February 2026

A bold, joyful new play about labels, neurodivergence, and finding your own way to fly
My Brother’s a Genius is an explosive new play by Debris Stevenson, presented by Sheffield Theatres, Theatre Centre, and the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.

Blending poetry, grime, music, and movement, this funny, heartfelt production explores ambition, self-belief, and the weight of expectations placed on young people — all through the powerful bond between siblings.
The story
Meet twins Daisy and Luke, growing up on a high-rise estate where dreams of escape collide with everyday reality. Each has a label thrust upon them: Daisy is branded the “*****”, while Luke is hailed as the “genius”.

As they navigate school, family, and their shared dream of flying, the question becomes clear: will their bond lift them up together, or pull them apart?

With humour, honesty, and warmth, My Brother’s a Genius examines neurodivergence, sibling rivalry, and how labels can shape — and limit — who we believe ourselves to be.
A relaxed and welcoming theatre experience
All performances of My Brother’s a Genius are presented in a relaxed environment, designed to make theatre accessible and comfortable for everyone:
Latecomers will be admitted as soon as possible
Audience members may leave and re-enter if needed
Headphones available for those who require them
A designated quiet space available throughout
Front-of-house staff on hand to guide and support
Access information
Accessible performances available, including:
Audio Description: Ella Hardy
Captioning: Cara Lawless
British Sign Language: Rebekah Mills Strawson

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/my-brothers-a-genius

A playful and imaginative evening with the world’s leading viol consort
After more than a decade away from the city, the celebrated Fretwork return to Sheffield with Take Five, a richly inventive programme performed at the Playhouse.

For nearly 40 years, Fretwork have been recognised as the world’s leading viol consort, renowned for combining deep scholarship with curiosity, humour, and bold musical imagination. This concert offers a rare chance to hear them up close in an intimate setting.
The programme
Take Five weaves together Renaissance masterworks, Baroque elegance, modern classics, and unexpected contemporary arrangements — all centred around music written in five parts or reimagined for the viol consort.

Highlights include:
Johann Sebastian Bach – Pièce d’Orgue, BWV 572
Orlando Gibbons – Two In Nomines in five parts
Claude Debussy – La fille aux cheveux de lin
Henry Purcell – Fantazia Upon One Note
Works by William Byrd, Thomas Weelkes, John Taverner and Christopher Tye
Arvo Pärt – Fratres
A striking contemporary arrangement of Running Up That Hill, arranged by one of Britain’s leading modern composers
The result is a concert that moves effortlessly from early music to the present day — thoughtful, surprising, and deeply engaging.
Why this concert stands out
A rare Sheffield appearance by an internationally renowned ensemble
A programme blending historic viol repertoire with bold modern arrangements
An intimate Playhouse setting that brings audiences close to the music
Booking offers
This concert is part of the Music in the Round Sheffield series:
Save 20% when booking 10 or more concerts in one transaction
Save 10% when booking 5 or more concerts in one transaction

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/fretwork-take-five

An evening of Romantic elegance with one of Britain’s finest quartets
Experience a richly expressive night of chamber music as the acclaimed Consone Quartet return to Sheffield’s Playhouse with Romantic String Quartets — a programme blending Classical innovation with Romantic warmth and lyricism.

Described as “top-notch” by AllMusic, the Consone Quartet has won numerous major prizes and made history as the first period-instrument string quartet selected as BBC New Generation Artists. As Music in the Round Sheffield’s Visiting Quartet, they are fast building a devoted following among Sheffield audiences.
The programme
The evening brings together three contrasting masterpieces that chart a journey through intimacy, invention, and emotional depth:
Clara Schumann – Three Romances (arr. Tress)
Originally written for violin and piano, these lyrical miniatures are reimagined here in a lush and sensitive string quartet arrangement.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – String Quartet in C major, “Dissonance”
Famous for its startlingly modern introduction, this quartet unfolds into music of elegance, vitality, and bold harmonic thinking.
Franz Schubert – String Quartet No.13 in A minor, “Rosamunde”
Lyrical, poignant, and radiant, Schubert’s beloved quartet weaves memorable melodies through moments of tender melancholy and joyful release.
Together, these works promise an immersive and emotionally rewarding concert — ideal for seasoned chamber music fans and newcomers alike.
Booking offers
This concert forms part of the Music in the Round Sheffield series:
Save 20% when booking 10 or more concerts in one transaction
Save 10% when booking 5 or more concerts in one transaction

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/romantic-string-quartets

A joyful, boundary-breaking theatre experience — funny, heartfelt, and unlike anything else
Described as “Funny, heart-warming, triumphant”, Perfect Show for Rachel comes to Sheffield’s Playhouse this February with a critically acclaimed production that redefines what inclusive theatre can be.

Created by the multi award-winning Zoo Co Theatre, in collaboration with Improbable, this extraordinary show was developed with Rachel herself, ensuring the performance is created entirely on her own terms.
Meet the O’Mahony sisters
Flo is an award-winning theatre director.

Rachel is her 35-year-old sister — learning disabled, charismatic, and very clear about what she loves: Kylie, chaos, and people falling over.

Together, they set out to create Rachel’s perfect show: fast-paced, funny, unpredictable — and completely different every night.

What unfolds is a glorious explosion of:
Physical comedy
Live music and dancing
Home movies
Joyful anarchy and audience surprises
Because Rachel creates the show live, the cast must be ready for anything — including fart jokes, singing biscuits, bar-room brawls, and the possibility of being fired on the spot.
Why this show matters
Perfect Show for Rachel boldly asks:
Who decides what “good” art is?
Who gets excluded from that definition?
By putting control directly into Rachel’s hands, the show becomes a celebration of neurodiversity, access, love, and creative freedom — and an experience audiences consistently describe as life-affirming.
Access at the heart of the show
All performances are Relaxed Performances as standard, designed to be welcoming and flexible:
Audiences may leave and re-enter as needed
A quiet chill-out space is available just outside the auditorium
No sudden loud noises; full lighting and standard sound levels
Optional audience interaction only — never compulsory
Deaf and Hard of Hearing access
All performances include a mix of creative captioning, live captioning, and integrated BSL
Voices are amplified via radio microphones
Audio Description
The performance on Thursday 19 February is audio described by specialist improvisation describer Ess Grange
Reviews
★★★★★ “Why can’t more theatre be like this? Open, relaxed, fun and full of love” — The Guardian
★★★★★ “A theatrical experience like no other” — Broadway World
★★★★ “A show that makes us feel part of a family” — The Stage
★★★★★ “An absolute joy to watch” — A Youngish Perspective
Age guidance: 14+

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/perfect-show-for-rachel

A fearless, funny and furious new show smashing menopause taboos
Dry Bits is a bold new one-woman show from Sheffield-based writer and performer Imogen Ashby, developed with support from Sheffield Theatres and funded by the Arts Council England.

Subtitled “Not just the change but the remix”, this riotous production takes menopause out of the shadows and throws it centre stage — with candour, chaos, and a killer 1980s soundtrack.
What to expect
For centuries, the menopause has been whispered about, joked about, or ignored entirely. Dry Bits does the opposite.

Expect:
Office meltdowns and midnight sweats
Teenage ghosts and Hulk-level fury
Unexpected dance moves
Brutal honesty mixed with big laughs
With humour, rage and heart in equal measure, Imogen becomes your fearless guide through a life being rewritten from the inside out — messy, maddening, and surprisingly liberating.
Why this show matters
More than a comedy about hot flushes, Dry Bits is:
A rallying cry
A revelation
And a brilliant night out
It invites audiences to laugh, rage, reflect — and feel seen.

Perfect for anyone who has ever Googled:
“What is happening to me?”
Audience information
Age guidance: 16+
Accessible performances available

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/dry-bits

A vital new resource launch supporting writers through menopause
Writing the (R)age is a timely and thoughtful event launching a new resource designed to support writers navigating peri-menopause and menopause, addressing both personal challenges and structural barriers within the creative industries.

Curated by Rachel Barnett-Jones, the resource has been developed from a series of in-depth conversations with writers experiencing menopause. The resulting packs offer practical strategies for managing symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, and fluctuating concentration — alongside guidance for organisations on how to create inclusive, flexible, menopause-aware working environments.
What the event includes
The afternoon launch event will feature:
A keynote speech
An expert panel discussion
Small-group conversations, giving attendees the chance to share what they need during this stage of life
Confirmed contributors include representatives from the British Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM)and theatre maker Imogen Ashby, with additional speakers to be announced.

Together, the panel will explore:
The specific challenges writers face, including isolation and high cognitive demands
How menopause intersects with freelance and portfolio careers
What meaningful industry support can — and should — look like
Why this matters
Menopause remains under-discussed in the creative sector, despite affecting a huge proportion of its workforce. Writing the (R)age puts lived experience at the centre, challenging silence and offering tangible tools for change — both for individuals and institutions.

This event is particularly relevant for:
Writers and freelancers
Producers, commissioners, and arts managers
Anyone interested in access, inclusion, and sustainable creative careers
Age guidance: 16+
Produced and supported by
The launch of Writing the (R)age is produced by Sheffield Theatres, Big Imaginations Network, and Sensible Creative, with support from British Association of Performing Arts Medicine.

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/writing-the-rage

A thrilling two-piano concert of colour, rhythm and raw energy
Two of the UK’s most compelling pianists, Ivana Gavrić and Tim Horton, return to Sheffield’s Playhouse for an evening of spellbinding music for two pianos.

Following their 2025 concert described by Bachtrack as “piano playing at its most… visceral”, this new programme dives deep into the rhythmic power, colour, and drama of early 20th-century repertoire — culminating in one of the great virtuoso statements for two pianos.
The programme
At the heart of the concert is Sergei Rachmaninov’s own two-piano arrangement of his Symphonic Dances — music brimming with propulsion, dark lyricism, and electrifying rhythmic drive.

The full programme includes:
Claude Debussy – En blanc et noir
Expressionistic and vivid, this work conjures shifting clouds of colour and sharp contrasts across the two keyboards.
Maurice Ravel – La valse
A hypnotic, swirling portrait of a society dance spiralling towards excess and collapse. As Ravel himself described it:
“Whirling clouds give glimpses, through rifts, of couples dancing… The light of the chandeliers bursts forth, fortissimo.”
Sergei Rachmaninov – Symphonic Dances
Urgent, muscular, and deeply expressive, this final masterpiece showcases the sheer power and colour possible when two pianists work as one.
A special Sheffield performance
This concert will be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for future broadcast, marking it as a standout event within Sheffield’s classical calendar.
Booking offers
This concert is part of the Music in the Round Sheffield series:
Save 20% when booking 10 or more concerts in one transaction
Save 10% when booking 5 or more concerts in one transaction

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/symphonic-dances-for-two-pianos

An electrifying night of contemporary jazz in Sheffield
Sheffield Jazz returns to the Playhouse with an unmissable live performance from the Denys Baptiste Quartet — bringing deep swing, infectious melodies, and fearless improvisation to the heart of the city.

One of the UK’s most acclaimed saxophonists, Denys Baptiste is renowned for his powerful technique, emotional depth, and ability to move effortlessly between jazz tradition and contemporary influences. His work draws on a rich mix of musical forms and popular culture, earning him a reputation as one of the most versatile and in-demand soloists on the scene.
The band
Denys is joined by an exceptional line-up of musicians, combining experience with rising talent:
Denys Baptiste – saxophone
Sultan Stevenson – piano
Larry Bartley – bass
Joel Barford – drums
Together, the quartet explores a vibrant programme of new compositions, jazz standards, and revisited works from Denys Baptiste’s award-winning albums.
What to expect
This is a night for jazz lovers who enjoy:
Deep, driving swing
Inventive solos and dynamic interplay
Melodic hooks alongside adventurous improvisation
The energy of a top-class live jazz ensemble
Whether you’re a regular on the Sheffield jazz circuit or discovering it for the first time, this concert promises a richly rewarding live experience.

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/sheffield-jazz-denys-baptiste-quartet

An immersive solo performance rooted in ancient sound and modern expression
Experience the powerful, hypnotic sound world of Jasad, a striking solo performance from Faris Ishaq — master of the Nay, one of the oldest flutes still in use today.

Rooted in Faris’s Palestinian heritage, this performance celebrates the Nay’s 5,000-year history in Middle Eastern culture while pushing the instrument into bold, unexplored territory through original composition and innovative performance techniques.
What is Jasad?
Jasad — Arabic for “body” — is a deeply physical, fully acoustic solo performance. Faris performs on the Nay while simultaneously playing:
A leg-mounted frame drum
Foot percussion
These elements are woven together live to create multi-layered rhythmic and melodic textures, evoking the feel of looping and electronic music — yet created entirely in the moment.
What to expect
With exceptional dexterity and expressive nuance, Faris blends:
Intricate, flowing Nay melodies
Dynamic, grounded percussion
Rhythmic cycles that build and evolve organically
The result is a mesmerising performance that bridges ancient tradition and contemporary experimentation, inviting listeners into a meditative yet rhythmically charged soundscape.
Part of Music in the Round Sheffield
This concert forms part of the Music in the Round Sheffield programme.

Booking offers:
Save 20% when booking 10 or more concerts in one transaction
Save 10% when booking 5 or more concerts in one transaction

🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/jasad-music-for-middle-eastern-flute