"Absolutely forget the idea of amateur theatre being 'church hall' standard."

That is the message from Joint Artistic Directors Steve Smith and Stephen Duckham as the Talisman Theatre & Arts Centre in Kenilworth announces its ambitious programme for the year ahead.

"Nowadays, we prefer to call ourselves non-professional," explains Steve Smith.

"That simply means we're not paid for what we do. In every other respect, we strive for professional standards across all areas of our work."

Following a successful run of productions in 2025, the Barrow Road theatre is now looking ahead to a packed and varied season, offering comedy, classic drama, contemporary writing, youth theatre, music and family entertainment.

The new programme opened with The Unfriend by Steven Moffat, the theatre's first mainstage production of the season.

The West End hit, which premiered in 2022 to rave reviews, proved a riotous start to the year, playing to full houses all week and generating a record number of names on the waiting list.

"We'd wanted to stage The Unfriend ever since it appeared in the West End," says Steve.

"So we were delighted when it unexpectedly became available. It's a wild comedy — and judging by the incredible response from our audiences, it certainly got the season off to a rip-roaring start."

Next up is Wendy and Peter Pan, Ella Hickson's bold reimagining of J.M. Barrie's classic tale.

First staged at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, the play places Wendy firmly at the heart of the story as she navigates what it really means to grow up. The production will be performed by the very talented Talisman Youth Theatre.

In April, audiences can look forward to more outrageous comedy as Steve returns to the director's chair for Backstairs Billy by Marcelo dos Santos, which premiered in 2023.

"Backstairs Billy explores the surprising relationship between Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Billy Tallon, who served her for 50 years," Steve explains.

"Set in 1979, the play finds the two of them attempting to ignore the political turmoil unfolding outside Clarence House."

May brings one of the great classics of twentieth-century theatre, A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by former Talisman Artistic Director Chris Carpenter.

In June, the stage will be set alight with the high-energy jukebox musical Rock of Ages, featuring iconic rock anthems from the 1980s.

The late summer season sees Bleak Expectations arrive in August. Adapted by Mark Evans from the popular BBC Radio series, the show blends Dickensian storytelling with Monty Python-style absurdity.

October's production is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, adapted by Simon Stephens from Mark Haddon's best-selling novel.

A relaxed performance will be included during the run, reflecting the theatre's ongoing commitment to accessibility.

In November, Patrick Hamilton's psychological thriller Gaslight takes to the stage. Though written in 1938, the play remains chillingly relevant today, with its powerful exploration of coercive control and domestic abuse.

The year concludes in December with the theatre's much-loved annual pantomime, Cinderella - a riotous, colourful and family-friendly Christmas celebration.

"I think this will be a great season at The Talisman, with something for everyone," Steve says.

"There's plenty of comedy, some very famous dramas, two plays from this decade, and of course our big pantomime Cinderella. Tickets are already starting to sell."

Alongside its mainstage programme, The Talisman Theatre & Arts Centre will continue to host a wide range of additional events throughout the year.

Talisman Fringe returns on the first Thursday of every month at the Holiday Inn, while cinema screenings, live music and comedy nights will also feature at the Barrow Road venue.

"These events are hugely popular and really support our aim to be a true Theatre and Arts Centre," Steve adds. "They also help us welcome new audiences of all ages."

"Don't just take our word for it," he concludes. "Have a look at the enthusiastic reviews from our audiences and see what people are saying."

To read audience reviews and find out more about The Talisman Theatre & Arts Centre and its upcoming productions, visit the theatre's website here.

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