Barn Theatre announces MEN BEHAVING BADLY and HONK! for 2026
It has been announced that the 2026 Built by Barn season will kick off with the world premiere stage adaptation of “one of the most successful British comedies of all time” (Telegraph) Men Behaving Badly plus a new festive production of family musical Honk!
Written by Simon Nye, Men Behaving Badly’s original writer, and directed by Joseph O’Malley, Men Behaving Badly: The Play will run at the Cirencester venue from 30 January - 7 March 2026.
Four old friends and a wedding in the morning – what could possibly go wrong?
London, 31st December, 1999. Gary’s clinging to his youth, Dorothy’s had enough, Deborah’s got a plan, and Tony’s…still Tony. The world is bracing for Y2K as our favourite foursome prepare for their own Big Day, but when resolutions clash with revelations, the gang might just prove that the real millennium bug... is them.
Expect pints, fireworks, and a complete lack of adult supervision as we return to the flatmates where the TV series left off.
Director Joseph O’Malley said: “I'm delighted to be joining Simon Nye in bringing one of Britain's best loved comedies to the stage for the first time. The misadventures of Gary, Tony, Dorothy and Deborah have always held a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to bring these much-loved characters to a 2026 audience. To me this show is a celebration of friendship, of the 90s and of the healing power of sitting on a sofa with people you love and talking absolute rubbish. Less doomscrolling and social media anxiety, more real human interaction and, of course, bad behaviour!”
The creative team for Men Behaving Badly: The Play includes set and costume designer Alfie Heywood, sound designer Amanda Priestley, and casting director Marc Frankum.
Later in the year, the Barn will present a vibrant new festive production of Honk!, playing from 21 November 2026 - 3 January 2027.
Ugly has a face only a mother can love. Down at the duckpond his siblings and friends tease him for his looks, but there’s more to this plucky ‘duckling’ than meets the eye. Lost and in peril of being eaten, Ugly undertakes an adventure of wild goose chases and mistaken identities to find out who he really is.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling, this Olivier Award-winning musical with book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe and music by George Stiles, has been performed over 8,000 times worldwide, but the Barn’s 2026 staging introduces a refreshed visual world and updated musical sensibility, while keeping the heart of the classic story intact. Honk! reimagines Ugly’s journey of belonging, self-discovery and hope for a new generation of family audiences. Further details of creative team and casting will be announced in 2026.
CEO and Artistic Director Iwan Lewis said: “This is just a taste of what’s to come in 2026. With the Barn’s production of I’m Sorry, Prime Minister opening in the West End early in the year, our mission is clearer than ever – to build work on our small stage in Cirencester and share it on the biggest stages around the world. To open the season with Simon Nye’s brand-new Men Behaving Badly: the Play and then welcome families back at Christmas for a big musical treat with Stiles and Drewe’s Honk! feels like the perfect statement of intent. I can’t wait to show you the rest of the year.”
Further 2026 season announcements, including co-productions, partnerships and additional Built by Barn titles, will be released over the coming months.
Tickets for Men Behaving Badly go on general sale from Saturday (22 November) at 1pm.
For more info on the upcoming Barn season, please click here.