline Steinbeis and Rory Mullarkey following Three Sisters in 2025. The play follows the romantic and artistic conflicts of a group gathered in the Russian countryside in the 1890s.

Jaz Woodcock-Stewart makes her Globe directorial debut with Shakespeare's rarely performed history play King John, which runs from 7 February – 11 April 2027 in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse.

As previously announced, the premiere of Timberlake Wertenbaker’s The Animals Come to the Table will open on 11 December, running until 24 January 2027. The play follows animals as they summon humanity to the table to bring an end to exploitation and ecological destruction.

New musical Pinocchio will return for the 2026 festive season, running from 28 November – 3 January 2027. Based on Carlo Collodi’s original stories, with direction by Sean Holmes, book and lyrics by Charlie Josephine, and music and lyrics by Jim Fortune, the musical follows a wooden character come to life.

Shakespeare’s Globe Artistic Director Michelle Terry said: “This new season of plays in our candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is a season of debuts. The premiere of Timberlake Wertenbaker’s new play, the first time Chekhov’s The Seagull has been performed at the Globe, and the first time the epic history plays Julius Caesar and King John have been performed in the intimate indoor playhouse. And we are thrilled to once again bring families together outside in our Globe Theatre for the return of our enchanting musical Pinocchio. This collection of brave and brilliant plays promise us nothing less than a winter of politics, provocation, passion, and pleasure.”

Check back for shows in the Globe Theatre's winter season on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Pinocchio. (Courtesy of Globe Theatre)