Centre Stage: Richmond Myths has announced that acclaimed actor Simon Callow will perform at Richmond’s free multi-arts festival later this month. Co-produced by the Orange Tree Theatre and Hemingway Design, the festival returns to Richmond for its second year from 17 to 19 July 2026, transforming the town into a vibrant platform for creativity and contemporary culture.
Callow is set to portray the Oracle in the festival’s epic closing ceremony on Sunday 19 July at Richmond’s Hill Rise. Written by Kwame Owusu and inspired by The Garden of Hesperides, this special open-air performance will be directed by the Orange Tree Theatre's Deputy Artistic Director, Georgia Green. The grand finale, along with every single performance across the entire weekend, will be completely free for the public to attend.
Local residents aged 7 to 87 are actively participating to bring the weekend to life through carnival processions, theatrical performances, and public workshops. The festivities kick off on Friday 17 July at 6:30pm with an explosion of music, dance, and spectacle as twelve Olympian gods launch the weekend. On Saturday 18 July, the town centre transforms into a creative playground, filling George Street and Whittaker Square with theatre, live music, food stalls, and interactive workshops. Sunday 19 July sees events pop up in hidden corners of Richmond before concluding with the evening closing ceremony.
For this large-scale community project, the Orange Tree Theatre is collaborating with vital local partners, including the Richmond Carers Centre, Otakar Kraus Music Trust, BridgeLink Community Centre, Ukrainian Social Club, Multicultural Richmond, and Combination Dance. Working alongside professional writers, each community group has re-imagined a classic Greek myth for contemporary audiences.
Supported by Be Richmond, Richmond Council, and Arts Council England, the multi-arts event merges local history and folklore with modern creativity. Full schedule details and location maps can be found on the official venue website ahead of the opening celebrations.
