A theatre in Warwick is celebrating its 40th anniversary by taking a look back at its history.

In September 1986 Mary King created Playbox Theatre in a hotel room in Leek Wootton.

Always designed to be unique in being a young people's theatre, exclusively for them from very young to early twenties. By 1988 performing in Warwick and Kenilworth, by 1989 Balsall Common, the same year Stewart McGill joined as Director. Patron Michael Bogdanov joined in 1986.

In 1999 the expanding company created The Dream Factory, a purpose-built Creation and Development Centre in Warwick including a theatre for young people, the UK's first, opened by RSC Artistic Director Adrian Noble and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Now in 2026 the company continues to evolve with 500,000 plus young people having taken part in the journey.

To mark its 40th anniversary, the theatre is kicking off its birthday season with the hip musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical this September (image via Playbox)

Playbox continues to have pivotal satellites in Stratford-upon-Avon and Kenilworth, and new vital relationships including a return to Tokyo in 2027.

To mark its 40th anniversary, the theatre is kicking off its birthday season with the hip musical The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical this September.

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Directed by Juliet Vankay with Music Director, Richard Norris, the play will run from 24 to 27 September 2026 at The Dream Factory.

The season continues with The Massacre at Parisby Christopher Marlowe in October and Peter Pan, this December.

Playbox is also offering an expansive programme of workshops, arts focus events, professional training, voice, musical theatre and technical programmes.

Find out more here.