As we celebrate 50 years of Salisbury Playhouse, our Autumn season of theatre brings together ambitious new productions, returning favourites and a rich programme of visiting work for all ages, along with the re-opening of The Salberg Studio!

The season opens with the world premiere of The Haunting of Hill House, adapted by Olivier and BAFTA award-winner Stef Smith and directed by Martin Constantine. Produced by Wiltshire Creative in association with Theatre Clwyd, this gripping new stage version of Shirley Jackson’s iconic novel opens in Salisbury before touring across the UK.

We are also presenting a major revival of Ayub Khan-Din’s much-loved comedy-drama East is East, a sharp and moving exploration of family, identity and generational conflict co-produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton, Citizens Theatre & Derby Theatre.

Over Christmas, our award-winning pantomime returns with a magical new version of Beauty and the Beast. Written by Plested, Brown and Wilsher and directed by Abigail Pickard Price, the production reunites a much-loved creative team, including Jack and the Beanstalk designer Katie Lias, musical director Daniel Looseley, choreographer Julia Cave and lighting designer Nic Farman.

Alongside our in-house work, we welcome a range of acclaimed visiting productions, including Theatre Royal Windsor's The Anastasia File, starring Jenny Seagrove, Simon Shepherd and Rosie Thompson, as well as the Olivier Award-winning hit Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), a bold and inventive take on Jane Austen’s classic.

This autumn also marks the welcome return of the Salberg Studio. The space reopens with a vibrant programme of in-house and visiting productions, including the latest chapter in Matty Butler’s story, Up Down Big Man, from Myrtle Theatre Company, directed by Helena Seneca.

As part of our anniversary year, the Studio will also celebrate the life of Alec Guinness, who opened the Playhouse in 1976, with Two Halves of Guinness, starring Zeb Soanes.

For younger audiences, the Salberg Christmas offer returns with a brand-new musical adaptation of The Tailor of Gloucester, directed by Wiltshire Creative Artistic Director Gareth Machin – bringing festive magic to families once again.

The autumn theatre season goes on sale to supporters on Tuesday 21 April and to the public on Thursday 23 April.