Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable, Two Venues for Limerick’s Stories
Autumn–Winter 2026 Season
Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable, Limerick, today announced its Autumn–Winter 2026 season, a rich programme of theatre, music, comedy, film, dance and family events running from September 2026 through January 2027 across its two venues.
Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable also premiered a rebrand with a fresh new look. Their new logos celebrate the close connection between the two sister venues. They also highlight Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable’s shared commitment to vibrant, inclusive, and imaginative programming across both spaces.
The Autumn–Winter 2026 Season opens with a strong lineup of homegrown and international work, including the Irish premiere of the major Irish–German co-production Refuge by Deirdre Kinahan, the return of the Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival October 1st – 10th , and the annual Christmas panto, Robin Hood, which will run from December 5th to January 4th at Lime Tree Theatre.
The 2026–27 season also forms part of Limerick’s wider Cultúr 2026 and Ireland EU Presidency 2026 cultural programmes, linking local venues to national and European themes of migration, cultural exchange, and shared heritage.
Season Highlights
Theatre
Refuge by Deirdre Kinahan, directed by Jim Culleton, plays Lime Tree Theatre from 24–26 September 2026. Set in 1710 Rathkeale, County Limerick, the play follows the Palatine community fleeing persecution in Germany and offered land in Ireland, weaving past, present, and future in a story of displacement, home, and belonging. The production features an international cast including Mary Murray and Aidan Kelly, with live music and composition by Steve Wickham (The Waterboys), and is presented in partnership with Fishamble: The New Play Company, Staatstheater Mainz (Germany), the Pavilion Theatre, and the Lime Tree Theatre. Performances in Ireland form part of Ireland’s EU Presidency 2026 Culture programme.
College Players marks 100 years of theatre in 2026. They are celebrating this milestone by presenting The Ferryman by Jez Butterworth at Lime Tree Theatre November 4– 12. Set in rural Northern Ireland in 1981 during the Hunger Strikes, the Tony Award–winning drama centres on the Carney family, blending domestic life with the political tensions of the Troubles.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, presented by The Cecilian Musical Society, runs at Lime Tree Theatre from 18–21 November 2026. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Disney film, this acclaimed stage musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic is directed by Des Henn, with choreography by Barbara Meaney and musical direction by Niall Kelly.
Comedy
Limerick Comedy Festival takes over venues across the city from 24–27 September 2026, with a headline night at the Belltable featuring Karl Spain, Stephen Robert-Walters (MC), Shinanne Higgins, Jo Jarvie, and Mick Peril.
Comedians Jack Dee, Madison Cawley, Tommy Tiernan, and Jarlath Regan will keep Lime Tree Audiences laughing through the autumn.
Children & Family: Bualadh Bos 2026
Limerick’s dedicated children’s arts festival, Bualadh Bos, returns for its 2026 edition from Thursday, 1 to Saturday, 10 October, with ten days of theatre, music, film, dance, poetry, creative writing, and visual art for young audiences.
The festival also features an extensive schools programme with performances and workshops in venues across the city, including the Hunt Museum, Limerick City Library, and Dooradoyle Library.
Christmas Panto 2026: Robin Hood
Lime Tree Theatre’s annual Christmas panto returns with Robin Hood, running from Saturday, 5 December 2026 to Monday, 4 January 2027. The production brings together a cast of local and national performers, including Cathal Ryan as part of the Robin Hood ensemble, in a festive, family-friendly adventure written for the Lime Tree stage.
Film
The Belltable continues its role as a hub for film in the heart of the city with:
IFI@Belltable cinema screenings Monday evening and special events throughout the season, such as Halloween Screams: Ireland’s All-Island Horror Film Competition.
New this season! National Theatre Live is bringing the best of London theatre to the Belltable screen. All My Sons, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Audience were all filmed live in the West End and will be shown at Belltable this Autumn and Winter.
Margit Wagner Irish Films, a curated programme of Irish films from the 1950s–1970s, presented in conjunction with the Irish Film Institute on 4 November as part of Ireland’s EU Presidency Culture 2026 events.
Belltable
Belltable is also proud to announce collaborations with Limerick Jazz Festival, Polish Arts Festival, and LASTA Festival, which return to programme music, dance, and interdisciplinary work across both venues.
Booking Information
Tickets for all Autumn–Winter 2026 events are on sale now via the Lime Tree Theatre | Belltable box office and website.
Box Office: 061 953 400
Website: limetreebelltable.ie