Bristol Old Vic 2027 season includes new musical Disco Dracula

Bristol Old Vic has revealed its 2027 season, and the headline is a brand new musical with fangs. Announced on 7 October 2026, the programme pairs the world premiere of Disco Dracula with a 40th anniversary revival of Winsome Pinnock's Leave Taking and a fresh staging of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, plus visiting shows, Studio work and comedy across the year.

A world premiere musical in Bristol

Disco Dracula runs from 27 May to 19 June 2027 as a co-production between Bristol Old Vic and Disco Dracula Productions. The theatre's own pitch is hard to beat: it is what you would get if Rocky Horror and Saturday Night Fever had a baby, and then that baby ate you.

The plot follows John and Mina, a jaded couple who only want an ordinary night out. Instead they end up in a disco vampire lair, where the Count is auditioning for eternity and Dracula and his Brides set out to seduce them, testing a relationship that barely survives date night. Expect an original disco score, jump scares, conga lines and, scariest of all, audience participation.

Charlie O'Connor writes the music, with book and lyrics by Alena Henke and O'Connor. Robyn Grant, known for the cult musical comedy Unfortunate, directs. It comes from the producers behind Derren Brown and Peep Show.

A 40th anniversary revival

Bristol Old Vic's Artistic Director Nancy Medina directs Winsome Pinnock's debut play Leave Taking from 23 September to 16 October 2027. It premiered at Liverpool Playhouse in 1987, won the George Devine Award in 1991 and in 1994 became the first play by a Black British woman to be staged at the National Theatre.

Set in North London, it follows Enid, a British-Jamaican mother who came to Britain with the Windrush generation, and her teenage daughters Del and Viv, as Enid turns to an Obeah woman, Mai, and family friend Broderick for guidance. In 2024 Pinnock became the first writer appointed to Bristol Old Vic's Five Year Commitment residency. The Bush Theatre revived the play in 2018: read our review of Leave Taking at the Bush Theatre.

A new Chekhov for Bristol and London

Bristol Old Vic Associate Artistic Director Rikki Henry directs Uncle Vanya from 22 April to 15 May 2027, using David Lan's English version in a co-production with Stratford East. The action moves to a rundown office with a dripping water cooler, where Vanya, his niece Sonya and the doctor Astrov are visited by Alexander and his new wife Yelena, and Alexander announces that he means to sell the business. Henry's concept won praise at Theater Dortmund in 2023.

Visiting shows, Studio work and comedy

January brings The Signalman (19 to 21 January), Food of Love (28 January) and the improvised comedy Austentatious (29 to 30 January). In June, Adrian Lukis, Mr Wickham in the BBC's 1995 Pride and Prejudice, revisits the role in Being Mr Wickham (22 to 23 June).

Dog Man: The Musical, based on Dav Pilkey's bestselling books and aimed at anyone aged 5 and over, tours to Bristol from 24 to 27 June. Hijinx and Sherman Theatre's Housemates follows from 30 June to 3 July, and Bristol School of Acting stages Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along from 12 to 17 July.

In the Studio, Ad Infinitum and Mexico's El Ingenio del Caldero bring Until I Find You (6 to 17 April), followed by New Perspectives and Royal & Derngate's Let The Whale Die (18 to 22 May). Stand up comedy runs through the year as well.

General sale and what comes next

Bristol Old Vic Members get first access, and general sale opens at 12 noon on Wednesday 14 October 2026. Bristol Old Vic says more 2027 shows will be announced in November. For the latest on the premiere, see Disco Dracula at Bristol Old Vic (coming soon).

Before then, the theatre's Christmas show Cinderella: A Fairytale runs from 27 November 2026 to 2 January 2027.