Oxford Playhouse have announced their programme for their Spring 2022 season for the Playhouse, the Burton Taylor Studio and the OP Digital Stage. 

The season will be themed around ‘Smile with OP’, with the Playhouse hoping to share happy experiences with audiences and encouraging audiences to return to the theatre.

The 2022 season will include a co-production from Oxford Playhouse, Rose Theatre and Alexandra Palace to bring Jane Austen’s Persuasion to the stage in a riotous fashion with a foam party and a soundtrack from Frank Ocean, Dua Lipa and Cardi B.

The season kicks off with comedian and OP patron Stewart Lee with his much anticipated double bill Snowflake/Tornado, with other comedic shows announced being Paul Merton’s Impro Chums and Craig Revel Horwood will be dishing the gossip in The All Balls and Glitter Tour. Ed Gamble’s new show Electric and Dame of comedy Pam Ayres will also be taking to the stage and Michael McIntyre will bring new material in a work-in-progress show. 

Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly’s The Dresser takes a funny, affectionate look at backstage life, with Olivier award-winning Patricia Hodge and Nigel Havers starring in Noel Coward’s Private Lives from 1-5 March 2022. 

A student production of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd’ will perform on the main stage from 2-5 February, followed by Black is the Colour of my Voice inspired by the life of Nina Simone on 10 February. 

The Oxford Theatre Guild will host a community production of Nicholas Nickleby from 8-12 March and this will be followed by BLKDOG and Reginald D Hunter’s Bombe Shuffleur. 

Full listings for the season can be found here.