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Criterion Theatre

Events

In the Auditorium and Bar
8th October from 19:30 to 21:30
Coffee Morning
In the Bar and Foyer
7th November from 10:30 to 12:00
In the Bar
27th November from 20:00 to 21:00

News

We are thrilled to announce the majority of our season of productions 2027. We think it is an exciting and powerful lineup exploring family secrets, dynamic duos, obsession, resilience, and community, with a range of new and older plays, crossing genres and styles. With work being undertaken to add air conditioning and solar panels to the auditorium in the Spring, we will be having a studio play in the bar in Spring. There will also be later announcements of additional productions for the Autumn. As a member of the audience, actors, backstage teams and front of house please do come along, get involved and be part of a wonderful year of theatre. All details are below and please look out for Open Reading and Audition notices as well as announcements of tickets going on sale for all these productions coming very soon. Welcome to our upcoming theatre season:   January 30th to February 6th : _Appropriate_ by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins March 10th-13th : Studio in the Bar: _The Road to Huntsville_ by Stephanie Ridings May 8th  to 15th : _Springboard Festival 2027_ June 26th to July 3rd : _Things I Know to be True_ by Andrew Bovell September 4th to 11th: _Stones in His Pockets_ by Marie Jones December 4th  to 11th: _The Full Monty _(The Play Not the Musical!) by Simon Beaufoy   MAIN HOUSE: JANUARY 30TH  TO FEBRUARY 4TH 2027 _Appropriate_ by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Directed by Dean Sheridan Written / Premiered: 2013; Cast: 8 (4 W, 3 M, 1 Youth) When the Lafayette siblings return to their late father’s crumbling Arkansas estate to settle his debts, they uncover a hidden photo album containing horrific historical artifacts. As long-buried rivalries ignite and secrets leak out, the family is forced to confront their shared history and implicit complicity in a dark past. _"A razor-sharp, fiercely funny, and devastating interrogation of American history."_ — The New York Times    STUDIO IN THE BAR: MARCH 10TH TO 13TH  2027 _The Road to Huntsville_ by Stephanie Ridings, Directed by Bill Butler Written / Premiered: 2016; Cast: 1(W) A playwright sets out to research women who fall in love with men on death row, only to find herself drawn into a dark, compelling rabbit hole. Travelling from Britain to Texas, this captivating and funny solo show explores love, crime, empathy, and our fascination with the monstrous. _"Fascinating, funny, and deeply unsettling... a compelling investigation into human connection."_ — The Stage   MAIN HOUSE: MAY 8TH TO 15TH 2027 SPRINGBOARD FESTIVAL 2027 Celebrating its 5th anniversary, Springboard provides a week of fabulous and varied entertainment in the form of short one act plays, poetry/spoken word, music, film, literary discussion and visual art. The festival brings together Coventry and Warwickshire amateur and professionals in one space, with in-house Criterion company performances and community/Criterion collaborations alongside external artists, musicians and poets.   MAIN HOUSE: JUNE 26TH TO JULY 3RD 2027 _Things I Know to be True_ by Andrew Bovell, Directed by Kelly Davidson and Connor Bailey Written / Premiered: 2016; Cast: 6 (3W, 3M) Set over the course of four seasons, this poignant drama follows Bob and Fran Price and their four adult children. As each child struggles to define their own identity, long-buried secrets surface, testing the resilience, unspoken tensions, and unconditional bounds of family love. _"A deeply moving, beautifully written portrait of modern family life that hits with real emotional power."_ — The Guardian   MAIN HOUSE: SEPTEMBER 4TH TO 11TH 2027 _Stones in His Pockets_ by Marie Jones, Directed by Richard Warren Written / Premiered: 1996; Cast: 2 (2M) When a massive Hollywood movie production takes over a quiet Irish village, two local extras find themselves caught between Tinseltown glamour and local reality. Following a sudden tragedy, the duo morphs effortlessly into fifteen distinct characters in a hilarious, tragicomic clash of cultures. _"A brilliant, tragicomic triumph that leaps off the stage with boundless energy."_ — The Irish Times   AUTUMN MAIN HOUSE AND STUDIO PRODUCTIONS TBA MAIN HOUSE: DECEMBER 4TH TO 11TH 2027 _The Full Monty_  by Simon Beaufoy, Directed by Anne-marie Greene Written / Premiered: 2013; Cast: 16 (4 W, 11 M, 1 Youth) Based on the BAFTA award winning 1997 film. Down on their luck after the collapse of Sheffield's steel industry, six unemployed men make a radical plan to earn quick cash by creating a male striptease act. As opening night approaches, they battle self-doubt to reveal far more than just their clothes in an uplifting story of solidarity. Critical Acclaim: _"An irresistibly hilarious, heart-warming crowd-pleaser with genuine emotional punch."_ — Daily Telegraph  
5th October

Our Sponsors

Penmans experienced legal team are committed to providing legal services to the people of the West Midlands, Coventry and Warwickshire.

Find out more about all their services at penmanssolicitors.co.uk

In December 2025, The Theatres Trust, in partnership with the Wolfson Foundation, awarded the Criterion £12,000 from its “Theatre Improvement Scheme” to support the journey towards reducing our environmental impact. 

Find out more about our environmental sustainability aims here

In 2026, the Theatre was awarded grant funding through Veolia's Environmental Trust to improve the building's environmental performance and sustainability. A range of improvements will be completed in 2027, enabling the theatre to continue it's journey towards becoming carbon neutral.

Find out more about our environmental sustainability aims here

 

Links

Shakespeare in Love

Dec 5th to 12th 2026
Marc Norman/Tom Stoppard adapted by Lee Hall

Based on the Academy Award-winning movie, this enchanting, hilarious, romantic stage play reimagines William Shakespeare's creative process – and explores his inspiration – as he writes Romeo and Juliet.

William Shakespeare hasn't written a hit in years, and theatre owner Henslowe is counting on Shakespeare's promised comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter, to keep his wolfish creditors from the door. At the casting session, Will hears his lines spoken with great feeling by an unknown young actor and his curiosity is fired. Soon he discovers the secret of the talented young actor and rediscovers his muse. As Shakespeare falls in love with an unattainable noblewoman, the farcical comedy transforms into the timeless tragedy that is Romeo and Juliet.

Reviews of the Play

"A cracking love letter to theatre itself that strikes gold in its stage version" WhatsOnStage

"Lee Hall’s adaptation preserves the wit of the original screenplay while adding some zest of its own... It has a fizzy, infectious exuberance." Evening Standard

"The writing is so witty and literate that it glitters. This is Tom Stoppard’s original work at its sparkling best, ably translated to the stage." The ReviewsHub

Further Auditions

Auditions will take place on June 23rd and 25th. See Audition Information for further details for locations, times, casting and audition process.

For further information about the play, casting requirements and auditions please contact the director Hugh Sorrill on hugh@coventryvision.org.uk 

EDI Assessment

In line with our EDI policy, we undertake an EDI impact assessment of all our artistic programming. This play has no central diversity message. For the purposes of the story narrative, there are indications where specific playing gender identifications are called for and there are also recommendations of approximate playing ages. Otherwise there can be  considerable flexibility around casting with regard to ethnicity, age and disability. Roles can be gender swapped.

Turning the Criterion Green

Criterion Big Build

Turning the Criterion Green

Since 1961, the Criterion Theatre has entertained audiences from its home on Berkeley Road South, Earlsdon.  For many years it has been recognised that our wonderful building needs modernising to take it into the future and to support all our users and visitors.  

Thanks to an incredible gift left by Chris Murly (one of our founding members) and generous donations over many years we have been able to complete the Front of House redevelopment which officially opened in December 2025. 

But that is just the start of our plans, with our sights now set on: 

  • Air conditioning in the auditorium and dressing rooms to remove the reliance on the Victorian heating system and improve our green credentials 
  • Investing in roof and wall insulation to make the building easier and cheaper to heat and cool 
  • Adding solar panels to our roof to generate electricity and support our net-zero challenge 
  • Replacement of the remaining Tungsten lights

As a volunteer-led, charitable theatre company we rely on the generosity of our volunteers, audience members and donors to continue a tradition that stretches back 70 years.   If you feel you can help via a one-off donation, a regular contribution or playing the Criterion Lottery, please contact Barbara Sowerby at fundraising@criteriontheatre.co.uk to discuss how you can help or alternatively via our Just Giving page 

If you are able to help in any other capacity (DIY, professional trades) or just want to be involved please drop an email to volunteer@criteriontheatre.co.uk and make yourself known. There are some wonderful small, manageable projects in the pipeline, a real chance to play a part in shaping the future.

 

Coming Soon

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Main House
Jan 30th to Feb 6th
Stephanie Ridings
Studio in the Bar
Mar 10th to 13th
Various Authors
Main House
May 8th to 15th
Andrew Bovell
Main House
Jun 26th to Jul 3rd
Marie Jones
Main House
Sep 4th to 11th

Just Finished

Sarah Gordon
Main House
Sep 26th to Oct 3rd
Ben Elton
Main House
Jun 27th to Jul 4th
Various
Main House
May 9th to 16th
© 2026 Criterion Theatre Ltd
Registered UK 01643977 | Registered Charity 1161430