Family favourites, adaptations of classic novels, a night of Shakespeare and another stage production by Kenilworth favourite Andrew Davies all feature in the 2025 programme for the Talisman Theatre.

The Barrow Road venue has this week announced its lineup of mainstage productions for the coming 12 months - which also includes a tie-up with Kenilworth Castle for the 450th anniversary of Elizabeth I's visit to town.

Talisman Fringe and cinema will also return for 2025, promising a jam-packed year of theatre and arts in Kenilworth.

"We have a real mix of productions coming up next year, with something for everyone," artistic co-director Steve Smith told Nub News. 

"Audiences were really positive about our shows in 2024, so as always we have tried to choose a range of well-known productions, but also new adaptations and more complex works for next year.

"And of course we are very excited to announce Andrew Davies has produced another adaptation - this time of Emma - for us, which I am sure will be as big a hit as Pride and Prejudice was last year."

We spoke to artistic co-director Steve Smith about the upcoming mainstage productions at the Talisman Theatre (image via Talisman Theatre)

2025 at the Talisman will get underway with Noel Coward's 'Present Laughter' at the start of February. 

A "hilarious glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous" the 1940's piece will kick start the year with a "night of fun and laughter".

"We were inspired by the actor Andrew Scott [of Fleabag acclaim] as he played the lead in Present Laughter at The National which was streamed in cinemas," Steve explained.

"He was fantastic in it, he was so funny, so we decided to bring that piece to the Talisman.

"It also coincides with the 125th anniversary of Coward's birth, so there are a couple of reasons for doing it."

Present Laughter will kick-start the year with 'hilarious glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous' (image via Talisman Theatre)

The Talisman's talented youngsters will then tread the boards with 'Oliver Twist' - but the play, not the musical version. 

Guy William's adaptation is said to be much closer to the original Charles Dickens novel with a "darker, more realistic view of 19th century London".

'Enchanted April' (fittingly in April) will bring a touch of Italian sunshine to the Kenilworth in spring. 

Set after the First World War, the adaptation of the Elizabeth Von Amim novel tells the story of middle-class housewives Lotty and Rose who swap their unfulfilling marriages for a journey to the continent. The joyful piece is set to leave audiences "glowing".

True to the Talisman's commitment to exploring new works and bringing variety to its audiences, May's mainstage production will see 'Mary Shelley's Frankenstein' come to town - but with a adaptation which includes the author herself and her struggle with creating the monster. 

Rona Munro's "bold new twist" uncovers Frankenstein's early life and his quest to find a sense of being.

Steve continued: "It is really interesting and it will be a very physical, modern production.

"It will be a really exciting evening for our audiences, that's for sure."

'Whodunnit' fans will then be treated to 'The Mirror Crack'd' by Agatha Christie for a fresh interpretation of the 1960's classic. The murderous events are set at Gossington Hall, home of famous Hollywood darling, Marina Gregg - see if you can spot the killer yourself!

To coincide with the Elizabeth I anniversary celebrations, in August, the Talisman will be staging the 'Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)' in August. See The Bard as you have never done before, with just three actors playing all 37 parts. 

The theatre will also be involved with the anniversary celebrations at Kenilworth Castle.

The Talisman is set to mark the 450th anniversary of Elizabeth I's visit to Kenilworth (image via Talisman Theatre)

Following the huge success of his stage production of Pride and Prejudice in 2023 - which saw the Talisman scoop a major theatre prize - acclaimed writer and theatre patron Andrew Davies has adapted 'Emma' for the company. 

The late September production will also provide fitting timing as it will mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.

While tickets are still available for the 2024 pantomime, the Talisman has already revealed that its production next year will be Robinson Crusoe.

But that is not all the Talisman has in store for the coming 12 months, with Talisman Fringe returning to the Holiday Inn on the first Thursday of the month including a 'Fringe Extra' date in January which will feature a collaboration with the Criterion Theatre in Earlsdon. The popular mixed-bill evenings will then return to normal in February with the fitting theme of 'relationships'.

And for those who have not visited the Talisman before, or perhaps are not regular theatre-goers, Steve said the Barrow Road venue is the perfect place to try something new and to have an enjoyable evening.

Talisman Fringe will continue through 2025 (image via Talisman Fringe)

He explained: "The Talisman tries to be a very welcoming place for people when they come. Right from the moment you arrive, the front of house team are really welcoming. 

"Audience members often comment on how much they have enjoyed seeing something different with us, as well as being amazed by the professional standards of performance and production.

"And for anyone who hasn't seen much theatre before, I would really encourage you to come and feel the difference between a live performance and watching something on television or film. It is like nothing else."

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