Porridge is going on the road. A new stage version of the BBC prison sitcom, adapted and directed by Samuel Freeman, visits 23 UK venues between September and November 2027, and tickets go on sale this Friday, 16 October.
A new stage adaptation of Porridge sets off around the UK next autumn. The tour opens at the Rondo Theatre in Bath on 9 September 2027 and ends at BEAM in Hertford on 12 November. Every date goes on sale this Friday, 16 October.
Samuel Freeman has adapted the show for the stage and directs it. The producer is The Production Garden, the independent company currently touring Private Peaceful.
The source is the sitcom written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, which ran on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977 with Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale in the leads. In 2000 it placed 35th in the British Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest British television programmes.
The stage version keeps the original set-up. Old lag Fletcher and his green young cellmate Godber are serving their time inside HMP Slade, getting by on quick wits and the odd scheme. No casting has been announced yet.
Most stops are short visits of one to three nights, so it pays to check your local date early. The longest stay is six nights at Salisbury Playhouse. The full itinerary:
- 9-11 September: Rondo Theatre, Bath
- 13-18 September: Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury
- 21 September: Medina Theatre, Isle of Wight
- 24-25 September: Lighthouse, Poole
- 28 September - 1 October: Lichfield Garrick, Lichfield
- 2 October: New Theatre, Peterborough
- 4-5 October: Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate
- 6-7 October: Lancaster Grand Theatre, Lancaster
- 8 October: Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes
- 9 October: Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple
- 14 October: The Riverfront, Newport
- 15 October: Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury
- 16 October: Ffwrnes, Llanelli
- 18 October: Regent Theatre, Ipswich
- 19 October: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
- 20 October: Marina Theatre, Lowestoft
- 22-23 October: Victoria Wood Theatre, Cumbria
- 25-27 October: Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield
- 28-30 October: Buxton Opera House, Buxton
- 1-4 November: Floral Pavilion, New Brighton
- 5-6 November: Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury
- 8-10 November: Malvern Theatres, Malvern
- 12 November: BEAM, Hertford
