Breakfast Club Dance Show Heads to London Stage in 2027
A Saturday Detention Reimagined on the Dance Floor
If you grew up quoting John Hughes, you will want to mark your diary. Phoenix Dance Theatre, the Leeds-based company, is bringing Sincerely, The Breakfast Club to London, with performances at Sadler’s Wells East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from 28 April to 1 May 2027. It is not a sequel, and nobody is pretending it is. Instead, it takes the 1985 film’s central idea, five strangers stuck together in a school library on a Saturday, and recasts it as a contemporary dance work.
The setting will feel familiar. The library remains the heart of the piece, and the five characters carry the same mix of pressure, pride and private worry that made the original so easy to recognise. What changes is the language. Where the film relied on dialogue and confessions, this production lets bodies do the talking. Expect plenty of movement, the kind of physical storytelling that makes a quiet room feel crowded.
For anyone who has spent a weekend watching the film on a sofa in Hounslow or Whitton, this is a chance to see the story in a completely different light. The show is also a reminder of how far contemporary dance has travelled beyond the stage in regional towns. Richmond audiences who already make the trip into central London for visiting companies will find the journey straightforward, and the Olympic Park venue is well connected by Underground and rail.
New Music, Familiar Characters, and What the Changes Mean
The most striking decision is the soundtrack. The film’s pop-rock score, including the Simple Minds track that became inseparable from the story, will not be used. In its place, composer Marc Strobel has written an entirely new score for the production. That is a bold call. Many audiences arrive at a film adaptation or stage version expecting the songs they already love, so the new music will either surprise or win over a sceptical crowd.
The creative team has also chosen to keep the emotional spine intact. Each of the five characters carries their own desires and insecurities, and the production frames these as the reasons they connect in the first place. This is where the show could find its audience beyond fans of the film. Young dancers, drama students and anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in a classroom will recognise something real in the choreography.
For local arts groups, the production offers a useful case study. Community dance companies in west London often rely on tight budgets, grant applications and volunteer treasurers. Anyone running a small arts group in Hounslow or Richmond who wants to plan a trip to see the show as a group outing should think about early ticket budgets, travel costs and group rates. A local Hounslow bookkeeping practice could help a club track these expenses without the spreadsheet stress that often comes with community projects.
Tickets, Planning and What to Watch Next
General tickets for Sincerely, The Breakfast Club go on sale from 16 November 2026, so there is a long run-up before the curtain rises next spring. If you plan to bring friends or a group, my advice is to decide early. Popular dance performances in London tend to sell faster than expected, particularly for weekend dates, and a group booking usually needs organising well in advance.
It is worth keeping an eye on the venue’s announcements over the coming months. Sadler’s Wells East often publishes pre-show talks, workshops and access performances, which can make a visit more rewarding. Check the accessibility information too, including step-free routes and relaxed performance options, and book any support needs at the same time as your main ticket.
For residents across Hounslow, Whitton and Richmond, the practical step is simple: put the dates in your calendar, talk to friends about joining you, and consider whether local schools or youth groups might benefit from a trip. Dance is often overlooked as a way into a city’s cultural life, and this show, with its focus on connection and shared vulnerability, could be a good place to start. Watch for the November on-sale date and book as soon as you can.
Source: Dance Version Of The Breakfast Club Coming To London Stage In 2027
