Brief
BBC’s classic sitcom Porridge to tour UK with new stage adaptation
The new production, adapted by Samuel Freeman, will open at Bath’s Rondo Theatre in September 2027 and run through November.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The BBC announced that its 1970s prison sitcom Porridge will be revived as a stage play that tours the United Kingdom in 2027, with tickets becoming available on 16 October.
What happened
The adaptation, written by the original creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, follows inmate Norman Stanley Fletcher’s five‑year sentence at HM Prison Slade. The play will debut at the Rondo Theatre in Bath from 9‑11 September, then travel to Salisbury Playhouse, the Isle of Wight’s Medina Theatre, Poole’s Lighthouse, and a further 27 venues, concluding with a final performance at BEAM in Hertford on 12 November.
What the reports add
Standard.co.uk notes that the new script was adapted by Samuel Freeman, who will also direct the production. Freeman said he is “utterly thrilled” to bring the show back and highlighted the “razor‑sharp wit” and “heart‑felt truth of friendship” in the material. The article also records that the original stage version premiered in 2009 starring Shaun Williamson, and that the cast for the 2027 tour has yet to be announced.
What was said
Ian La Frenais, speaking to the Production Garden, said: “Someone once pointed out that the best comedies thrive in captive situations… Porridge is the ultimate example, where our characters are literally locked up behind bars.” He added that the hope is audiences will “enjoy sharing the familiar experiences of Fletcher, Godber, Mr Mackay and the entire team.”
How it came about
The original television series ran on the BBC from 1974 to 1977, starring Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale and Fulton Mackay. After a 2009 stage version, the BBC has commissioned a fresh adaptation for a 2027 national tour, aiming to celebrate the sitcom’s legacy and introduce it to new theatre‑going audiences.
Key facts
- Porridge will tour 30 UK venues from September to November 2027 (standard.co.uk)
- Samuel Freeman adapted and will direct the new stage production (standard.co.uk)
- Tickets go on sale on 16 October (standard.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] standard.co.uk — originally reported as “BBC prison sitcom Porridge to return to stage with new adaptation”
