Exciting Season Ahead at Newcastle's Theatre Royal
The chief executive of Newcastle Theatre Royal has
announced a dazzling new autumn ‘14 / spring ‘15 season full of
nail-biting drama, high-octane musicals and breathtaking dance, comedy and
opera. Once again the Theatre Royal is bringing the world’s very finest theatre
to the heart of the North East.
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| To kill a Mockingbird |
Four major new dramas will visit
in the Spring. Direct from the West
End comes a critically
acclaimed new stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To
kill a Mockingbird (20-25 April 2015). An utterly enchanting and
enthralling production from the award-winning Regent’s Park Theatre, it
captures all the warmth and poignancy of this best-loved classic.
Also
adapted from a bestselling book comes Dead
Simple (26 - 30 May ‘15),
based on the work of International bestselling crime thriller novelist Peter
James. Directed by Olivier award-winner
Ian Talbot and adapted by award-winning writer Shaun McKenna, this gripping,
chilling, thriller is full of James’ trademark suspense, twists and turns. In
addition, before it heads to the West End, Theatre Royal is honoured to host
Oscar Wilde’s much loved masterpiece The
Importance of Being Earnest (8 – 13 June ‘15) starring none other than Emmy-award winning
David Suchet as Lady Bracknell. One
of the funniest plays in the English language, Wilde’s superb satire on
Victorian manners is full of delightful repartee and hilarious pomposity.
 |
| Dreamboats and Miniskirts |
Following the huge success of
nostalgic musical Dreamboats and Petticoats, the same team are back with
another big hitter, the sequel: Dreamboats and Miniskirts (20 – 24
Jan ‘15). Set this time in 1963, we meet
up again with Norman and Sue and Bobby and Laura and see how their lives are
developing against the swinging backdrop of the Beatles and Merseyside
sound. Like it’s predecessor, the show
is packed with the biggest hits of the era including A Picture of You; It’s
In His Kiss; and Hippy Hippy Shake.
Musical
lovers will also delight in the return of a true classic – Rodgers &
Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! (23 - 27 June ’15). As
refreshing and thrilling as the day it was written, this sunny show celebrates
the vigour of America’s
pioneering spirit and overflows with well-known songs and boot-stomping
dances. It is a brand new production from
Music & Lyrics, the award-winning producers of The King & I and Fiddler
on the Roof.
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| La Traviata |
Opera
North are back with an enticing new programme which draws works from each of the last four centuries and balances
the comic with the serious, and the famous with the little-known. Alessandro Talevi directs a youthful
international cast in the company’s first new staging in 15 years of possibly
the most popular opera of all time, Verdi's profoundly moving La Traviata (12 & 14 Nov ’14; 4 & 6 March ’15). Meanwhile,
Jo Davies brings a fresh approach to Mozart’s effervescent
comedy The Marriage of Figaro (5
& 7 March ‘15).
The Company's first ever production of The Coronation of Poppea (15 Nov ’14) is a stylish take on
Monteverdi's revenge tragedy, performed in his own translation, and conducted
by pre-eminent early music specialist Laurence Cummings. Revivals of Smetana’s irresistible
The Bartered Bride (11 &
13 Nov 14) and Falla’s exuberant La Vida
Breve (3 March ‘15) offer a wonderful celebration of folk-inspired
melodies in two very different forms, one beautifully comic and the other
tragic and moving. The latter is presented in a double-bill with a new staging
of Gianni Schicchi (3 March ‘15), directed by Christopher Alden, Opera North’s
first production of Puccini's only comic opera in 25 years.
Bizet’s popular opera Carmen is
the inspiration for Matthew Bourne’s internationally acclaimed dance thriller The
Car Man (28 April – 9 May ‘15).
First seen in 2000, and winning the Evening Standard Award for ‘Musical Event
of the Year’, the show features Bizet’s powerful and instantly recognisable
score, but transferred to 1960s America
where Lez Brotherston’s epic design, Chris Davey’s evocative lighting
and of course Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling make for an incredible
production.
Scotland’s national dance company Scottish Ballet are
returning to the Theatre to take audiences on a journey back into Clara’s
magical dream world with Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Nutcracker (11-14 Feb
‘15). Originally devised in 1973 by the
Company’s founding artistic director, Peter
Darrell, this production presents a sumptuous world of plush Victoriana full of
festive fare and childhood charm.
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| The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time |
Several of the season’s new shows
have been released for sale early due to anticipated high demand. They include
the National Theatre’s multi
award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time, set to visit 26 Jan – 7 Feb ’15
on its first UK tour. Simon
Stephens’ adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel received seven Olivier
Awards in 2013 including Best New Play, Best Director, Best Lighting Design and
Best Sound Design. It also won the South
Bank Sky Arts Award for Theatre and has been seen by over 200,000 people during
its run in the West End.
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| The Bodyguard |
One of the year’s most hotly anticipated shows, the
multi award winning West End musical The
Bodyguard (Wed 1 – Sat 18 April ‘15)
will visit next Spring on its first
ever UK tour. Booking opened in April in
order to accommodate heavy early demand.
Produced by the North East’s own Michael Harrison and David
Ian and based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, it
opened to rave reviews in London’s West End
in December 2012, where it continues to play to packed houses and standing
ovations. It has since been nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards
including Best New Musical and Best Set Design, and is 2015’s ‘Must See’.
Two
leading lights from the world of comedy will be bringing their unique brands of
humour to the theatre for the new season.
David Baddiel (1 Dec ‘14)
is back with his first full show for fifteen years, critically acclaimed on the
West End circuit and originator of a social media storm. Al Murray (8 Feb ‘15), aka ‘The Pub
Landlord’ is celebrating twenty years as Britain’s favourite publican and bringing
his brand new show One Man, One Guvnor to wow North East audiences in the new year.
Tickets are already on sale for both.
The comedians join Dave Gorman on the line-up, here with his brand new show
on Sunday 9 November.
Drama already on sale at the Theatre includes Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee (14-19 July) starring Jason Durr as Hercule Poirot as well as the longest running show in the history of British Theatre, Christie’s masterpiece the brilliant The Mousetrap (Mon 1 – Sat 6 Sept). The National Theatre’s award-winning comedy One Man, Two Guvnors is back for the second time 28 July – 2 August following a sell-out first visit here, and of course the esteemed Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will return this autumn following a hugely successful season last year. The 2014 season features an enthralling trio of new productions – Henry IV, Part I (25 September – 4 October) and Henry IV, Part II (26 Sept – 4 Oct) and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (7 - 11 October) – which are on sale now.
 |
| Jeeves and Wooster |
Forthcoming hit West End
comedy Perfect Nonsense (Tue 14 – Sat 18 Oct) follows hot on the RSC’s heels, featuring P.G. Wodehouse’s iconic double
act Jeeves
and Wooster and starring James Lance and John
Gordon Sinclair in the title roles.
Following a sold-out 2013 tour, Fascinating Aïda are here with their
terrific new show Charm Offensive for one night only on Sunday 19 October, and
last but not least, drop everything for
The Full Monty (Mon 27 Oct –
Sat 1 Nov), the hilarious stage show straight from the West End based on the
much loved 1997 film.
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| Cinderella |
Dance
already on sale includes Northern Ballet’s enchanting new adaptation of the
classic fairy-tale Cinderella set in imperial Russia (Tue 21 – Sat 25 Oct) and running concurrently their 35 minute
performance for little ones Three
Little Pigs (Fri 24 Oct).
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| Lord of the Flies |
In
November, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures
dancers will unite with young talent from the North East in an extraordinary adaptation
of William Golding’s classic novel, Lord of the Flies (Wed 5 – Sat 8
Nov).
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| Shrek The Musical |
Three
shows already on sale which will appeal to younger audiences are Peppa
Pig’s Big Splash (Sat 30 – Sun 31 Aug) – the new show from everyone’s
favourite little piggy; Dinosaur Zoo (Thu 30 Oct – Sat 1
Nov) bringing the legendary prehistoric creatures to life on stage;, and not
forgetting Spring blockbuster Shrek The Musical (Wed 11 – Sun 29
Mar ‘15), based on the award-winning DreamWorks animation film.
Booking is also already open for Cameron Mackintosh
and Michael Harrison’s exhilarating musical Barnum (Tue 17 – Sat 28 Feb ‘15) which celebrates the
irrepressible imagination and dreams of America’s Greatest Showman and
stars Brian Conley in the title role.
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| Top Hat |
For those who can’t wait til the new year for their
musical kicks, Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s epic musical CATS has arrived this week (Tue 1 – Sat 12 Jul), followed
in quick succession by rock and roll sensation The Buddy Holly Story (4 – 9 Aug) and Irving Berlin’s Top Hat (Tue 9 – Sat 20 Sept),
which visits Newcastle for the very first time and is packed full of the King
of Swing’s greatest hits.
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| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs |
With 60,000 tickets already sold for our famous 14/15
Pantomime Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs (25 Nov ’14 -18 Jan ‘15), and it set to become our best and
fastest selling panto of all time, fans better be quick if they want to see
Clive, Danny Chris and the gang in another spectacular production jam-packed
with fun, adventure and comedy.
Friends of the
Theatre Royal can book new season
shows on Monday 30 June, before the general public on Friday 4 July, and
receive 20% off tickets, as well as discounts on drinks at our bars, exclusive
ticket exchange, reduced booking fees and Friends’ prices will never change. To
become a Friend and book early, please contact the Box Office on 08448 11 21 21
or sign up online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk.
Tickets for all new shows
in the autumn‘14 / spring’15 season go on public sale on Friday 4 July. Tickets can
be purchased from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 or select your
own seat and book online at www.theatreroyal.co.uk
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