A brand-new comedy, a national treasure centre stage, and a UK tour filled with music, laughter and heart — Allegra is set to become one of the standout theatre events of 2026. Here are five reasons why this production deserves your attention.

1. Dame Maureen Lipman Leads a Major World Premiere

Dame Maureen Lipman returns to the stage in the world premiere of Allegra, marking her first major UK tour in 20 years. The tour opens at Theatre Royal Brighton during the week she celebrates her 80th birthday, making this a landmark moment in British theatre.

Following her acclaimed West End performance in Rose in 2023, she now leads a joyful, moving and character-driven comedy that showcases her extraordinary comic timing and emotional depth.

2. A New Comedy by Playwright Peter Quilter

Written by Peter Quilter, Allegra blends warmth, humour and poignancy. Quilter is the writer behind internationally celebrated hits including Glorious!, End of the Rainbow and Duets, with work performed in over 50 countries worldwide.

Allegra offers a fresh and uplifting story that balances laugh-out-loud comedy with a touching exploration of memory, joy and resilience.

3. A Story Bursting with Music, Joy and Chaos

Allegra is a woman so full of joy that she cannot stop herself from singing — at home, in the street, in shops and restaurants. Sometimes the music is only in her imagination; at other times it erupts into full-scale performances that disrupt the quiet village where she lives.

What unfolds is a moving and funny examination of how happiness can be both infectious and fragile, told through spectacular song and dance sequences alongside moments of genuine emotional depth.

4. A Major UK Tour Across 2026

Produced by Thomas Hopkins Productions and SAMS Entertainment, Allegra tours the UK from May to July 2026, with performances scheduled in Brighton, High Wycombe, Aberdeen, Malvern, London, Windsor, Glasgow and Bath, with more dates to be announced.

This extensive tour gives audiences across the country the chance to experience a brand-new comedy led by one of Britain’s most beloved performers.

5. A Theatre Event to Put in Your Diary

With Dame Maureen Lipman at the centre of the production, a Tony- and Olivier-nominated playwright, and producers behind some of the most acclaimed UK and Broadway productions, Allegra is already being tipped as one of the theatrical highlights of 2026.

Tickets are expected to be in high demand, so audiences are encouraged to book early and be part of this joyful new production.