From pioneering virtual reality experiences and major new theatre works, to '80s icons and the comedy stars of tomorrow, there’s plenty to look forward to in Warwick Arts Centre's Autumn/Winter 2025-2026 Season.


Having premiered Coventry in 2002, the UK's biggest immersive VR experience, In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats, returns to it's spiritual home from 29 September to 13 October 2025.

Following successful residences in over a dozen countries, including Taiwan, Australia and France, this ground-breaking work - which explores the early days of Acid House - has now been significantly upgraded, allowing groups of four people to share the same virtual world.

The new multiplayer version of In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats is part of a wider series of activities marking the University of Warwick's 60th anniversary, with the Coventry arts centre also hosting the Warwick At 60 Talks. Addressing issues around identity and race, and how these affect both individual and collective states of wellbeing and belonging, those in conversation are Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason (Tuesday 21 Oct), Mina Smallman (Tuesday 4 Nov), Gary Younge (Thursday 6 Nov) and David Olusoga (Monday 17 Nov).

At the heart of Warwick Arts Centre's forthcoming season is Handle With Care!, an uplifting strand of performances and appearances that demonstrate how the arts can offer comfort and support, understanding, and escapism in these unsettled times.

Highlights include Zoo Co and Improbable's award-winning Perfect Show For Rachel (Tuesday 7 - Wedenday 8 Oct), where learning-disabled artist Rachel leads the creation of her 'perfect show'; the premiere of PlayWell Production's exciting new 1970s-set musical, Black Power Desk (Tuesday 14 Oct); Koro's immersive game-theatre show 1884 (Tuesday 14 - Wednesday 15 Oct); and Graeae Theatre Company's tale of resilience, Bad Lads (Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 Nov).

There's also The People's Takeover (Saturday 29 Nov), which enables local communities to programme and create what they want to see in Warwick Arts Centre's spaces, and Made In The Midlands (Thursday 5 Feb) featuring new works by Midlands-based creatives, while the venue’s plush cinema is broadening their accessible film screenings to include audio descriptions, relaxed screenings and Bring Your Own Blanket screenings too.

Further highlights across the autumn/winter season include the first UK solo exhibition from celebrated Japanese ceramic artist Takuro Kuwata: Tea Bowl Punk (Friday 31 Oct - Sunday 15 Mar); Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company's distinctive take on Shakespeare's The Tempest, We Caliban (Tuesday 21 Oct); author Kit De Waal (Friday 24 Oct); artist/broadcaster Grayson Perry (Thursday 30 Oct); and wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan (Sunday 15 Feb).

Leading the music charge are the mesmerising John Grant (Monday 13 Oct), '80s icons Toyah (Thursday 30 Oct) and Level 42 (Sunday 16 Nov), contemporary jazz original Theon Cross (Wednesday 22 Oct), ABBA celebration Björn Again (Sunday 19 Oct), and the Nils Frahm-produced ganavya (Sunday 5 Oct).

There's also another laughter-packed comedy programme with Stevie Martin (Friday 3 Oct), Omid Djalili (Thursday 9 Oct), Jack Dee (Friday 17 Oct), Chris McCausland (Wednesday 4 Feb), Sara Pascoe (Friday 14 Nov), Desiree Burch (Friday 13 Feb), and Sue Perkins (Saturday 14 Mar).

Plus, for younger visitors, colourful adaptations of much-loved picture books The Tiger Who Came To Tea (Saturday 29 Nov - Sunday 28 Dec), Ruby's Worry (Sunday 1 Feb), and Tales From Acorn Wood (Saturday 21 - Sunday 22 Feb).

Doreen Foster, Warwick Arts Centre's Director, said: "After a summer of wonderful film screenings in our cinemas, our performance and gallery spaces open for one of our busiest and most diverse seasons yet.

"There's all the big names you'd expect to see at Warwick Arts Centre, from Eddie Izzard, Chineke! Orchestra and legendary soul group The Stylistics, to family favourite Nick Cope and the ever unfiltered Miriam Margolyes, as well as our amazing Always Free Foyer programme of workshops and creative sessions.

"But underpinning it all is Handle With Care! - a thought-provoking series of performances, events and activities that provoke and comfort, and help us make sense of the world."

For more details on Warwick Arts Centre's Autumn/Winter 2025-2026 Season see: warwickartscentre.co.uk

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