Performed by the University of Lincoln’s third-year Musical Theatre students, in collaboration with students from the Technical Theatre and Stage Management programme, these productions mark a landmark week of live performance: a joyful, hard-earned celebration of three years of study, creativity, and craft.  

The productions arrive as the closing chapter of our Summer of Musicals season that has celebrated bold storytelling, women’s voices, and the power of ensemble performance. From workshops of ambitious new musicals rooted in feminist histories, to first-year productions placing young women at the centre of stories about survival and resistance, the 2026 programme has asked whose stories endure and who gets to tell them. The Taub double bill brings that season to a close with warmth, wit, and exuberance: two stories of love, disguise, refuge, and self-discovery, told through an unmistakably modern lens. 

From the shipwrecked shores of Illyria to the dreamlike refuge of the Forest of Arden, these musicals follow characters who are displaced, disguised, and searching: for safety, for love, and for the freedom to become themselves. Mistaken identities spark chaos and comedy, but also open the door to deeper truths about desire, and belonging. Told twice, in two unforgettable ways. 

Twelfth Night carries an extra note of celebration this year. Shaina Taub’s musical adaptation premiered at the Public Theater, New York, in 2016, making this production a fitting tribute to a decade of a show that has delighted audiences around the world. Ten years on, it arrives in Lincoln for the first time, brought to life by the next generation of musical theatre artists. 

Accessible, joyful, and brimming with live music, both shows offer a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for first-time theatregoers and younger audiences alike. With a running time of just 90 minutes each and no interval, these are ideal family outings. Tickets start from just £5, and for the adventurous, the repertoire scheduling makes it entirely possible to catch a matinee and an evening performance on the same day, experiencing both the world of Illyria and the Forest of Arden in one unforgettable visit. 

Twelfth Night (conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub) explodes Shakespeare’s classic tale of mistaken identity onto the stage with a jazz-funk score that crackles with soul and R&B energy. When Viola washes up on the shores of Illyria, she disguises herself as a man and is sent to court a countess on behalf of a Duke, only to find herself caught in a whirlwind of unrequited love, gender confusion, and unexpected connection. As identities blur and desires collide, Viola begins to discover who she truly is and what she really wants. Named one of the best theatrical productions of 2018 by Time, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Washington Post, this is Shakespeare like you’venever heard him before. 

Directed by Clare Chandler (Programme Leader, Musical Theatre, University of Lincoln), with Musical Direction by Jack Holliday and Choreography by Cariad Morgan. 

As You Like It, named one of The New York Times’ best shows of 2017, is a dreamlike contemporary musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, reimagined as a story of refuge, community, and love in all its forms. When Rosalind, her cousin Celia, and the young Orlando are forced from their homes, they flee into the Forest of Arden: a fantastical place where rules dissolve, identities shift, and strangers become family. Beneath the trees, amid disguise and desire, the forest offers a new way of living, one built on acceptance, joy, and connection. A musical that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary, it invites audiences to fall under love’s spell and imagine a world where everyone is welcome. 

Directed by Jenny Eastop, with Musical Direction by Jack Holliday and Choreography by Lisa Wilson. 

Clare Chandler, Programme Leader for Musical Theatre at the University of Lincoln, said: 

“These are shows that crackle with joy and relevance — Shakespeare at his most alive, and our students at their absolute best. This double bill is everything our Summer of Musicals season stands for: bold, joyful, contemporary storytelling that asks real questions about love, identity, and belonging. Come and be part of it.” 

 Tickets are just £8.50 (£5 for Live Pass Members). Both productions are suitable for audiences aged 5 and above and run approximately 90 minutes with no interval. Latecomers will be admitted at an appropriate point. Please note that actors may be present in the audience and use the main entrance during the show. If you would like to see both shows a Season Pass will cost you £15. 

 Book now at lincolnartscentre.co.uk or call the box office on 01522 837600.