A magical forest comes alive through dance, puppetry and play.

Step inside a museum where precious treasures are on display. But remember – strictly no touching! Dusk falls and the museum is getting ready to close but something is beginning to stir. Only a few visitors remain. These precious objects seem to call to them, yearning to be freed… Is this a heist happening in front of your eyes? Can it really be a heist when the objects are leading the way?

Celebrating their 30th birthday in 2026, Theatre-Rites are renowned for creating playful and meaningful experiences for children and adults alike. For Return to the Forest, they collaborate once again with the award-winning South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma, who’s powerful production Broken Chord premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2023.

Led by Maqoma’s high-energy movement and the magical puppetry of Director Sue Buckmaster (Chotto Desh), Return to the Forest transports you from a museum into the heart of a wild and magical forest, full of life and wonder. Who will you meet along the way?

After captivating audiences across the world, these incredible artists will team up for an immersive, playful and thought-provoking encounter. Combining dance and puppetry to dazzling effect, Return to the Forest is an invitation to imagine what is precious and how we care for it.

A Theatre-Rites and Factory International co-production, co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells.

Header image description: A dancing figure emerges, tip-toeing from between tree trunks. The figure is dressed in a gold grass skirt and a large gold mask. The tree trunks are blue and have a paper texture, and appear in front of a yellow background. The figure is surrounded by gold fireflies, and in the foreground is a flying origami bird made out of yellowed paper.

Header image © Émilie Chen & Chris Nash