We sat down for an exclusive interview with Katharine Farmer, Arcola Theatre’s producer and associate artist, who has put together the Spring Season along with the Artistic Director. Upholding compassion through turbulent times, this season is a theatrical tapestry that pays homage to the marginalised and the brave. Championing voices and stories of those fighting to define their place in the world, and putting humanity front and centre, Arcola strives to present ideas of hope and endurance. From world premieres to bold adaptations, the season unfolds with urgent new writing and international drama.
What guiding ideas or questions shaped your choices when putting the programme together?
I had the privilege of supporting our co-founders Leyla Nazli (Executive Producer) and Mehmet Ergen (Artistic Director) as they shaped the season. One of the questions that drove their thinking was, “Whose stories urgently need to be heard right now?” We’re all acutely aware of how much conflict and instability is defining the world around us, but alongside that there’s a real hunger for compassion and connection. I saw them work to create a programme that acknowledges fractures while also offering space for audiences to come together.
From my perspective, what really guided the season was a desire to create a larger conversation. Whether it was a world premiere or a new adaptation of a classic text, Leyla and Mehmet looked for work that balanced evocative storytelling and social relevance.
This season is described as a “homage to the marginalised and the brave.” What did that theme mean for you as you built the line-up?
Supporting the programming conversations, I saw how supporting the voices of marginalised voices resonated with Leyla and Mehmet. So many stories in this season centre on people whose courage is often quiet, persistent, and unrecognised. The theme became a way of honouring individuals and communities pushed to the margins, and also shining a light on those who stand up to power, even if it comes at personal cost.
But this isn’t a bleak season! Leyla was very clear that the season also needed to celebrate resilience, humour, and love.
How do you approach curating a season that balances international perspectives, political urgency, and emotional resonance?
Arcola is based in Hackney, which is one of London’s most diverse and multicultural boroughs, and we are always reaching internationally. I saw this ethos influence Leyla and Mehmet’s vision to curate a season that was all about balancing global political urgency with emotional depth. When you have a story from Gaza next to a play about Kurdish endurance, or a reimagined Greek tragedy beside a tender portrait of older Londoners, it reminds us that the world is expansive and inter-connected.
What story do you hope the season tells when taken as a whole?
I think the season tells a story about the endurance of humanity under pressure. So many of these productions ask how we continue in the face of war, injustice, trauma, or even the quiet struggles of everyday life. And just as importantly, they ask where we find hope.
This is the Arcola’s 25th year. How did that milestone influence your thinking about what an Arcola season should look like in 2026?
Reaching 25 years is a huge milestone for the team at Arcola, and it definitely shaped the atmosphere as we discussed this season. While Leyla and Mehmet led the vision, supporting them meant engaging with those big questions about legacy and future direction.
The anniversary reminded all of us that the Arcola’s audience values ambition and risk-taking. It pushed us to think boldly. It also reaffirmed the core principles that have defined the theatre for a quarter-century: internationalism, social engagement, and giving space to voices that are too often overlooked.