Single White Female Stoke Regent Theatre May 2026

The psychological thriller that defined 90s paranoia comes to Stoke’s Regent Theatre this May, starring Coronation Street legend Kym Marsh and Holby City favourite Lisa Faulkner. Single White Female plays the Regent for five performances only from 26-30 May 2026, bringing Rebecca Reid’s sharp, contemporary adaptation of the classic roommate thriller to the Potteries.

Updated for the social media age, this world premiere production explores how Instagram, digital identity, and online obsession have transformed the nature of friendship and betrayal in the 21st century. It’s tense, twisty, and uncomfortably relevant – perfect for the Regent’s intimate setting.

Quick Information: Single White Female at Stoke

Why See Single White Female at The Regent?

The Regent Theatre’s elegant 1,600-seat auditorium provides an intimate setting for psychological drama. Built in 1929 as a cinema and converted to a theatre in 1999, the Regent combines Art Deco charm with modern facilities, creating the perfect atmosphere for a thriller that explores the dark side of friendship.

For Stoke audiences, this is a rare opportunity to see two of British television’s biggest stars performing live. Kym Marsh, who spent over a decade on Coronation Street, and Lisa Faulkner from Holby City and Missing You bring star power and dramatic depth to a story that feels urgently contemporary.

Located in the heart of Hanley town centre, the Regent is easily accessible by bus and has nearby parking. The surrounding Cultural Quarter offers excellent dining options for pre-theatre meals, and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery is just across the street – perfect for making a full cultural day out.

The Story

Allie is a recently divorced single mother struggling to launch her tech start-up while managing parenthood alone. Money is tight, so she advertises for a lodger. When Hedy responds – charming, helpful, seemingly perfect – it feels like a godsend.

At first, everything is ideal. Hedy pays rent on time, helps with childcare, provides emotional support through the divorce. She’s not just a lodger; she’s becoming a genuine friend when Allie needs one most.

But gradually, boundaries blur. Hedy’s helpfulness becomes invasive. Her interest in Allie’s life crosses lines. Small acts of kindness reveal themselves as manipulation. What seemed like perfect compatibility is actually calculated obsession.

By the time Allie realizes the danger she’s in, Hedy has inserted herself into every aspect of her life. And Hedy doesn’t just want to be Allie’s friend – she wants to be Allie.

In this contemporary adaptation, the obsession extends to the digital realm. Hedy doesn’t just copy Allie’s style; she copies her Instagram posts, her LinkedIn profile, her entire online identity. In an age where we curate perfect digital lives while feeling desperately isolated, Hedy’s theft of Allie’s identity becomes even more disturbing.

The Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent

The Regent Theatre opened as a cinema in 1929 and was converted into one of the UK’s premier touring venues in 1999. The Art Deco auditorium has been beautifully restored, offering modern comfort while maintaining period charm. With 1,600 seats, it’s large enough to feel grand but intimate enough that every seat offers a good view.

Best Seats for Single White Female

The Stars

Kym Marsh as Hedy

Kym Marsh is one of British television’s most recognizable faces, having spent 13 years playing Michelle Connor on Coronation Street (2006-2019, returning 2023). She’s also starred in Waterloo Road, The Syndicate, and impressed theatre audiences in productions like Abigail’s Party.

As Hedy, Marsh takes on perhaps her most complex role yet. Playing a woman who appears charming and helpful but harbours deep psychological disturbance requires immense range – the ability to make audiences like her one moment and fear her the next. It’s a performance that showcases Marsh’s dramatic abilities far beyond her soap opera fame.

Lisa Faulkner as Allie

Lisa Faulkner built her reputation on Holby City, where she played Victoria Merrick, and has since appeared in Spooks, Murder in Suburbia, and most recently the Netflix thriller Missing You. She’s also become a beloved television personality as a food presenter with husband John Torode.

Returning to the stage after 21 years, Faulkner plays Allie as an everywoman – a divorced single mum juggling work, parenting, and recovery from a failed marriage. Her warmth and vulnerability make Allie instantly relatable, drawing Stoke audiences into her nightmare as Hedy’s true nature emerges.

Getting to the Regent Theatre

Pre-Theatre Dining Near The Regent

Hanley town centre and the Cultural Quarter offer numerous dining options within 5-10 minutes’ walk of the Regent Theatre. Most restaurants are accustomed to theatre schedules.

Post-Theatre Options

After the show finishes around 9:45pm, Hanley offers several options for continuing your evening:

• The Potbank (Wetherspoon’s) – Open late with food and drinks, convenient location
• Hanley town centre pubs – Several traditional pubs within walking distance
• The Sugarmill – Live music venue if you want to extend the evening
• Late taxis – Readily available from outside the theatre to take you home or back to hotels

Accessibility at the Regent Theatre

The Regent Theatre is committed to accessible performances for all patrons:

• Wheelchair Access: Step-free access to Stalls level via Piccadilly entrance
• Wheelchair Spaces: Available in Stalls with companion seating. Book directly with box office to ensure availability.
• Accessible Toilets: Available on all levels
• Assistance Dogs: Welcome throughout the venue
• Audio Description: Available for selected performances (enquire when booking)
• Hearing Enhancement: Induction loop system throughout the auditorium. Infrared headsets available from box office.
• Companion Tickets: Available at reduced price for patrons requiring assistance
• Access Performances: Check with box office for performances offering captioning or BSL interpretation

Contact the box office when booking to discuss specific accessibility requirements: 0844 871 7649

What the Critics Are Saying

Following its Brighton opening in January 2026, early reviews have praised Single White Female’s contemporary relevance and strong performances. The Brighton Telegraph awarded ★★★☆☆, calling it “slick, stylish entertainment” with “two terrific central performances.”

Critics highlight Kym Marsh’s “chilling transformation” from charming friend to dangerous obsessive, while Lisa Faulkner brings “heartbreaking vulnerability” to Allie. The adaptation’s social media elements are described as “terrifyingly relevant,” and the production design as “sleek and unsettling.”

While some reviewers wanted the script to diverge more from the original 1992 film, audiences have responded enthusiastically to the updated themes and the chemistry between the two leads.

Making a Cultural Day in Stoke

Combine your theatre visit with other attractions in Stoke’s Cultural Quarter:

Before the Show

• Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (Directly opposite the Regent) – Free admission, world-class ceramics collection, Spitfire gallery. Perfect afternoon activity before evening theatre.
• The Potteries Shopping Centre (5-minute walk) – Browse shops, grab coffee
• Hanley Park (10-minute walk) – Beautiful Victorian park for a pre-show stroll
• Emma Bridgewater Factory (Short drive/taxi) – Tour the famous pottery, watch craftspeople at work

Pottery Heritage

Stoke-on-Trent is the heart of England’s pottery industry. Consider combining your theatre trip with:

• World of Wedgwood (Barlaston, short drive) – Museum, factory tour, shopping
• Gladstone Pottery Museum (Longton) – Working Victorian pottery, fascinating industrial heritage
• Middleport Pottery (Home of Burleigh) – Historic pottery still in production

Stay Over

Stoke-on-Trent offers various accommodation options:

• Doubletree by Hilton Stoke – City centre location, comfortable rooms
• Premier Inn Hanley – Budget-friendly, town centre location
• Quality Hotel Stoke – Good value, easy access
• Holiday Inn Stoke – Reliable chain hotel

Booking Your Stoke Tickets

Why Single White Female Matters Now

Single White Female arrives in Stoke at a moment when its themes resonate powerfully with contemporary audiences. The play explores how social media has transformed identity, obsession, and human connection in ways that feel frighteningly relevant.

In 1992, the film showed how a roommate could become dangerously obsessed and steal your identity through imitation. In 2026, Rebecca Reid’s adaptation recognizes that identity theft has evolved. Now someone can steal your Instagram aesthetic, your LinkedIn profile, your entire carefully curated digital existence – all while living in your spare room.

We live in an age where we share everything online yet feel more isolated than ever. We present perfect versions of ourselves on social media while struggling privately. We seek connection through screens while fearing the strangers we let into our actual lives. Single White Female taps into all these contemporary anxieties, making it feel both nostalgic and urgently current.

For Stoke audiences, this is more than entertainment – it’s a thriller that reflects how we live now, exploring the dark side of our hyper-connected, perpetually online existence.

Perfect For

• Coronation Street fans wanting to see Kym Marsh in a dramatically different role from Michelle Connor
• Holby City viewers who loved Lisa Faulkner’s performances
• Thriller enthusiasts who love psychological suspense and plot twists
• Social media generation – explores contemporary anxieties about online identity and digital lives
• 90s nostalgia – perfect for anyone who remembers the 1992 film
• Cultural Quarter visit – combine with the Potteries Museum opposite the theatre
• Date night – suspenseful thriller makes for memorable evenings out
• Girls’ night out – ideal for groups who enjoy discussing thrillers over drinks
• Regional audiences – accessible from Manchester, Birmingham, Derby, and across the Midlands

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the performance times?

Tuesday-Friday evenings at 7:30pm (check for Monday performance). The show runs approximately 2 hours 15 minutes including one interval. Performances typically finish around 9:45pm.

How much are tickets?

Tickets range from approximately £20-£45 depending on seat location and performance date. Stalls centre seats offer the best experience for psychological thriller. Dress Circle front rows provide excellent value.

How do I get there?

The Regent is in Hanley town centre. By train to Stoke-on-Trent station, then bus or taxi to Hanley (2 miles). By car, exit M6 at Junction 15 or 16 and follow signs to Hanley. Multiple town centre car parks within 5 minutes’ walk.

Is there parking?

Yes, several car parks within 2-5 minutes’ walk including Broad Street Multi-Storey, Potteries Centre, and Birch Terrace car parks. Evening rates typically apply after 6pm. Theatre postcode: ST1 1AP.

Where should we eat before the show?

Numerous restaurants within 5 minutes including Prezzo (1-minute walk), Nando’s (2-minute walk), and The Potbank Wetherspoon’s. Book tables for 6-6:15pm to ensure you’re at the theatre by 7:15pm.

Is it suitable for teenagers?

The show is recommended for ages 14+. It contains adult themes, psychological tension, and threatening scenes but no graphic violence. Mature teenagers who enjoy suspense will find it engaging, especially the social media themes that will resonate with them.

Do I need to have seen the film?

Not at all! The play tells a complete, standalone story. If you haven’t seen the 1992 film, you’ll experience the twists fresh. If you have, you’ll appreciate how cleverly the adaptation updates it for the social media age.

Will the stars definitely be performing?

Kym Marsh and Lisa Faulkner are contracted for the full tour, though like all theatrical productions, understudies are available for illness or emergencies. Theatres cannot guarantee any specific performer’s appearance at any given performance.

What else can we do in Stoke?

Visit the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery directly opposite the theatre (free admission), explore pottery heritage sites like World of Wedgwood or Gladstone Pottery Museum, or browse the Potteries Shopping Centre. Stoke is perfect for combining theatre with cultural tourism.

Single White Female plays the Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent from Monday 26 – Friday 30 May 2026.

• More Single White Female Tour Dates

  • Brighton Theatre Royal (9-17 January) – Read Review
  • Manchester Opera House (10-14 February)
  • Birmingham Alexandra (5-9 May)
  • Stoke Regent Theatre (26-30 May)
  • Glasgow Theatre Royal (2-6 June)
  • New Victoria Theatre Woking (3-7 March)
  • View UK Tour Dates