A VERY VERY WARM WELCOME
Photograph by Martin Bond, A Cambridge Diary Cover Image: Operation Mincemeat, photograph by Matt Crockett
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVES
This season feels like a true awakening. With Sleeping Beauty opening our season, the Theatre is not only waking up its stage but stepping confidently into a new chapter.
You’ll see our new branding throughout this brochure and on our upcoming new website - a signal of the energy and imagination driving us forward as we not only transform our building, but also reimagine how we connect with our audiences, artists, and our community.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury, and the support of so many within Cambridge, the next two years will be a time of transformation. Alongside our revitalised main house, we are planning a daring new studio space — a home for fresh voices, bold stories and the next generation of theatre-makers.
We’re especially proud to share our reopening 2026 season with you; a celebratory mix of musicals, dramas, family shows and comedy for our beautiful new auditorium. A particular highlight is our very own production of Noël
Coward’s glittering comedy Easy Virtue, directed by Cambridge alumnus and former National Theatre Artistic Director, Trevor Nunn. We’re also delighted to welcome the phenomenally popular Operation Mincemeat as part of its first UK tour.
Alongside our productions, our new Creative Learning and Engagement programme will place the Theatre – and Cambridge – firmly on the map as a home for connection, creativity, and cultural exchange.
The Arts Theatre has re-energised ambitions. We can’t wait to welcome you back.
Rachel and Victoria
Rachel Tackley Creative Director
Victoria Beechey Executive Director
The Arts Theatre Cambridge 6 St Edward’s Passage Cambridge CB2 3PJ Administration: 01223 578933
The Arts Theatre Cambridge is a registered charity in England no. 1212452. Registered in England no. 16134718. 6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge, CB2 3PJ.
Cambridge Arts Theatre Trust Limited is a registered charity in England no. 1069912. Registered in England no. 03536370.
SET THE STAGE IS
CALENDAR
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Following an extensive refurbishment, you are invited to attend a grand reawakening… as The Arts Theatre presents a dazzling new production of Sleeping Beauty
Cambridge’s favourite dame Matt Crosby celebrates his twentieth year on The Arts Theatre stage, and will be joined by UK Pantomime Award-winning Steven Roberts. The cast is completed by a host of West End performers including Tricia Adele-Turner (Stranger Things: The First Shadow), Matt Harrop (The Phantom of the Opera), Tanisha Butterfield (Mamma Mia!), Joseph Hewlett (Madagascar the Musical) and Daisy Twells (Heathers).
In an enchanted kingdom Princess Rose is cursed on the day of her christening by the wicked Carabosse. The Princess is destined to prick her finger on a spinning wheel before her eighteenth birthday, falling into a deep slumber for 100 years unless awakened by true love’s kiss.
For her own protection Rose is sent to live deep within the Botanic Gardens, only returning to Trumpington Castle on the eve of her eighteenth birthday. However Carabosse has other ideas… Who will take the perilous journey to save the kingdom from the evil fairy’s spell, once and for all?
Join us this Christmas and let the magic unfold as the curtain rises on a brand-new pantomime, and an exciting new chapter for The Arts Theatre. Book your tickets today!
Presented by The Arts Theatre
Cambridge
Written by Chris Jarvis
Directed by Michael Gattrell
‘A lavish, funny and heartwarming new tilt at the classic fairytale’
CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT on Cinderella 2024
Tickets from £11
Visit our website for performance times and ticket prices
BSL Interpreted Sat 6 Dec, 11am
Relaxed Performance Sat 6 Dec, 11am Fri 2 Jan, 11am
Captioned Sat 13 Dec, 2pm
Audio Described Sun 14 Dec, 3pm (touch tour available)
GUYS AND DOLLS
Presented by Cambridge Operatic Society
Smooth-talking gamblers, earnest missionaries, and dazzling showgirls are hilariously intertwined in this timeless musical. Lovable rogue Nathan Detroit seeks a venue for his illicit craps game while the charming Sky Masterson makes a bet that he can win the heart of Sarah Brown, a determined sergeant at the Save-a-Soul Mission.
You’ll find yourself singing all the way home with iconic musical numbers like Luck Be a Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat
This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI – www.MTIShows.co.uk
Co-Directed & Choreographed by Helen Petrovna
Co-Directed & Choreographed by David Barrett
Musical Direction by James Harvey
Based on a story and characters from Damon Runyon
Music & lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Wed – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
TWELFTH NIGHT BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Presented by The Marlowe Society
Cambridge University’s most prestigious theatre company The Marlowe Society return to The Arts Theatre with a brand-new retelling of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night
Love, deception, gender and mistaken identity descend into chaos as Viola disguises herself as a man called Cesario. In the land of Illyria she starts working for Duke Orsino, falling in love with him in the process…
The Marlowe Society has launched the careers of some of Britain’s greatest actors including Ian McKellen, Derek Jacobi, Emma Thompson, James Norton and Rachel Weisz, and continues its tradition of showcasing the best theatrical talent at the university.
Directed by Michael Oakley
‘If music be the food of love, play on’
Wed – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £20.50
Student tickets £15
Post-Show Talk Thu 22 Feb, 7.30pm
THE RIVALS
Presented by Orange Tree Theatre
Bath in the Roaring Twenties: risqué revelry, romance, and rivalry in the Assembly Rooms – a town torn between tradition and the new age.
Lydia and Jack are made for each other – but Lydia’s a rebel and Jack’s too posh to be her beau. What’s a chap to do? A little harmless deception, of course. Meanwhile, Jack’s father, Anthony Absolute, is determined to be obeyed, and Lydia’s guardian Mrs Malaprop is seeking a love-affair of her own – if only she could find the right words…
Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s sparkling satire of love and language has lost none of its bite and brilliance. OT Artistic Director Tom Littler gives this 250th anniversary revival a jazzy new production: a sumptuous treat to chase away the winter cold.
The Rivals is generously supported by Derek Robinson.
Written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Directed by Tom Littler
Starring
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £23.50
Robert Bathurst and Patricia Hodge
INSPECTOR MORSE HOUSE OF GHOSTS
A chilling mystery unfolds when a young actress suddenly dies on stage, and Detective Chief Inspector Morse embarks on a gripping investigation. What begins as a suspicious death inquiry takes a darker turn when the legendary inspector, together with DS Lewis, uncovers a connection to sinister events in his own past, twenty-five years earlier.
Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts marks the first-ever stage adaptation of the iconic detective. ITV’s long-running Inspector Morse has inspired beloved spin-offs Lewis and Endeavour.
Starring Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Strictly Come Dancing) as Inspector Morse, this original story written for the stage is a must-see for fans of compelling detective stories and thrilling mysteries.
Based on characters by Colin Dexter
Written by Alma Cullen
Directed by Anthony Banks
Starring Tom Chambers
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £25.50
Captioned Wed 11 Feb, 7.30pm
NOËL COWARD’S EASY VIRTUE DIRECTED BY TREVOR NUNN
PresentedbyTheArtsTheatreCambridge CASTINGTOBEANNOUNCED!
Noël Coward’s glitteringly risqué comedy Easy Virtue is brought back to life by renowned director Trevor Nunn, who knows The Arts Theatre well having directed plays while he was a Cambridge student.
Written in 1924, Coward introduces us to Colonel and Mrs Whittaker, shocked and scandalised as they learn that their son, John, has, without any consultation, got married in the South of France. Even worse, he is soon to arrive at their country estate with his new bride, an American divorcée, Larita. She proves to be glamorous, witty, sophisticated and very much a modern woman ... everything that Mrs Whittaker is not.
Larita’s cosmopolitan lifestyle causes tensions to rise and in the in the process, hidden truths are revealed.
Brimming with Coward’s mischievous wit, the play is not only not only dazzlingly witty, but a biting critique of society, so clearly ahead of its time.
Written by Noël Coward
Directed by Trevor Nunn
‘His words have not lost their capacity to dazzle audiences around the world with their crisp wit and sense of mischief’
THE INDEPENDENT on Noël Coward
‘One of the best living directors’
THE GUARDIAN on Trevor Nunn
Mon – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
No performance Sun 22 Feb, Mon 23 Feb and Sun 29 Feb
Tickets from £27.50
Student tickets £10 (limited availability)
SINGLE WHITE FEMALE
Presented by Jas Theatricals, ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions
Sharing a flat can be murder.
Kym Marsh (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road) stars in Single White Female - the gripping new stage thriller inspired by the best-selling book and hit 90’s movie, that led a generation to fear a stiletto heel!
Allie, a single mum launching her tech business, advertises for a flatmate - and Hedy seems perfect. But as their lives intertwine, secrets surface and identities blur with dangerous and unimaginable consequences.
Full of dark humour and stiletto-sharp suspense, this brandnew adaptation updates the original story to the age of social media, in a gripping tale of ambition, obsession, and the desperate need for belonging in an isolated world.
Adapted by Rebecca Reid
Directed by Gordon Greenberg
Starring Kym Marsh
A new stage play based on the psychological thriller from Columbia Pictures and the book SWF Seeks Same by John Lutz
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
ROCK & ROLL MAN
Presented by Rose Caiola for Caiola Productions, Julian Bird for Green Room Ents and The Wiltshire Creative
Rock & Roll Man is the original musical about a musical original.
Alan Freed was a Cleveland DJ who heard the future and knew he had to let it sing. He named the genre “Rock & Roll”, bringing music to the masses. Along the way, he became an icon to the nation’s youth, and a target for the nation’s establishment.
Enjoy explosive original songs written just for the stage, alongside classics from legends such as Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, and The Drifters. Revel in genre-defying hits like Tutti Frutti, Great Balls of Fire, Yakety Yak, and Why Do Fools Fall in Love
Freed’s passion for music inspired the generation that changed society forever.
Book by Gary Kupper, Larry Marshak and Rose Caiola
Original music and lyrics by Gary Kupper
Mon – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
THE CONSTANT WIFE
The Royal Shakespeare Company Production starring Kara Tointon.
1927. Constance is a very unhappy woman. “Nonsense” says her mother “she eats well, sleeps well, dresses well and she’s losing weight. No woman can be unhappy in those circumstances”. Constance is the perfect wife and mother, and her husband is as devoted to her as he is to his mistress, who just happens to be her best friend.
Adapted from Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy, this sparkling new version stars Kara Tointon (TV’s Mr Selfridge and winner of Strictly Come Dancing) and features original music composed by multi award-winning jazz artist Jamie Cullum.
Presented by David Pugh and Cunard
Adapted by Laura Wade
Based on the comedy by W Somerset Maugham
Original music by Jamie Cullum
‘Sharp, sophisticated, fabulous and extremely funny’ THE GUARDIAN
Mon – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £22
THE CHOIR OF MAN
Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award-nominated, worldwide smash hit is now on its first ever UK tour.
Welcome to The Choir of Man, the best pub in the world… Come ready to drink in the excitement!
Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry to name but a few, this is a pub like no other!
A wildly talented group of incredible instrumentalists, world-class wordsmiths, and sensational singers, this cast of nine (extra) ordinary guys serve it all... live!
An uplifting celebration of community and friendship where everyone is welcome, don’t miss this feel-good night of footstomping entertainment.
Created by Nic Doodson & Andrew Kay
‘Exhilarating’ DAILY MAIL
‘A feast for the senses. Leave your worries in your coat and grab a pint!’
BROADWAY BABY
Tue – Thu & Sat 7.30pm
Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Fri 8pm
Tickets from £35
Directed by Nic Doodson
SPITFIRE GIRLS
Presented by Tilted Wig and Mayflower Southampton in association with Theatre Royal Winchester
New Year’s Eve, 1959. Decades after answering the call, two women separated by the war meet again as the rain hammers down on the windows of The Spitfire pub.
As we hear their story, we’re transported back to a time when female pioneers defied expectations and soared through the skies.
Spitfire Girls is inspired by the extraordinary true stories of the women who dared to fly during WWII and the incredible bond that tied them together. Funny and heart-warming, this is an untold story of strength, courage and loss. But above all else, hope.
Written by Katherine Senior
Directed by Seán Aydon
‘Masterfully written and performed’ FAIRY POWERED PRODUCTIONS
‘Beautifully crafted’ THEATRE & TONIC
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £22.50
Age guidance 10+ (Contains themes of war)
NOUGHTS & CROSSES
Presented by Pilot Theatre in association with Northern Stage “Why love, if losing hurts so much?”
Sephy and Callum sit together on a beach. They are in love. It is forbidden.
Sephy is a Cross and Callum is a Nought. Between Noughts and Crosses there are racial and social divides.
A segregated society teeters on a volatile knife edge. As violence breaks out, Sephy and Callum draw closer, but this is a romance that will lead them into terrible danger.
This gripping Romeo and Juliet story by acclaimed writer Malorie Blackman is a captivating drama of love, revolution and what it means to grow up in a divided world.
Writen by Malorie Blackman
Adapted by
Sabrina Mahfouz
Directed by Esther Richardson
Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Wed & Thu 2pm Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £22.50
Age guidance 12+
BSL Interpreted Thu 16 Apr, 7.30pm
Captioned Sat 18 Apr, 2.30pm
Post-Show Talk Thu 16 Apr, 7.30pm
MIDSOMER MURDERS THE KILLINGS AT BADGER’S DRIFT
Presented by Bentley Productions in association with All3 Media International
Murder comes to the countryside in the world premiere production of Midsomer Murders
When spinster Emily Simpson is found dead in the picturesque village of Badger’s Drift, her friend Lucy refuses to accept it was an accident. DCI Tom Barnaby and Sergeant Gavin Troy are called in to investigate, uncovering hidden passions, longburied secrets and deadly rivalries.
With eccentric villagers and shocking twists, Midsomer Murders brings to life the wit, charm and chilling suspense of the beloved TV series, in a gripping new show set to delight audiences. Starring Daniel Casey as Inspector Tom Barnaby, who created the original television role of Sergeant Troy.
Written and directed by Guy Unsworth
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
H.G. WELLS’S WAR OF THE WORLDS
Presented by imitating the dog, supported by Lancaster Arts and Cast, Doncaster
Four performers enter the stage and construct an epic road movie before our eyes. In an apocalyptic tale of alien invasion and the destruction of the world as we know it, lines of Brits scrabble to flee across the channel while their cities and towns lie in smoldering ruins.
Using miniature environments and projection, imitating the dog create a thrilling, audacious and timely retelling of H.G. Wells’s classic novel.
Written & Directed by Pete Brooks & Andrew Quick
Projection & Video Designs by Simon Wainwright
Set & Costume Design by Abby Clarke
Lighting Design by Andrew Crofts
Music & Sound by James Hamilton
Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £22.50
Age guidance 14+
Captioned Thu 30 April, 7.30pm Sat 2 May, 2.30pm
Audio Described Sat 2 May, 2.30pm
Post-Show Talk Wed 29 Apr, 7.30pm
THERE’S A SNAKE IN MY SCHOOL
Presented by Sam Bradshaw Productions
Based on David Walliams’ number one bestselling book, There’s A Snake in my School is a ssss-spectacularly funny new musical.
Today is no ordinary school day – it’s Bring-your-pet-to-school Day! – and Miranda, who loves to be different, introduces her classmates to her very special pet … Penelope the python! And she’s enormous!
Miss Bloat, the horrid headmistress, doesn’t like pets much. Or children. She thinks snakes shouldn’t be allowed in school. But Penelope has other ideas-ssss …
Full of silliness-sss, shenanigans-ssss and songs-ssss – plus an array of awesome animals – There’s A Snake in my School teaches us to defend our friends and dare to be different.
Mon3.30pm Tue10.30am&1.30pm
Illustrations © Tony Ross 2016
Written by David Walliams
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA
THE GONDOLIERS PAGLIACCI
Composed by Gilbert and Sullivan. Sung in English with English surtitles
Two handsome and charming gondoliers discover that one is the long-lost heir to the throne of Barataria - but which one? In the pursuit of the truth, a bewildering series of events threaten both their marriages and their claims to the throne.
The Gondoliers, Gilbert and Sullivan’s last great success, is a fizzing comedy of mistaken identity that marries joy and chaos with a sharp satire of monarchy and class. This new production is helmed by Liam Steel, who directed ETO’s Olivier Award-winning production of Paul Bunyan
THU 7 & SAT 9 MAY
Thu & Sat 7.30pm | Tickets from £27.50
Audio Described Thu 7 May, 7.30pm
Composed by Ruggero Leoncavallo. Sung in English with English surtitles
When Canio, leader of a theatre troupe, sees his life reflected in rehearsals, he becomes convinced that his wife is having an affair. Can Canio temper his spiralling emotions, or will his jealousy get the better of him?
Art imitates life in English Touring Opera’s new production of Pagliacci. Ripped from the headlines about a real-life crime case from composer Ruggero Leoncavallo’s own childhood, Pagliacci packs passion, melodrama and revenge into an intense 90 minutes of drama. Eleanor Burke (founder of the pioneering sustainable opera company, Green Opera) makes her directorial debut with ETO alongside ETO Music Director Gerry Cornelius.
FRI 8 MAY
Fri 7.30pm | Tickets from £27.50
DEATH ON THE NILE
Bitter rivals. Buried secrets. A love to die for.
On board a luxurious cruise under the heat of the Egyptian sun, a couple’s idyllic honeymoon is cut short by a brutal murder. As secrets that have been buried in the sands of time finally resurface, can the world-famous detective, Hercule Poirot, untangle the web of lies and solve another crime?
Starring as Poirot is Mark Hadfield (Belfast; Outlander; Wallander) who will be joined on stage by Glynis Barber (Dempsey and Makepeace; EastEnders) and Bob Barrett (Murder on the Orient Express; Holby City). This brand-new adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic is not to be missed.
DEATH ON THE NILE © 2024 Agatha Christie Limited & Ken Ludwig. All rights reserved. Adapted from Death on the Nile © 1937 Agatha Christie Limited.
All rights reserved. DEATH ON THE NILE, AGATHA CHRISTIE and POIROT are registered trademarks of Agatha Christie Limited in the UK and elsewhere. All rights reserved.
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £27.50
Audio Described Sat 16 May, 2.30pm
Written by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Lucy Bailey
‘First class. Beautifully done’
DAILY MAIL
on Murder on the
Orient Express
‘Stylish and suspenseful’
THE STAGE on Murder on the Orient Express
A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE
Presented by Little Angel Theatre and Lowry
Step into the magical world of A Squash and a Squeeze live on stage for the first time!
Once upon a time, a little old lady lived all by herself in her cosy cottage, but she wasn’t happy – her house felt just too small. Whatever could she do? Will the wise old man’s solution of bringing in a flappy, scratchy, greedy, noisy crowd of farmyard animals work?
Join us for this heartwarming and hilarious adventure, full of beautiful puppets and enchanting songs. Written and illustrated by the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and adapted for the stage by Oliviernominated duo Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane.
Written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
‘Ingenious puppetry and jolly performances’ THE GUARDIAN
‘A heartwarming and hilarious adventure’ CURTAIN
CALL
A Squash and a Squeeze © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1993, 2003 - Macmillan Children’s Books
Wed 3.30pm Thu-Sun 10.30am & 1.30pm
All tickets £20
Age guidance 3-8
Relaxed Performance Sat 30 May, 10.30am
THE GRUFFALO
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood…
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - celebrating 25 years on stage.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
Songs, laughs and monstrous fun in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!
Written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The Gruffalo © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 1999 – Macmillan Children’s Books
Wed 3pm Thu-Sun 10.30am & 1.30pm
BLOOD BROTHERS
Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences.
Affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical,’ Blood Brothers ran for more than 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only five musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True
Written by Willy Russell
‘One of the best musicals ever’ THE SUNDAY TIMES
‘Unmissable and unbeatable’ THE SPECTATOR
Tue – Sat 7.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £27
Age guidance 12+
OPERATION MINCEMEAT
Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical and a 2025 Tony Award®-winning musical on Broadway. It’s London’s biggest hit with 88 Five-Star reviews making it the best-reviewed show in West End history, hailed by Peter Marks in The Washington Post as “the year’s funniest musical”.
The year is 1943 and we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse.
Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II.
Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and - of all people - Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?
‘Laughing so hard I could barely breathe is not what I expected for a musical about a World War II topsecret plan’
Thea Jacobs, THE SUN
‘Part Mel Brooks, part SIX, part Hamilton with a side order of One Man, Two Guvnors’
Neil Norman, THE DAILY MIRROR
‘Before curtain I talked to a fan seeing this for the seventh time. I wondered why anyone would see the same show seven times. Now I know’
Neil Norman, THE DAILY MIRROR
Mon – Sat 7.30pm Thu & Sat 2.30pm
Tickets from £40.50
SIR DEREK JACOBI IN CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD CLIFFORD
Sir Derek Jacobi is an icon of stage and screen. Not bad for a boy who grew up in Essex, the son of a corner shop owner and a secretary. From Leytonstone and the Leyton Players to Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe and a scholarship to Cambridge.
With peers such as Ian McKellen and Trevor Nunn, Derek is a founding member of the National Theatre and an enormous talent with Shakespeare running through his blood, having starred in almost every Shakespearean play.
With actor and director Richard Clifford in the driving seat for the evening, there will be incredible insight, joy of Shakespeare and so much more, as he is also Derek’s partner.
MURDER, SHE DIDN’T WRITE
Don your deerstalker and grab your magnifying glass as this talented company use audience suggestions to create a hilarious improvised murder mystery. All you have to do... is solve it!
Ms Gold poisoned at a synchronised swimming gala? Dr Blue exploded by cannon during a hot air balloon race? Professor Violet crushed to death at a Love Island recoupling? You decide!
But will you guess whodunnit before the killer is revealed?
THU 29 JAN
Thu 7.30pm | All tickets £30
FRI 30 & SAT 31 JAN
Fri - Sat 7.30pm | All tickets £26
GIANNI SCHICCHI CAMBRIDGE FOOTLIGHTS
Following a string of successful performances, Cambridge Footlights are back by popular demand with two nights of hilarious comedy!
Cambridge Footlights are the world-famous comedy troupe who first aired the talents of some of the foremost British comedians and actors of this century. Founded in 1880, this university drama society boasts impressive alumni including Golden Globe and BAFTAwinning actress Olivia Coleman, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, Trevor Nunn, Peter Shaffer and comedian-presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.
Joined by other student groups from across the country, don’t miss Footlights as they showcase the finest sketches, songs and standup from some of the country’s finest student comedians.
SUN 1 & SUN 8 FEB
Sun 7.30pm | All tickets £20
Student tickets £15
Presented by OperaUpClose, co-produced with Mayflower Southampton Puccini’s classic in a new English version by Hannah Kumari, re-orchestrated by Vahan Salorian. Featuring some of the most famous music in opera and inspired by popular modern-day ‘whodunnits’ such as The White Lotus and Knives Out, Gianni Schicchi (or Where There’s A Will) brings Puccini roaring into the 21st Century.
Sky Arts Award winner PJ Harris directs a stellar cast in a brilliantly subversive and satirical take on this enduringly popular family farce that asks - who should be held to account in a world where everyone is out for themselves?
SUN 15 MAR
Sun 7.30pm | All tickets £30
The show is captioned throughout, as part of the production design
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD
An evening featuring some of the best loved songs of our movie-musical lives. The Wizard of Oz to Wicked, West Side Story to La La Land, and many, many more.
The Hollywood musical feels like it’s been with us forever. Starting with The Jazz Singer in 1927, almost 100 years later audiences still watch the big screen come alive with singing, dancing, comedy and romance.
Fascinating Aïda’s Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe’s combined love and exhaustive movie knowledge is on technicolour display as they bring some of these great movie-musical songs to life on the stage. No big screen, only big talents, great harmonies and lots of music and laughter. So, bring your popcorn as they bring you the magic of the movie musicals.
SUN 22 MAR
Sun 7.30pm | All tickets £30
ABOUT AUTISM
Presented by The Sixth Sense Collective Autism and ADHD affect many people in the UK, yet lived experience remains poorly understood. What I (Don’t) Know About Autism takes audiences on a vivid theatrical journey through powerful, non-linear stories inspired by real life. The play challenges assumptions while celebrating the strengths and creativity of the neurodivergent community.
Performed by a local cast of neurodivergent young actors, the show moves between comedy and darker moments, blending narrative and direct address to explore autism with honesty and humour. A celebration of autistic identity, it also offers non-autistic audiences fresh insight.
SUN 29 MAR
Written by Jody O’Neill | Directed by Kate Khairdean Sun 7.30pm | All tickets £20 | Age Guidance 14+
There is a 20-minute Q&A after the show.
STEWART LEE VS THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Take a step back into the 1930s and ‘40s with the official UK Glenn Miller Orchestra tour, for the definitive musical celebration of legendary big band leader, Glenn Miller.
The concert features all Miller’s most iconic hits: from Moonlight Serenade, and American Patrol - through to Tuxedo Junction, Pennsylvania 6-5000, and In the Mood… and much more.
Directed by veteran band leader and conductor, Ray McVay, and with a mix of impeccable musicianship, infectious energy, and authentic vintage style, The Glenn Miller Orchestra remains the ultimate way to enjoy this timeless music.
In this brand-new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian from the dark forests of the subconscious who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up?
Stewart Lee is in danger of being left behind and his once BAFTA award-winning style of stand-up seems obsolete. But can he unleash his inner Man-Wulf to position himself alongside comedy legends like Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais and Jordan Peterson at the forefront of side-splitting stadiumstuffing sh*t-posting?
SUN 12 APR
Sun 2.30pm | All tickets £33
Sun - Tue 7.30pm | All tickets £35
TAKE PART
Welcome to all things Creative Learning and Engagement at The Arts Theatre
While our doors have been closed, we’ve been working hard to develop new opportunities for our community to connect and explore their creative interests.
We’re excited to introduce our Creative Careers Youth Forum, a youth-led initiative (18 – 25 years) creating a short film about pathways into the theatre industry (watch this space for information about the film screening). For schools, we’re launching teacher training sessions focused on bringing performance, storytelling, and movement into the classroom, including a specially developed dance session inspired by Sleeping Beauty, and a creative workshop on teaching Noughts and Crosses with Pilot Theatre. We also have many highquality curriculum linked productions in our new season.
We believe theatre is for everyone—and our Creative Learning and Engagement programme is a key part of reaching those who experience barriers to arts participation. We’re taking steps towards becoming a Theatre of Sanctuary, making a commitment to fostering a culture of welcome and support for refugees and people seeking sanctuary in our community.
Whether you’re a young person finding your voice, a teacher looking to bring creativity into the classroom, or simply curious about the many paths into theatre - we hope you’ll join us and take part!
For further information, please reach out to Katie Short, Creative Learning and Engagement Manager katie@artstheatre.co.uk
The Boy at the Back of the Class 2024, photo by Manuel Harlan
CONTINUING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS FOR TEACHERS
PRIMARY DANCE CPD WITH NOUGHTS AND CROSSES CPD FOR TEACHERS
Bring movement and storytelling into your classroom with this dynamic dance workshop! Using Sleeping Beauty as inspiration, you’ll explore movement fundamentals, crosscurricular connections (including literacy), character exploration, and choreography to create a class dance. Leave with practical tools to confidently integrate dance into your teaching and inspire creativity and engagement through movement.
Chloe Stone is an experienced dance artist and educator dedicated to accessibility and inclusion. She works nationally as a Lead Artist for the Royal Opera House’s Chance to Dance programme.
Led by Pilot Theatre’s Associate Director, this practical session will share creative approaches to exploring Noughts and Crosses in the classroom. The workshop will focus on extracts from both the play text and the novel, consider the theatrical realisation of the production, and examine social justice issues related to its themes.
Aimed at secondary school and Further Education teachers, this session would be most suited to those whose subject specialisms are Drama, English and PSHE, or who have an interest in using creativity in the classroom.
Storey’s Field Centre, Eddington
Tickets £60 (subsidies available on request)
TUE 25 NOV, 10.30AM – 12.30PM
The Arts Theatre Cambridge
Tickets £25 (subsidies available on request) – 3PM
For full details of our CPD sessions, visit: www.artstheatre.co.uk
To book: Please call our Box Office on 01223 503333 or email boxoffice@artstheatre.co.uk
Photograph by Robert Day, from 2022/23 production of Noughts and Crosses
ACCESS INFORMATION
The Arts Theatre’s aim is to ensure that everyone is welcome as they enter our doors.
Wheelchair Accessibility
There are parking spaces for customers with disabilities in 4 locations near the theatre: 4 on Peas Hill; 2 on Wheeler Street; 7 on King’s Parade and 36 in the Grand Arcade car park. If you have mobility requirements, please advise the Box Office when booking tickets so we are able to allocate you the correct space. Mobility scooters cannot be accommodated inside the building. We have 5 house wheelchairs (including one electric) available for use during all performances, subject to availability.
Assisted Listening System
We have an Auracast assisted listening system, designed to help deaf or hard of hearing customers. We can offer personal headsets or transmitters that link with hearing aids which are supported by Bluetooth Low Energy audio. If you require assistance we recommend arriving at the theatre early so that a member of the team can help you.
British Sign Language Interpretation
During BSL Interpreted performances an interpreter will stand to the right of the stage, where they will interpret dialogue, as it is spoken. We also programme Captioned performances; words will appear, as they are spoken or whenever a sound is made, on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage.
Audio Described Performances
We programme a number of Audio Described performances; the describer will explain what is happening, visually, on stage throughout the performance and this is relayed through a headset. We also hold touch tours onstage before the show. For blind or visually-impaired customers we can provide large print cast lists on request. Guide Dogs are welcome in the auditorium, please inform the Box Office at time of booking
Relaxed Performaces
We also offer Relaxed Performances, specifically designed to welcome people with an autism spectrum condition, learning disability and sensory or communication disorders, and families with very young children.
ASSISTED PERFORMANCES
SLEEPING BEAUTY
BSL Interpreted Sat 6 Dec, 11am
Relaxed Performance Sat 6 Dec, 11am & Fri 2 Jan, 11am
Captioned PerformanceSat 13 Dec, 2pm
Audio Described Sun 14 Dec, 3pm GUYS AND DOLLS
BSL Interpreted Thu 15 Jan, 7.30pm S
Captioned PerformanceWed 11 Feb, 7.30pm
Relaxed PerformanceSun 29 Mar, 7.30pm NOUGHTS AND CROSSES
BSL Interpreted Thu 16 Apr, 7.30pm
Captioned PerformanceSat 18 Apr, 2.30pm WAR OF THE WORLDS
Captioned Performance Thu 30 Apr, 7.30pm & Sat 2 May, 2.30pm
Audio Described Sat 2 May, 2.30pm
ENGLISH TOURING OPERA: THE GONDOLIERS
Audio Described Thu 7 May, 7.30pm DEATH ON THE NILE
Audio Described Sat 16 May, 2.30pm A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE
Relaxed PerformanceSat 30 May, 10.30am
Photograph from the Cambridge Greek Play
TALKS
Thu 22 Feb
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES Thu 16 Apr 7.30pm WAR OF THE WORLDS Wed 29 Apr 7.30pm
TRANSFORMING THE ARTS
A revitalised theatre for today, and a daring new space for tomorrow.
Reopening our Auditorium
Phase One of our redevelopment is almost complete – and the results speak for themselves. When you next visit, look around you: our refreshed auditorium will boast brand-new seating, improved comfort and sightlines, and a welcoming and beautiful new finish that restores it to its former glory. Behind the scenes, actors and visiting companies backstage will be benefitting from renovated spaces and upgraded facilities, bringing our technical standards in line with the best in the industry.
With Thanks
Phase One’s transformation has only been possible thanks to the vision and generosity of Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury, whose support through the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Backstage Trust has enabled the theatre to take this bold first step. We are grateful to them and to all those who have supported our capital campaign so far.
Looking Ahead: Phase Two
But our most exciting chapter is still to come. In Phase Two, we will build a brand-new 200seat studio theatre on our rooftop, a versatile space dedicated to exciting new work, bold voices, and greater reach and impact with the communities we serve. With new frontof-house spaces and enhanced accessibility, it will mark a new era for theatre lovers and makers in Cambridge.
Get Involved
But as we fundraise to build the Studio, we will need your help. We are short on time but full of energy and determination to secure the funding needed to complete the studio by spring 2028. Every contribution you can make counts – whether it is making a gift through our new tap-to-donate points, naming a seat, or simply spreading the word.
We believe that a trailblazing city deserves a groundbreaking theatre. This is more than bricks and mortar: it is the future of theatre in Cambridge, and you can be part of it.
With heartfelt thanks to our major capital supporters
David and Susie Sainsbury through the Gatsby Charitable Foundation and Backstage Trust
Christina Smith Foundation
The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust | The Betty Lawes Foundation
The Polonsky Foundation | The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
Baroness Cohen & Mr Jim Cohen In Memory of David Michael Richardson
With thanks to all our other campaign supporters.
Project Ambassadors
Hugh Bonneville, Judi Dench, Richard Eyre, Nicholas Hytner, Derek Jacobi, Christopher Luscombe, Ian McKellen, Sam Mendes, Trevor Nunn, Tom Piper, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Thompson and Nicola Walker.
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS
SupportersCircleMembers
Producer: Baroness Cohen & Mr Jim Cohen; Adam Glinsman; John & Jenny Robson
Director: Phil & Ruth Blundell; Mark Bush; Ian & Anne Carter; Tom Howat & Tom Amraoui; Jeff Iliffe & Keren Williams; David J H Jones; Darren Jones-Molyneux; Menelas & Kelly Pangalos; Gregory & Rachel Sinfield; Andy Swarbrick; Paul Taylor and those who wish to remain anonymous
Principal:Matti Aijala; Lord Archer & Dame Mary Archer; Sir Geoffrey & Lady Olwen Cass; Charles & Angela Chadwyck-Healey; John & Charlotte Chambers; David Charters & Penny Morris; Michael Colantuono; Tim Cribb; John & Jennifer Crompton; Sir Richard Dearlove; Shaun & Pauline Grady; Margaret Grass; Dr Anthony Harris & Mrs Karen Young; Tim Jones; Peter & Irena Milloy; Rory Morrison-Smith; Matthew & Sally Punshon; David & Susan Rapley; Alan & Barbara Richardson; Colin & Cora Roberts; Brian Shaffer; John Shields; Mariana Vaschetto; and those who wish to remain anonymous
Actor: Marie Allan; Steve Alsop; Ann Austen; Peter Baker; Mr & Mrs Ballisat; Mr & Mrs Bates; Martin Bedwell; John & Hazel Belchamber; Mrs Penny Belcher; Sue & Simon Boniface; Paul & Amanda Brooker; Francis & Jo Burkitt; Mrs Dorothy Calder; Christine Carpenter; Ursula Cheyne; Isabel Clare & Philippe Harari; Geoffrey Cook; Fiona Cornish; Richard & Caroline Crane; David & Jane Dandy; Lindsay Davies; Peter & Viv Dee; Ilaria Falciatori; Mr J & Mrs S Farmer; Amanda Farnsworth; Bernard Farrant; James & Katie Fountaine; Glen & Julie Gadsby; Mrs C A Gardner; Gyles Glover; Victoria Goodbody; Pamela Harris; Linda Hawksworth; Fran Hester; Joanna Hulme; John & Maureen Hunter; Ceri Jenkins; David & Michelle King; Christiane Krueger; Francesca & Gareth Lane; Patrick Lavelle; Brandi Leach; Ian & Annette Lines; Gillian Littlewood; Janet Luck; Anna & Caleb Marchent; Lord Colin Moffat; Julia Money; Lorna Morgan; Mark Newstead; John Pell; Helen Pemberton; Chris Potter; John Prestage; Nancy Preston-Saunders; Abi Reddy; Susan Richards; Anthony Roberts; Anne Sam; Christine Schwick; John Short; Pippa Simou; Ian Sims; Christopher & Cherrill Skey; Brian Sloan; Martin Taylor; Mr Steve Thompson; Michael Topham & Iris Chang; Paul & Eileen Treadwell; Gerry Tucker; Samantha Tucker; Anthony Upshall & Lisa Gibson; Greg Watson & Elfreda Tealby-Watson; Astrid Whiskin; Eva Whitton; Peter Wilbourn & Brenda Morphet; David & Jennifer Wilby; Tim Wingfield; and those who wish to remain anonymous
With Thanks To
Ann D Foundation; The Atkin Foundation; The Britford Bridge Trust; Cambridge City Council Community Grants; Cambridgeshire Community Foundation; Chapman Charitable Trust; Clare King Charitable Trust; Starling Family Charitable Trust; The Strangward Trust; The Wixamtree Trust; In Memory of David Michael Richardson
Our Corporate Partners
BOOKING INFORMATION
www.artstheatre.co.uk
Our Box Office is newly located at our Peas Hill entrance.
01223 503333
Mon – Sat, 12pm – 8pm.
On Sunday & Bank Holiday performance days we open one hour before the start time. Please check online for seasonal opening times.
For full information and T&Cs, including discounts, booking fees, exchanges and refunds, our bag policy and other tips for your visit, please go to our website or call the box office.
West Green, Barrington, CB22 7RZ
THE ROYAL OAK
THE TICKELL ARMS North Road, Whittlesford, CB22 4NZ
MILLWORKS The Watermill, Newnham Road, CB3 9EY
THE CAMBRIDGE CHOP HOUSE
THE THREE HORSESHOES High Street, Madingley, CB23 8AB
THE CROWN & PUNCHBOWL High Street, Horningsea, CB25 9JG
THE COCK
High Street, Hemingford Grey, PE28 9BJ
SEAT
Photograph by Michael Johnson