theatres

The Picture House Cinema and Restaurant, Uckfield

AtThe Picture House Cinema and Restaurant in Uckfield, National Theatre Live is a major part of our Arts content, along with opera and ballet from The Royal Opera House and opera from The Metropolitan Opera in New York.

We want to provide the real theatre experience without the cost and time of travelling to London. Our Theatre Meal Deal is great value, visitors can enjoy a two course meal (starter and main) and a National Theatre show for just £38.00 for shows screening in the evening.

Here's taste of what's in store this spring: Good (15) C.P. Taylor’s timely tale, which was filmed live at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, starring David Tennant, screening 20th, 23rd April and 11th May; Life of Pi (PG) puppetry, magic and storytelling combine in a unique, Olivier Award-winning stage adaptation of the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, screening Sunday 30th April; Best of Enemies (15) David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s multiple awardwinning new drama, 18th & 21st May.

Visit www.picturehouseuckfield.com for more information about what's on.

above: NTL 2023 Life of Pi, Hiran Abeysekera.

Chichester Festival Theatre Festival

2023

Chichester Festival Theatre’s Festival 2023 – the final season programmed by outgoing Artistic Director Daniel Evans – includes four world premieres and three musicals.

The three musicals are: The Sound Of Music, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s beloved classic; Assassins, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman; and Rock Follies, a new musical by Chloë Moss with lyrics by Howard Schuman and music by Andy Mackay.

The three new plays are: Never Have I Ever by Deborah Frances-White; The Inquiry by Harry Davies, directed by Joanna Bowman; and a new adaptation of The Jungle Book by Sonali Bhattacharyya for Chichester Festival Youth Theatre.

And there are also some great modern and classic dramas such as Lia Williams and Joshua James in Noël Coward’s The Vortex; Eileen Atkins and Sebastian Croft in Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles; and Mom, How did you meet the Beatles? by Adrienne Kennedy and Adam P. Kennedy, directed by Diyan Zora, in a UK premiere.

Not to mention Rory Bremner in James Graham’s Quiz prior to a UK tour; Arthur Miller’s A view from The Bridge directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart and Chichester Festival Youth Theatre promenade Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream through West Dean Gardens.

Daniel Evans and CFT’s Executive Director Kathy Bourne said, “This year, we have an outstanding range of plays and musicals, including a handful of world premieres and renowned plays which have never been performed at CFT before. For example, we’ve never staged a play by the great Arthur Miller; nor have we staged Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most-loved musical. There is a rare outing of a play by US writer Adrienne Kennedy and, fifty years after his death, a new production of Noël Coward’s first big success. Contemporary, 20th century or classical, every piece has something to say about the world around us today.

“A company of exceptional actors are already lining up to join us including Dame Eileen Atkins, Samuel Barnett, Carly Bawden, Gina Beck, Rory Bremner, Sebastian Croft, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Joshua James, Danny Mac, Alexandra Roach, Zizi Strallen, Lia Williams, Greg Wise and Susan Wokoma; and seven directors are making their Chichester debuts.”

Daniel Evans added “On a personal note, this is the seventh and last season I’ve programmed at Chichester. I’d like to thank the many thousands of freelance artists, creatives and technical staff who’ve brought them to life; CFT’s indefatigable staff; and of course our audiences, who are among the most supportive and adventurous theatregoers in the country. I know they will welcome my successor, Justin Audibert, with the same warmth that greeted my and Kathy’s own arrivals in this beautiful and unique theatre.” www.cft.org.uk for full details of the season.

A sample of what’s on offer this spring at Worthing Theatres

On8th June Dr John Cooper Clarke, Britain’s bestloved performance poet returns to Worthing Assembly Hall. Dr Clarke shot to prominence in the 1970s as the ‘people's poet’ and became one of the most prolific artists of the Punk years. Since then, his career has spanned cultures, audiences, art forms, and continents.

Today he performs as a stand-up solo poet and will do just that with his new collection – I Wanna Be Yours. JCC goes into fascinating detail about his early life in Manchester, leading to punk superstardom, drug addiction, and the title of major poet he enjoys today.

On 10th July Peter James returns to Worthing, with the world premiere stage adaption of Wish You Were Dead at the Connaught Theatre.

Following on from five hit stage shows and the new acclaimed ITV series, Grace, the work of best-selling author Peter James returns with the world premiere stage adaption of Wish You Were Dead. An all-star cast includes George Rainsford, Clive Mantle and the award-winning actress Katie McGlynn.

When Detective Superintendent Roy Grace and Cleo Morey take their first holiday together, they hope for a few days away from their dark worlds of murder and the mortuary. But their dream escape turns out to be the holiday from hell.

On 24th July BRIT Award winning and Grammy nominated artist KT Tunstall is arriving at the Pavilion Theatre. KT Tunstall burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope, which spawned the global hits Black Horse and the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See.

In the last few years, the Grammy-nominated Scottish musician has expanded on her musical selves by focusing on a trilogy of records. Each album zeroes in on a single concept: soul, body and mind. The first, 2016’s KIN, was the soul record; 2018’s WAX was the body record, and the new NUT is the mind record. Visit www.wtm.uk/whatson/ to discover all that the Theatres and Museum have to offer.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 31st May to 3rd June

Tunbridge Wells Operatic & Dramatic Society is delighted to bring you a musical extravaganza this half term, with everyone’s favourite flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! Eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts and his enchanting children Jeremy and Jemima, join confectionery heiress Truly Scrumptious and batty Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron Bomburst and the evil Child Catcher in this non-stop adventure for all ages.

Based upon the book by James Bond creator Ian Fleming and adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang boasts sensational sets, stunning special effects and features all the Sherman & Sherman singalong favourites, including Truly Scrumptious, Toot Sweets, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar nominated title song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This will be TWODS most lavish production to date and audiences will be treated to the spectacle of the famous car flying live on stage!

Performances at 1pm and 6pm during half term make this show accessible to young families. Tickets priced from £19 are selling fast so early booking is strongly advised. For more information or to book tickets visit www.twods.org.

Ropetackle Arts Centre Shoreham-by-Sea

Some of the exceptional talent this spring

Ropetackle continues to bring the most talented international singer/songwriters to Sussex, these three talented women being wonderful examples.

On 27th April the remarkable Sarah Smout arrives after embarking on a month-long odyssey to Iceland, travelling by boat via Orkney, Shetland and the Faroes. Sarah is a cellist, singer, and activist who creates music and poetry that is deeply-rooted in nature and place. For over a decade, she has toured and recorded internationally with the likes of Michael Chapman, Bridget St John, The Mediaeval Baebes and many more.

Her adventures have inspired an entrancing and solo show called Eyjar (Old Norse for islands) which explores our connections to place, the different lenses through which we view the land and what that means for our relationship with nature.

Sarah’s performances are imbued with visceral story-telling, bristling with atmosphere created with live-looped cello, haunting melodies and deeply felt lyrics that are never too far from the sea.

On 14th June Karine Polwart is performing. A multi award-winning Scottish songwriter, folk singer, and storyteller, her songs evoke a richness of place, hidden histories, scientific curiosity and folklore. Trees and rocks speak. Birds flit in and out of vision. And the stars know everything. She conjures the beauty and magic, the sorrow and complexity of the world out of the corner of her eye, with lyricism and tenderness. This is a rare chance to enjoy Karine in an intimate, conversational solo performance.

And last but by no means least on 11th July we can experience the Ashley Campbell Trio. The youngest of Glen Campbell's eight children, Ashley was perhaps always destined to perform. Taking the stage first as a comedian, her debut single was ‘Remembering’. A new version of the track is included on her ‘Something Lovely’ album and the song also featured on the soundtrack to the ‘Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me’ documentary, the compilation won a Grammy and was nominated for an Oscar. Ashley is also appearing at the Southdowns Music Festival in September.

Ashley has also supported artists such as Kris Kristofferson and Jimmy Webb, while both her albums ‘The Lonely One’ and ‘Something Lovely’ hit the Top Ten of the UK Country Chart upon release. Visit www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk to discover more.

This Is My Theatre returns to captivate us again this spring

Following our previous touring productions including The Secret Garden and Treasure Island, we are delighted to be back this spring with two more brand new adaptations. From May to June we will be touring across the country with both The Wind in the Willows and Wuthering Heights. Local Sussex shows for the spring season are taking place at Upper Beeding, Hurstpierpoint and the Hawth in Crawley, as well as slightly further afield at Albury and Reigate, with further dates are still to be announced.

We are really excited to be continuing our summer tradition of magical theatre in historic places and atmospheric spaces. Always firm favourites with company members and audiences alike, these productions will remain faithful to the original texts whilst each show is individually tailored to the beautiful venues we are due to visit. Audiences can expect magical telling of revitalised classics as we bring to life well-known characters for the stage.

Suitable for audiences of all ages and with live music throughout arranged by the company’s resident composer Simon Stallard, our adaptations of these much-loved stories will be packed with merriment and mischief (as well as sorrow and the supernatural) and are sure to be all that TIMT audiences have come to love about our shows!

Tickets and venue information can be found on our website www.thisismytheatre.com.

The Royal Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne

Three examples of what’s on offer this spring

Eastbourne Operatic & Dramatic Society’s spring musical will be 'Kipps' (The new Half a Sixpence Musical) at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre from 26th to 29th April 2023. This exciting 2016 reworking of the original stage musical Half a Sixpence that catapulted Charlie Stemp to musical theatre stardom, Kipps has been updated for today’s audience without losing the charm of the original musical starring Tommy Steele. The plot revolves around Arthur Kipps, an orphan and overworked draper’s assistant, who unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society.

The charity dance show returns on 11th May for another year and this time stars Strictly pro dancer Amy Dowden, with profits going to St Wilfrid’s Hospice. Amy’s dancing journey started when, aged eight, she entered a campsite competition – she hasn’t looked back since. She was the 2017 British National Champion and remains one of the highest ranking ballroom and Latin professional dancers in the UK. Amy is also a four-time British National finalist and in 2015 she reached the semi-final of the World Championship.

Amy will be supported by some of her students from her Art in Motion Dance Academy in the West Midlands, and others from Shining Stars Dance Academy, www.royalhippodrome.com for full programme.

East Sussex Dance and Ratton School Irish Dancers.

Two days later on 13th May, cinema’s most magical music will be performed by the London Film Music Chamber Orchestra under the light of a giant moon!

The show incudes music from Star Wars, Interstellar, E.T., Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Gladiator, Inception, Sayuri's Theme From Memoirs of a Geisha, The Dark Knight, Batman V Superman, Man of Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean!

Rainbow Shakespeare at Highdown Gardens this summer

Rainbow Shakespeare “The jewel in Worthing’s crown” returns for their 22nd open-air season at Highdown Gardens, one of Sussex’s most magical, beautiful historic gardens and best kept secrets.

Picnic under the stars with the wonderful people of Worthing and its surrounds, and become part of what has become one of the great Sussex traditions. Eleven sparkling professional actors alongside some community performers, including local children, will bring the plays alive in memorable productions of lively, spontaneous and accessible Shakespeare that all ages can understand and enjoy.

Directing both shows is the company’s founder, Artistic Director Nicolas Young, who loves sharing his love of the Bard with Worthing audiences.

The first play of the season is The Tempest, from Tuesday 11th to Sunday 16th July. This play has everything – a dramatic shipwreck, a magician plotting revenge, whilst his daughter falls in love with the son of his enemy, two drunken fools and a monster wanting to take over the island. Great poetry and knockabout comedy all make this, one of Shakespeare’s last plays, ideal for all the family in our beautiful open-air setting!

The second play of the season is The Comedy of Errors, from Tuesday 18th to Sunday 23rd July.

Shakespeare’s funniest, knockabout comedy features two pairs of identical twins separated at birth, living in two different countries. That’s just the start of nonstop, madcap adventures when one twin comes across the wife of the other, who claims he is her husband! Jealousy and confusion ensue in trumps. Meantime the other set of twins who are servants, mistake their masters… Everyone thinks everyone else has gone mad. Children will love this show as much as adults.

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206206 or via their website www.wtm.uk. Tickets also available on the gate 90 minutes before each performance.

Visit www.rainbowshakespeare.co.uk for more info.

REVIEW – Henry V

Worthing Connaught Theatre

Apowerful, complex and very modern take on Shakespeare's masterpiece, this riveting, stark, challenging performance of Henry V, brought to Worthing's excellent Connaught Theatre by The Globe on Tour and Headlong Theatre, thrilled and perplexed with new and deeper insights into Shakespeare's probings on kingship.

A fast paced edginess throughout matched Oliver Johnson's compelling young Henry as he rises from tormented, uncertain Prince craving his father's approval, to ruthless power-wielding king. His inner psychological anguish as he grapples with what it means to be a prince, a king, to wield power, holds echoes of Hamlet's tortured dilemmas and the Fortinbras archetype.

He performs 'Once more into the breach...' alone, in an almost foetal position, as if trying desperately to give himself, rather than his troops, the resolve and determination to fight. His threats of rape and pillage of the citizens of Harfleur, and his brazenly cruel demands for Catherine as his wife at the end of the play are implacable, sinister. This Henry can be a monster as well as a merciful, needy friend.

There is nothing comfy about this performance. These dilemmas, played out by a terrific cast in closeup, are not nicely resolved, but lived out in all their angst as the protagonists make their choices and the machinations of power grind on.

The performers were sharp, strong, volatile, brilliantly directed, some taking multiple roles mercurial in their fluidity, characters throughout announcing acts and scenes that gave the whole production a sense of heady speed and intensity. The clever, minimal backdrop, stark lighting and modern dress left no hiding places. –Liz Longhurst.