We kick things off with the Southwest’s hottest jazz musicians, Leskyn Kernow, who will open the Barn Theatre on the 5th of March for St Piran’s Day with a good old Cornish knees-up, covering everything from Beyonce to Glenn Miller with a bit of Cornish tradition thrown in for good measure.

Cornish and Community Work

Theatre from Cornish artists includes Life Before You (23rd Feb), a fierce and unflinching new play by Eva Hudson, directed by Roisin McCay-Hines, who returns to the Sturrock Studio after a near sold out performance of Kevrin, Out of Season in 2025. Award-winning Cornish company Ha Hum Ah bring Making a Killing (11th Apr), a razor-sharp dark comedy about justice and corruption, and Scary Little Girls take to the stage with Queenagers (27th Jun), the cabaret that celebrates the funny side of the menopause. We’ll also be welcoming Devon-based contemporary circus theatre company Kook Ensemble to the Barn Theatre with Sand (18th Sept).

The season also features the return of a range of big bands, including The Dave Hankin Big Band (24th Apr), and a summer solstice performance from Plymouth Symphony Orchestra (21st Jun). If Folk is more your thing, then you’re in for a treat this Spring with Filkin’s Drift (29th Mar) and Sarah McQuaid (9th Apr)

Community performances also feature throughout our 2026 season, with choral performances from Cornwall International Male Choral Festival (1st May) and Rock Choir Cornwall (30th May). We’re also delighted to host Teylu Theatre Company's Calendar Girls (29th & 30th Jul) which sees the return of several of the creative team who were part of the award winning 2013 production, named Best Amateur Production Nationally.

Dash Arts make their Sterts debut with Our Public House (12th & 13th Jun). With live music and real words from people across England, Our Public House explores what happens when a whole community spoils their ballots and casts no vote. Each performance will feature local people as part of the story, alongside the professional cast onstage. More details, including how to take part, will be announced early 2026.

Use code EARLYBIRD20 for 20% off Our Public House until 31st Dec 2025.

And There’s More to Come…

More shows will go on sale in the new year, including performances from Nicky Brice Ballet School and Mindbody Dance, and our continued partnership with Carn to Cove.

Also going on sale in the new year is the arc’s return with Echoes of Gonamena: A Dramatic Play Reading with original cast members from the hit 2009 production reunite for a special one-off event to celebrate South East Cornwall’s Mining Heritage. Capturing the true and dramatic story of the Caradon mines’ extraordinary boom and bust years, Gonamena combines a carefully researched script with the talents of community and professional performers. Written by local author Simon Parker and directed by Olivier award-winning Kneehigh director Simon Harvey, Gonamena ’26 will see the original cast back together for two shows only in July 2026.

We’re also thrilled to be welcoming Exploding Words Festival, Songfest’s 10th Anniversary Event, Wild Tribe and Nurture Tribe in 2026 for private hire and celebration events.

Our CEO/Creative Director, Sara Rhodes says:

“From boundary-pushing new Cornish work to world-class music and joyful community performances, our 2026 programme reflects the creative energy, heritage and people that make Sterts such a special place. In May we’ll also host our Festival of Belonging, the culmination of our Arts Council England funded project Rooted, bringing young people and community groups from across South-East Cornwall together on our stage.

As ever, Sterts is powered by the people who support it. I warmly invite you to visit us, enjoy the programme, and share what we do with others. You can also get involved as a volunteer, join our Supporter Scheme, or simply pick up tickets or a gift voucher this Christmas. Every bit of support helps keep this unique organisation going and creativity alive in South East Cornwall.”

We can’t wait to see you, check out the programme at What's On