It promises to be a season to remember as Sheffield Performance Venues unveil show-stopping Autumn/Winter 2025 programme…
If Sheffield knows one thing, it’s how to put on a show. From legendary nights at the Octagon to spine-tingling recitals in Firth Hall and inspiring theatre performances in the Drama Studio, this city has always known the power of live performance to bring people together. And this autumn/winter, Sheffield Performance Venues are keeping that tradition alive with a season featuring two curated strands – Concerts and Enable US – stacked with new sounds, bold theatre and nostalgia-soaked gigs.
We took a closer look at what’s in the pipeline…
CONCERTS: BOUNDARIES PUSHED, AND TRADITIONS REIMAGINED
This season’s Concerts programme spans the globe and tears through genres – a carefully curated series that refuses to sit in a single box. Electronic innovator Mark Fell teams up with South Korean cellist Okkyung Lee for a night of glitchy textures and visceral cello, while Ustad Noor Bakhsh introduces Sheffield to the raw, hypnotic sound of the Balochi benju (a kind of zither unlike anything else you’ll hear this year).
For folk fans, Welsh harpist Cerys Hafana is pulling her country’s traditions into fresh, exciting shapes. She’s joined in the programme by the high-octane quartet Flook, while Heidi Talbot and Boo Hewerdine bring a stripped-back warmth that feels tailor-made for autumn evenings. Moving into the colder months, seasonal festive folk with A Winter Union will bring the year to a close.
Modern Jazz takes centre stage with the Laura Jurd Quintet, while the Gould Piano Trio and pianist Charles Owen deliver the kind of world-class classical performances that anchor the programme. And for those who like their music on the meditative side, the collaboration with Music in the Round focuses on Élaine Radigue’s slow-burning works – performed on organ, harp, violin and double bass. Plus, enjoy international collaborations with Arsen Petrosyan, Mehdi Rostami and Adib Rostami, the forward-thinking Gamelan of Ensemble Nist Nah, and the post-punk energy of Avalanche Kaito.
And it wouldn’t be the University’s Concerts series without their own musicians stepping up. The University Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Chamber Choir will all take their turn in the spotlight.
ENABLE US: SHEFFIELD’S HOME FOR BOLD, NEW THEATRE
If the Concerts programme is about sonic adventure, the Enable US strand is about being a platform for bold, contemporary performance – and Sheffield is all the better for it.
The ever-provocative Jérôme Bel brings mischievous deconstructions of what theatre can be, while Bad Immigrant dives into stories of identity and belonging with raw, personal honesty and a healthy dose of humour. Birdwatching, Shed Stories and Into the Light all bring fresh perspectives on the world we live in, identity and belonging, while Funk as Puck combines circus, anarchy, satire and politics.
And here’s the kicker: while Sheffield’s no stranger to music and theatre, Enable US is the only space in the city consistently offering dance, physical theatre and circus. It’s work that pushes, provokes and connects – the kind of shows that leave you buzzing with questions long after the lights go down.
THE OCTAGON: A STAGE WITH STORIES
And then there’s the Octagon – the crown jewel of Sheffield Performance Venues and a space dripping with history. For decades, it’s been where Sheffielders came of age musically – ask anyone who’s lived here over the last 40 years and they’ll have a memory: Pulp tearing up the stage in their hometown, the sheer chaos of Oasis at their peak or Nirvana thrashing their way into legend. It’s the room where generations of students and locals have sweated shoulder-to-shoulder, knowing they were part of something special.
This year, the Octagon is proving it’s still the beating heart of the city’s live scene. Indie icons Suede headline with their timeless swagger, while Doves bring their atmospheric anthems north. Sheffield’s own Heaven 17 will turn the dial back to synth-pop glory days, and the Everly Pregnant Brothers continue to bring their unique brand of South Yorkshire satire.
There’s a new wave bubbling too: rising stars CMAT and James Marriott, fresh indie favourites English Teacher and Alessi Rose, along with cult names like The Royston Club and The Dualers, all add fresh energy to the bill. Meanwhile, The Signatures: Northern Soul Live promises a dancefloor-ready celebration of a genre that’s never gone out of style.
Comedy fans are well catered for, with Alan Davies bringing his latest tour and a festive blow-out featuring Sam Campbell, Lucy Beaumont, Rhys James and Sarah Keyworth coming this Christmas. The laughs will continue into the new year with podcast star Shane Todd and BAFTA and British Comedy Award-winning Irish stand-up Aisling Bea. For something more cerebral, Professor Alice Roberts delivers a lecture-performance on empire and domination, while Off the Shelf returns with another city-wide celebration of ideas and storytelling.
And because Sheffield loves a good tribute night, there’s plenty to belt along to – from Man in the Mirror (a celebration of Michael Jackson) to the Sheffield Beatles Project, giving a local twist to timeless classics.
MAKE SOME MEMORIES
So, whether you’re catching a world-class pianist in Firth Hall, a daring new piece of dance at Enable US or belting out indie anthems shoulder-to-shoulder in the Octagon, one thing’s clear: Sheffield still knows how to put on a show.
Full listings and tickets: performancevenues.group.shef.ac.uk/whats-on
