The Orchard Project London Theatre Tour
A one-of-a-kind backstage tour of the best theatre in the theatre capital of the world
April 12-19, 2026
This April, The Orchard Project will once head to London for its annual London Theatre Tour. For unparalleled access to those making the best theatre in London, join us on an unforgettable insider’s trip. As a leading institution committed to developing the next generation of theatre, we have amazing friends and colleagues in London — from those at the Royal Court, the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, and the Old Vic to artists like Mike Bartlett (King Charles III), Lindsay Turner (Top Girls), Laura Wade (Home, I’m Darling) and Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors) — who will join this insider’s trip to make it truly unique.
More than any other group tour to London, The Orchard Project’s London Trip gives an exclusive and intimate view of what it takes to make theatre in one of the hottest cultural destinations in the world. Our history of supporting artists, projects, and companies is on full display through one-of-a-kind backstage events, breakfast talks, and other exclusive events.Â
We’ll book the very best of London theatre and round out our time with extraordinary special guests. Each day, we’ll gather to talk about the plays after breakfast and find time to connect to the work onstage and to each other. Very often we’ll have very special guests join us for the discussions — visitors will often include Orchard Project alumni and friends making much of the great new work on the London stages. We’ll talk some more at fabulous group dinners at top London restaurants. Our trip will feature some of the best playwrights of the last 60 years, some of the most sought-after directors and actors worthy of attention in every show. Beyond the stellar performances, these plays will make for wonderful conversation as they each connect to the other in some intriguing way. They should challenge as much as they entertain.
We like to think this tour provides an insider’s view on great theatre, in great company, in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. The dollar looks particularly strong at the moment, which is yet another good reason to consider making your reservations right away. London is always wonderful, and this promises to be a very special year.
Booking Dates and Information
This trip is now on sale. For information about the trip and how you can partake, please email us at adls@orchardproject.com or call 646 760 6767 x 150.Â
Priority will be given to established donors to The Orchard Project (and their friends and family).
Join Us This April in London
Email us to reserve your spot today
Inclusions & Exclusions
THE TOUR INCLUDES
- Seven nights at the fabulous five star Haymarket London hotel in central London*
- Breakfast daily (sometimes at the Haymarket, sometimes off-site to accommodate special talkbacks and events).
- Evening drinks and/or afternoon teas with leaders of some of London’s most exciting theaters and theatre-makers
- Two group dinners as part of the tour (Other dinners will be available as a group addon)
- Six productions in London
- Private guided gallery and museum visits
- Guided walking tours
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights
- Items of personal nature
- Optional travel and trip cancellation insurance
- Other lunches and dinners during the tour
- Gratuities
2026 PRICES
- If booked by Dec 1, 2025: $6,966 per person (shared occupancy)
- If booked by January 1, 2026: $7,250
- If booked by February 15, 2026: $7,500
- $2,000 deposit to reserve spot**
- $2,300 single supplement
- Upgrade available to Deluxe room upon request (~$700 upgrade per person based on dual occupancy)
- Local to London or have your own place to stay? Contact us if you would just like to join for the show and other portions of this tour – we can provide quotes for those portions only.
All bookings include a tax deductible donation to The Orchard Project and/or to our non-profit partners that will total $1,000 per person.
THE FINE PRINT
Cancellation Policy:Â
- Payments made (less charitable contribution) will be refunded in full for cancellations made before January 1, 2026.Â
- Cancellations made from January 1, 2026Â to February 1, 2026 will forfeit 35% of the total trip cost per person (less charitable contribution).Â
- Cancellations made from February 1, 2026Â to March 1, 2026 will forfeit 50% of the total trip cost per person (less charitable contribution).Â
- Cancellations made after March 1, 2026 will forfeit the entire trip cost.Â
We recommend purchasing travel insurance from your preferred broker. While we do not make any recommendation, a selection of travel insurance outlets is below:
https://www.bhtp.com/
https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/
https://www.travelguard.com/
*Please note that airfare and transportation to and from the airport are not included in the prices above. All guests are responsible for arranging their own travel accommodations to and from London. This trip is non-refundable after February 1, 2025, and all activities and performances are subject to change. While some internal travel is covered by the trip, other travel costs will be the responsibility of each guest.
**Please note that because hotels in London are in such high demand at the moment, The Orchard Project reserves the adjust the hotel choice to another equivalent 5-star hotel depending on ultimate availability and proximity to the shows we have chosen to attend. Feel free to write us if you have any questions about our hotel plans. The Orchard Project also reserves the right to cancel the tour in cases of low subscription, in which case it will refund the entirety of any deposits. Otherwise, the deposit is non-refundable5
About the Haymarket Hotel
For 2026, our London home base will be the Haymarket Hotel, a much-loved Firmdale property set in a landmark Regency building designed by John Nash. Just off Trafalgar Square and steps from the National Gallery, it sits literally next door to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the heart of London’s West End theatre district.
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Inside, the hotel mixes generous Georgian proportions with Kit Kemp’s signature colourful, contemporary design – patterned textiles, bold artworks, and a warm, residential feel. Guests have access to a stunning 18-metre indoor pool with bar, a gym, cosy drawing room and library spaces, and the Brumus Bar & Restaurant, which serves modern British dishes and afternoon tea.
From the Haymarket, most of our theatres, galleries, and restaurants are a short walk away – making it an ideal base for a week of deep-dive London theatregoing and conversation.
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Shows Under Consideration and the 2025 Shows We Saw
SHOWS
We are booking the very best of London theatre rounded out with extraordinary special guests. As The Orchard Project has a number of colleagues and alums in London, we will undoubtably be including their work in the fold, but the goal will be to share the best of what London has to offer.
Our current 2026 long list of shows include:
- Inter Alia — National Theatre / West End transfer
- The Authenticator — National Theatre
- Summerfolk — National Theatre
- Please Please Me — Kiln Theatre
- Broken Glass — Young Vic
- A Doll’s House — Almeida Theatre
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry — West End
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses — National Theatre
- Teeth ’n’ Smiles — West End
- Woman in Mind — West End
- Into the Woods — Bridge Theatre
Shows we went to in 2025 included:
- KYOTOÂ by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson at Soho Place
- MANHUNTÂ by Robert Icke at the Royal Court
- BACKSTROKEÂ by Anna Mackmin at The Donmar Warehouse
- DEAR ENGLANDÂ by James Graham at The National
- MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHINGÂ directed by Jamie Lloyd at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane
- ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: THE MUSICAL at Theatre Royal Bath
- RETROGRADE
- BENJAMIN BUTTON: THE MUSICAL
2026 Itinerary
- Sunday, April 12, 2026
- 7:30 am: Fly either this morning or the morning before (we can add an extra night to your stay at The Haymarket at cost if you want to head straight there and crash, or work on an early check in if you don’t mind being a bit bleary eyed). But if not, we will have a recommended flight from NYC that will be due to depart at this time.
- 6:50 pm: With all flights, all guests will be met at arrivals by our friends at Addison Lee, who provide luxury car services for us throughout our trip, and will be able to bring them to The Haymarket Hotel.
- 6:00 pm: Many of our guests in previous years, having already arrived by Sunday, have chosen to meet for a welcome dinner at a West End mainstay such as J. Sheekeys. Join at your own discretion.
- 10:00 pm Welcome: We gather at the Library at the Haymarket for drinks and a late-night bite to eat.
- Monday, April 13, 2026
- Complimentary full English breakfast or continental breakfast at The Haymarket.
- Mid-afternoon tour of one of the new exhibits in London.
- 5:30pm: Welcome pre-theatre dinner.
- 7:30pm: Performance #1
- Tuesday, April 14, 2026
- Complimentary full English breakfast or continental breakfast at The Haymarket.
- Morning free for personal exploration of London
- Afternoon: a tour of a show at The Royal Academy of Arts or a similar museum
- Group dinner before the show
- Evening: Performance #2, with drinks at the Haymarket afterward with cast members and/or guest artists
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026
- Breakfast off-site at a major London theatre, including a conversation with Artistic Director Ari Edelson and some of the artists whose work we will be seeing during the tour.
- Afternoon: Matinee Performance #3
- Group dinner between the shows
- Evening: Performance #4
- Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Complimentary full English breakfast or continental breakfast at The Haymarket.
- Morning free for personal exploration of London
- Afternoon: A curated tour to a gallery, museum, or a part of unseen London, including the street art of the East End, Spitalfields Market, and finishing at Borough Market for a food tour. (Note: in some years, we have chosen to move Thursday’s theatre performance to a matinee to allow for a more leisurely dinner and to also offer a free evening to catch a show on one’s own.)
- Group dinner before the show.
- Evening: Performance #5: with drinks at the Haymarket afterward with cast members and/or guest artists
- Friday, April 17, 2026
- Complimentary full English breakfast or continental breakfast at The Haymarket.
- Morning and afternoon free for personal exploration of London
- Evening: Performance #6
- Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Complimentary full English breakfast or continental breakfast at The Haymarket.
- Morning free for personal exploration of London
- Afternoon: A good time for a quick day trip out of London, or one last show on one’s own if you are desperate to see another!
- Evening: An early celebratory final dinner at one of London’s newest and best restaurants.
- Sunday, April 19, 2026
- 10:00 am: Departure for the US (coaching guaranteed only to coincide with the group flight). Luggage outside rooms at 9:00am for porter pick-up, then an 10:00am coach departure for the airport, with check-in assistance.