Elizabeth McGovern and Ann Cusack One Highlight of Tabard Season
A host of big names appearing at the theatre into the autumn
Ann Cusack and Elizabeth McGovern appearing with The Hotheads
August 5, 2026
The Tabard Theatre launches its forthcoming season with a programme packed with star power and artistic ambition, beginning this week with Maverick Theatre’s Winston and David. Fresh from its success at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, the production offers a sharply drawn, often surprising portrait of two of Britain’s most recognisable prime ministers. Playing Thursdays to Saturdays throughout August, it sets the tone for a season that blends musical flair, classical drama and new writing.
September (16-20) brings one of the most anticipated events of the year: What We Know Now, a five-performance musical collaboration between Ann Cusack and Elizabeth McGovern. Chiswick-based McGovern, known internationally for her award-winning role in Downton Abbey and her Academy Award-nominated performance in Ragtime, joins Cusack, whose career spans blues singing and acclaimed roles in A League of Their Own, Grosse Point Blank, Private Practice and Better Call Saul. Directed by Simon Reilly and backed by live music from The Hotheads, the show blends original songs with much-loved classics as the two performers reflect on identity, ageing, and life in show business. Demand for tickets is already strong so book quickly, and audiences can expect an intimate, stylish evening of music and storytelling.
Early September brings Mettle, Nicholas Collett’s powerful solo play inspired by his father’s experiences on the Atlantic Convoys. Combining wartime testimony, dramatic soundscape and music from the 1940s, the production explores memory, trauma and the stories families inherit. Its intimate scale and emotional depth make it one of the most distinctive pieces in the Tabard’s autumn line -up.
Nicholas Collett examines his father's experiences on the Atlantic Convoys in Mettle
The naval theme continues with the return of Horatio Nelson: Fever and Fire, Adam Preston’s one-man exploration of Britain’s most mythologised naval hero. Following its sell-out run earlier in the year, the production returns for a limited engagement from 8 to 12 September. Praised for its depth of research and vivid storytelling, the show traces Nelson’s early life, personal heartbreaks and legendary battles, offering a portrait that feels both epic and unexpectedly human. Its previous success suggests another rapid sell-out.
Comedy fans might enjor Rob Newman’s Survival Guide to the 21st Century, a work -in -progress that arrives for two Sunday performances on 6 and 13 September. Newman ’s blend of political satire, historical curiosity and philosophical mischief has earned him a devoted following, and these early outings of his new material are expected to draw strong interest.
Later in the month, Dame Siân Phillips arrives at the Tabard with The Greeks, a double bill presented for the first time as a single event. Joined by Rachel Donovan for Women & Troy and Robert Powell for It’s All Greek, Phillips leads audiences through the drama, wit and emotional force of ancient Greek storytelling. From the women of war-torn Troy to the timeless tales of love, laughter and betrayal, the two performances promise an afternoon of rare insight and theatrical elegance. With Phillips’ reputation and the calibre of her collaborators, this is expected to be one of the season’s hottest tickets.
New writing also takes centre stage with Girl Out of the Blue, Giles Cole’s latest drama following his successful run at the Tabard in February 2024. Running from 23 September to 10 October, the play follows seventeen-year-old Abi as she confronts the man she believes to be her father, unravelling long-buried secrets and forcing two families to reckon with the past. Starring Sarah Berger, Miranda Braun, Seeta Indrani and Jonathan Sidgwick, the production promises sharp humour, emotional twists and a compelling exploration of identity and belonging.
October brings a one-off appearance from Johnny Ball, whose television work has inspired generations to see mathematics as lively, surprising and fun. His show, Laughs, Maths and Stories that Must Be Told, arrives on Sunday 18 October at 2:30pm. Blending mathematical history with personal anecdotes from a remarkable broadcasting career, Ball’s performance is designed for audiences of all ages, offering a rare chance to see a beloved communicator live on stage. With only one performance scheduled, early booking is essential.
Tabard Theatre is at 2 Bath Road, W4 1LW just next to Turnham Green tube station.
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