Cranford

'I won't listen to reason. Reason always means what someone else has to say.'

Welcome to Cranford: a small town where gossip travels fast and traditions run deep. But in the 1840s, change is coming – whether anyone likes it or not.

This close-knit community, with a group of formidable women at its heart, is governed by a web of peculiar customs and unspoken rules. But as the outside world rushes in, they must navigate troubled friendships, lost love, and the challenge of holding onto what matters most.

Adapted by Lin Coghlan and Shaun McKenna from Elizabeth Gaskell's masterful 1853 novel, Cranford celebrates the complexities of everyday life with humour, heart and extraordinary insight. It was first performed at the Orange Tree Theatre, London, in 2026, directed by Josh Roche and starring Tamsin Greig.