A new stage adaptation of the classic BBC sitcom Porridge, created by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, is set to tour UK venues throughout 2027. Directed by Samuel Freeman, the show aims to bring the prison comedy’s iconic characters and humour to life for modern audiences.

The Porridge stage adaptation will begin its UK tour in September 2027, visiting a range of theatres including The Rondo Theatre in Bath, Salisbury Playhouse, Medina Theatre on the Isle of Wight, and venues across the country until November. The production will feature a cast of three, with specific casting and creative team details to be announced.

Porridge centred on career criminal Fletcher and his cellmate Godber, navigating life behind bars with a mix of humour and heart. The sitcom is well known for its sharp wit and the dynamics between inmates and prison officers, notably Mr Mackay and the well-meaning but hapless Mr Barrowclough.

Creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais reflected on the sitcom’s setting, highlighting the comedy that arises from characters confined together. Clement noted that Porridge is “the ultimate example” of comedy thriving in “captive situations,” drawing a comparison to Steptoe and Son and its co-dependency themes.

Director Samuel Freeman expressed enthusiasm about adapting such a beloved British comedy, describing the script as “full of unforgettable characters, razor-sharp wit and the heartfelt truth of a friendship found in one of the toughest places.” Freeman aims to celebrate the well-known adventures of Fletcher, Godber, and the prison ensemble through a theatrical experience.

The tour is produced by Joshua Beaumont and Matthew Emeny for The Production Garden. It will visit more than twenty venues across England and Wales, including Buxton Opera House, Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury, and The Montgomery Theatre in Sheffield, covering a wide geographic area from September through November.

While precise casting and other creative collaborators remain to be confirmed, the production promises to deliver a fresh take on a national television treasure. Porridge’s enduring appeal as a comedy rooted in confined circumstances reflects a broader British theatre trend of adapting popular screen works for the stage.

This adaptation joins a growing list of stage versions of classic sitcoms, tapping into nostalgia while exploring the possibilities of live performance in bringing familiar characters to vivid life.