Riverside Studios has announced a mainstage season featuring five new plays directed by Andy Sandberg, including three world premieres from September 2026. The season aims to present timely stories with global relevance and offers a fresh theatrical programme in London.

The upcoming season, launching in September 2026, will open with Affluenza, a new play written and directed by Andy Sandberg. Running from 26 September to 21 November, Affluenza is inspired by true events and centres on a teen’s drunken car ride that ends in tragedy, exploring the controversial legal defence that followed.

Following Affluenza will be Sacrilegious by Tom Schulman, a comedy set during the holiest day of the year. This play, running from 5 December 2026 to 23 January 2027, follows an idealistic young rabbi as he confronts the billionaire president of his congregation, blending humour with themes of faith and power.

The third world premiere is Expecting by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola, staged from 30 January to 27 March 2027. It examines contemporary social attitudes towards parenthood, diving into why couples delay having children or question whether to have any at all.

Two additional plays will complete the season, with titles and details still to be confirmed. These productions will continue to be largely set in America but address themes with wider global resonance. Casting and creative teams for all five plays are yet to be announced.

Andy Sandberg expressed his enthusiasm for the new season, emphasising his passion for new writing and the excitement of nurturing original work. He highlighted working with UK colleagues as a career highlight and expressed hope that the plays will resonate with audiences and become part of the theatrical canon.

Presented by ABS Productions, Whitney Edwards, Flora Major, Judith Manocherian, Sondra Biller, and Berman-Cohen Productions, the Riverside Studios mainstage season is managed by DEM Productions. The collaboration signals a commitment to fresh, thought-provoking theatre in London’s vibrant cultural scene.

The season’s focus on American settings and globally relevant themes reflects ongoing trends in international theatre, where cross-cultural stories seek to engage diverse audiences in urgent social conversations.