Midlands Rainbow recommends: 2027 Shows

With any new year comes new productions to look forward to: from emotional plays and newly-written shows to large-scale musicals, from cabaret and drag to comedy shows. As winter approaches, you might be beginning to look ahead to your own 2027 plans or starting to gather ideas for Christmas gifts (and what better gift could there be than a trip to their new favourite show?). So, Midlands Rainbow recommends some of the best shows on the horizon for 2027, across the West and East Midlands regions.

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★ Everybody’s Talking About Jamie

Starring seasoned drag performer, Divina De Campo, this story about overcoming prejudice to be your authentic queer self through the power of drag comes to Wolverhampton Grand (23rd-27th February 2027), Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre (18th-22nd May), and Nottingham’s Theatre Royal (7th-12th June).  

★ Jersey Boys

This classic musical, featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, plays at this Autumn at Stoke-on-Trent’s Regent Theatre (26th - 31st October 2026) and Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre (2nd-21st November 2026) before coming to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (15th - 27th March 2027). 

★ Heathers

Based on the cult-classic film written by Daniel Waters, this adaptation with Book, Music and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe brings the story to stage in musical form. “Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody…” Heathers, which has already played in Nottingham and Coventry, plays at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre (16th-20th March). 

★ Burlesque

Another adaptation from film to stage, Burlesque is a new musical, Executive Produced by Christina Aguilera, and written by Steven Antin. In the story that bought us iconic lines like "Wagon Wheel watusi", Ali heads to New York in search of her mother and finds herself drawn into the glittering underground world of music and dance in a club like no other. Featuring songs by Christina Aguilera, Sia and Diane Warren, alongside additional songs by Todrick Hall and Jess Folley. There’s still time to catch Burlesque this year at The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (6th-17th October 2026) before it picks up in the new year Northampton Royal & Derngate (26th-30th January 2027), Nottingham Theatre Royal (1st-6th February), and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (6th-10th April). 

★ Send in the Clowns: Nancies!

The Clowns (Fatt Butcher, Blü Romantic, Alanna Boden, and Dahliah Rivers) are back with their latest show. This time, their brilliantly chaotic drag revue show takes on some of the 'Best of British' musicals.”The Clowns have been reviewing the situation… and realised what’s big right now is flying the flag. And if you know one thing about the Clowns, they’ll do ANYTHING – to sell a show. They have Re-formed (wink wink) to focus on the ‘Best of British’. 

“They are ready to muddy their knees on home soil and offer their own hot (pot) takes on musicals: My Fair Theydy, Saddington, Bully Elliott, Sh*tty Sh*tty Bang Bang.. you know the sort. Who will come out on top, as your Nancy supreme?”  Playing at The Rep, Birmingham Wednesday 28th April to Saturday 1st May 2027.

★ Hadestown

The Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning Best Musical, Hadestown, featuring Music, Lyrics, and Book by Anaïs Mitchell is a re-telling of the Greek myths of young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, and gods, the king and queen of the underworld, Hades and Persephone. Hadestown plays at Nottingham Theatre Royal (30th March-10th April 2027), Birmingham Hippodrome (13th-17th April), and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre (26th-30th October), with further dates to be announced. 

★ The Three Musketeers

Playing at the RSC in Stratford-upon Avon from November 2026 until 9th January 2027, this gender-swapped production based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas is written by Paul Hunter and is a co-production with Told By An Idiot.

★ Peter Pan

Based on the book by J.M. Barrie, The Rep Birmingham’s festive production is a magical re-telling of the much-loved classic. Playing at the theatre from 18th November 2026 until 17th January 2027, you'll still have time this year or in the new year to catch this family entertainment, adapted by Phil Porter with original music by Ruth Chan. 

★ Operation Mincemeat

Returning to Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre (24th-28th August 2027) and playing at Nottingham Theatre Royal (27th-31st July 2027) and Coventry's Belgrade Theatre (12th-16th October), Operation Mincemeat is the musical adaptation of the most unbelievably true World War Two story. And, if you want to know more about this brilliant show and what we thought of it when it played at Wolverhampton’s Grand Theatre, then read our review.

★ Titaníque

The West End hit musical comedy featuring songs by Celine Dion sets sail on its first UK tour. More venues are still to be announced but among the early released dates includes Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in November 2027.

★ Beautiful Thing

A brand-new production of Jonathan Harvey's queer coming-of-age play created by Wolverhampton Grand Theatre will be staged in Autumn 2027. “Ste and Jamie are sixteen, next-door neighbours, and about to discover that life can change in a heartbeat. When Ste seeks refuge from his troubled home life at Jamie’s, an unexpected connection begins to blossom into something neither boy has dared to dream of. Amid the chaos of teenage life, the warmth of a close-knit community and the thrill of first love, something beautiful is born.”

Plus, if you're not sure what show your loved one would enjoy most, ATG theatres offer the gift of live theatre with vouchers.

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