The Yard Theatre is staging its first musical: a new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company, directed by Jay Miller, opening in Hackney Wick in May 2027 before heading to Wales and out on tour.
A new production of Company arrives at the Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick next summer, running from 27 May to 10 July 2027. Yard members get first go at tickets from 17 November, and general sale opens at noon on 19 November.
It is the first musical the east London theatre has staged, and its Olivier Award-winning founder and artistic director, Jay Miller, directs. The Yard, English Touring Theatre and Theatr Clwyd confirmed the plans in their official announcement at midday, with press night on 8 June 2027. After London the production moves to Theatr Clwyd in Mold for 9-18 September 2027, then sets out on a national tour, with dates to be announced. WhatsOnStage, which first reported the news this morning, says the show will be played by a company of actor-musicians.
Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics and George Furth the book. The 1970 musical centres on Bobby, who reaches his 35th birthday still single while the couples around him marry, raise children or split up. The Yard is billing it as "a musical comedy about the life you should be living by now". The score includes Being Alive, Side by Side by Side and The Ladies Who Lunch. The original Broadway production was produced and directed by Hal Prince, and Jonathan Tunick's orchestrations are credited for this staging.
Máth Roberts is musical director, arranger and orchestrator. Set and costumes are by Anna Yates, lighting by Jackie Shemesh, sound by Josh Anio Grigg and choreography by Malik Nashad Sharpe. Casting is by Heather Basten, and the cast and remaining creatives have yet to be announced.
The Yard Theatre and English Touring Theatre present the production, in association with Theatr Clwyd. Miller said: “Company is one of the best pieces of theatre ever written. Everyone goes through that stretch in their life where everyone around you seems to know something you don’t, or be someone you aren’t. Bobby’s still in it. I can’t wait to get started.”
The Yard’s executive director, Ashleigh Wheeler, said: “We've been wanting to do a musical for ages but to make it happen we needed the support, input and verve of incredible partners. We're so happy to be making this work for audiences in London and around the country with ETT and Theatr Clwyd. As Sondheim put it, ‘three is company, safe and cheery.’”
For English Touring Theatre, joint chief executives Richard Twyman (artistic director) and Sophie Scull (executive producer) said: “Jay is a visionary director whose work over recent years has been consistently bold, surprising, and theatrically adventurous. Bringing that sensibility to Sondheim’s Company, a musical loved by so many, is hugely exciting. We’re delighted to be making it with him and the team at The Yard and look forward to sharing it with audiences in London and across the UK.”
The same announcement named the cast of the Yard’s January premiere, Troy Hunter’s There’s Something About Adam Black, led by Olisa Odele. Earlier this week the Yard released rehearsal images of Ian McKellen and Taylor Russell in Lear.
At the Yard, previews run from 27 May until press night on 8 June, and a captioned performance is scheduled for 6 July at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10-£85 plus a £2.50 booking fee. Four front-row "Happy Birthday Bobby" seats at £135 are held for every performance, and anyone aged 27 or under can buy £5 tickets at the door for performances that have not sold out. Yard Residents can book from noon on 17 November and Yard Regulars from noon on 18 November.
For more information, visit the official website.
