Critically acclaimed theatre company Guildford Shakespeare Company (GSC) unveils its eclectic Spring Season for 2026, featuring a vibrant, month-long celebration of creativity.
Running throughout April, the programme marks both Shakespeare’s birthday and GSC’s landmark 20th anniversary year, bringing together bold young talent, immersive theatrical walks, and a rare and intimate evening with the company’s co-founders. Building on a much-loved tradition established in 2011, the Spring Season once again reimagines how audiences can experience Shakespeare, transforming unexpected spaces into stages and breathing fresh life into the Bard’s words in surprising and unforgettable ways.
This year, GSC’s spring programme opens with a major milestone as the company’s Young Company celebrates its 10th Anniversary with An Anatomy of (T) Errors on 10th-11th of April 2026. It is a gripping cautionary tale that asks who really pays the price when science goes too far. Devised by GSC’s inspiring company of 13 to 18-year-old theatre makers, the production is based on three of the main company’s 2025 shows, Frankenstein, The Comedy of Errors and Pride & Prejudice, and written by Theo-Toksvig Stewart (Dust Balls, Chewboy Productions; Still Alive Mate, Yellow Hat Productions). The Young Company production is a cornerstone of GSC’s mission, with many past members going on to professional training and careers in the industry.
As part of the 20th Anniversary year, on 19th of April, the much-loved Shakespeare Walks return home to Guildford after recent adventures in Dorking, Cranleigh, Farnham and Godalming. Part treasure hunt, part walking tour, audiences discover hidden heritage gems as actors appear in the least likely places, transforming the surrounding area into a living stage. With brilliant Shakespeare performances woven into the journey, no two walks ever feel the same. Devised and directed by GSC co-founder Matt Pinches, the walks last approximately 60 minutes and depart every 15 minutes, with the route revealed only on the day.
On Shakespeare’s Birthday itself (23rd of April 2026), GSC invites audiences to a special anniversary event with What’s Past Is Prologue: An Evening with GSC’s Co-Founders. Co-founders Sarah Gobran and Matt Pinches look back over two incredible decades of award-winning theatre-making; from discovering real skulls during Hamlet and navigating chainsaw interruptions in The Tempest and Macbeth’s curse, to playing in New York, pioneering outreach projects, and staging theatre on planes, trains, and automobiles. The evening promises to be a heartwarming and inspiring event about how the company began and the journey they have travelled. The event is chaired by local radio legend Peter Gordon, a familiar voice from his years at Eagle Radio, and, in true birthday style, every ticket includes a slice of cake.
Guildford Shakespeare Company co-founder, Matt Pinches, said, “To be making theatre for 20 years is an honour, and I’m really looking forward, with Sarah, to looking back and sharing the incredible, and sometimes quite unbelievable, journey we’ve been on since 2006. As ever, the Young Company show is always a fascinating delight to see what these inspiring young theatre makers come up with, as well as the joy of seeing people discover Shakespeare and their own town in a completely new way. I can’t wait”.
For further information and tickets, visit the Guilford Shakespeare Company website.
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