SPRING/SUMMER 2027
How to book Visit our website: thelbt.org Visit our Box Office: Open in-person and over the phone Tue - Sat, 10am - 2pm. On Fridays, we’re available by phone only and are closed for in-person visits. The Box Office is also open 90 minutes before shows.
Phone us: 01484 430528
Scan the QR code to visit thelbt.org For more information about your visit please see pages 32 & 33.
/lawrencebatleytheatre @lawrencebatleytheatre
Book
2 shows and get
15% off!
*
Book
3 shows and get
@LawrenceBatleyTheatre @lawrencebatleytheatre Age guidance, content warnings and running times for shows available online at thelbt.org All information is correct at time of printing. Please visit thelbt.org for most up-to-date information.
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Cover Image: The Uncrackable Case. More info on page 11.
20% off!
*
Book
5 shows and get
25% off!
*
Available on select shows. Look out for the See More & Save logo. *Shows must be booked at the same time, offer not available in retrospect.
Welcome As the only professional theatre in Kirklees, we take our responsibility to our local community very seriously. In our programme you will find world-class shows standing alongside outstanding home-grown talent. Ticket prices are something we know can be a barrier to some of our community. We believe that everybody deserves to experience the magic of theatre, no matter their bank balance and that the escapism offered to those watching a story play out live in front of you, can make the world of difference especially in hard times. Because of this we have introduced a new scheme across our shows, allowing those who need to access £5 seats. If you’re able to please donate to help us make up the difference, support our community, and gift a little happiness alongside your ticket purchase.
The shows in this brochure have been just for handpicked by us ly you – but they’re on ing part of what’s com s to our stages. There’ er cov dis to re mo plenty r at throughout the yea thelbt.org
We wouldn’t be here without our incredible funders. Thank you so much for your continued support!
We’re so grateful for your support. Hope to see you at ours soon!
Becky Dash Chief Executive of Lawrence Batley Theatre ⁃
Cast of our 2026 community production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Photography by Robling Photograpy.
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Everyone deserves the chance to experience live theatre.
For more information visit thelbt.org 4
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A NGR BHA TS H NIG BOLLYW OOD CLASSES in de re Ma kshi r Yo
L DHO ES SS A L C
A GR AN BH ILIDH CE
BHANGR A CLASSES
VISIT THELBT.ORG TO FIND OUT MORE
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DRAMA
Murder, She Didn’t Write: The Improvised Murder Mystery
Fri 5 February
Fri 12 February
Main House 7:30pm
Main House 7:30pm
Tickets £15 - £30
Tickets £15 - £30
“Hilarious... the show is a riot” Scottish Daily Mail
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!
MUSIC
Northern Swing Orchestra
Swinging With The Big Band Sat 6 February
An Evening Without Kate Bush
Prepare to be swept away by the irresistible sounds of the Northern Swing Orchestra as they return to the Lawrence Batley Theatre. Step back in time to the golden era of swing with the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and many more.
Main House 7:30pm Tickets £15 - £24
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CABARET & VARIETY
HHHHH The Stage
Enter Strange Phenomena, howl with The Hounds Of Love and dance on the moors with Wuthering Heights. Kate’s not there, but you are. Release your inner Bush and celebrate the music, fans and mythology of one of the most influential voices in British music.
Dinky Disco
FAMILY DANCE
Cellar Theatre 11am Tickets £10 adult & child, £7 additional child or adult
Fri 26 February
Feel the love with a special Valentines mix.
Fri 19 March
Catch disco fever as we groove to a selection of classics.
Fri 30 April
Get ready to go wild to jungle animal tunes.
Fri 21 May
As part of our Dance Dhamaka season, we’ll be spinning Bhangra bangers.
Fri 18 June 8
Feel the sunshine as we bring island beats and carnival vibes!
PARTY E 24-HOUR TL COME ON ING OUT YOUR LIT ’S R D B L ! IE S PARENT S FOR HUDDERSF ARTY! RAVER YTIME DANCE P A COOLEST D 9
FAMILY
MUSICAL THEATRE
Fri 26 – Sun 28 February
HHHH
Main House Performance - Fri 1:30pm & 4pm RP Relaxed 11am & 2pm – Sat & Sun
‘Surreal, silly and smart’ Scotsman
Tickets £14 - £16 Family of four £52 Iggety ziggety zaggety zoom! Will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Find out in the magical Olivier Award-nominated show for everyone aged 3 and up..
DANCE
Company Chameleon
Obscura
Lawrence Batley Theatre and Front Room Productions present
Fri 12 March Main House 7:30pm Tickets £13.50 - £19.50 A powerful and original double-bill from Manchester’s Company Chameleon, Obscura dances between light and darkness, exploring the shadows of self and society.
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Thu 4 – Sat 6 March Main House 7:30pm CAP Captioned Performance Tickets £15 - £21
Tabloid media, conspiracy theorists and familiar fairy-tale faces collide in The Uncrackable Case – a wild, hilarious musical that’s part courtroom comedy, part murder mystery and part musical fever dream. in de re Ma kshi r Yo
Think the gloriously ridiculous lovechild of Shrek, Knives Out and Anatomy of a Fall. Murder, mystery, and a pail full of trouble – fresh from a smash-hit Edinburgh Fringe run. 11
DRAMA
DRAMA
“The fusion of live action and video technology is breathtakingly inventive” The Times on Dracula: The Untold Story (2021)
The Paper Birds
48 Thoughts Per Minute Thu 18 – Fri 19 March Main House 7:30pm CAP Captioned Performance Post-show talk: Thu 18 Tickets £13 - £25 Your brain fires off around 48 thoughts per minute*, that’s 70,000 a day! So what exactly are we thinking about? Written with Jessica Fostekew and starring Mark Thomas, 48 Thoughts Per Minute is a fast-paced, hilarious and warmly relatable story about therelationship we all have with ourselves. 12
*From The American Journal of Medicine.
Tue 23 – Wed 24 March Main House 7:30pm Performance 1pm & 7:30pm – Wed CAP Captioned Tickets £13 - £30
Shakespeare’s enduring love story, remembered and relived by imitating the dog. Two former lovers meet again after fifty years. When a lost 1960s TV Romeo and Juliet, starring them in their youth, flickers back to life around them, their bittersweet past becomes inescapable. Live performance and film merge in a moving exploration of love, memory and the stories we cling to as everything fades. 13
ver Our Cellar Theatre is the place to disco of some by ns uctio prod ng exciti and brave s artist g darin most and st the freshest, bolde e around today. In this intimate and uniqu , studio tucked underneath our main space we’re bringing you the best shows from across the UK and showcasing locally rooted artists who are creating incredible ct performance right here in Yorkshire. Expe the from t direc hits latest the to see Edinburgh Fringe to new-writing from ... emerging playwrights and so much more
Our Cellar Theatre is the place to discover brave and exciting productions by some of the fres boldest and most daring artists hest, around today. In this intimate and unique studio tucked underneath main space, we’re bringing you our the best shows from across the UK and showcasing locally root artists who are creating incredib ed le performance right here in York shire. Expect to see the latest hits direct from the Edinburgh Fringe to new-writing from emerging playwrights and so much more... DRAMA
DRAMA
FAMILY
Amazing Animals Fri 26 March Main House 1pm Tickets £16 - £19 Step into a spectacular world where creatures leap onto the stage through master puppetry and dazzling special effects. Meet polar bears, sloths, giraffes and a mischievous skunk as learning and laughter go paw in paw in this fullthrottle family show.
EASTER HOLIDAY FUN!
Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company
MUSICAL THEATRE
Shrek The Musical Tue 30 March – Sat 3 April
Claire Beerjeraz
Natalie Bellingham
Rooted
Tiny Island
Wed 24 March
Thu 15 July
Claire is always being told to ‘go back home’, and they’ve had enough, so this time they’re really doing it. Through full-on oversharing, dramatic storytelling, and a bit of audience participation (consider yourself warned), this darkly comic solo show explores intersectional identities, marginalised communities, and the unconventional ways that we find home.
A new funny, seductive and deeply heartfelt show from Natalie Bellingham, Tiny Island is a joyful exploration of how to make the most of life in a playful, interactive performance that’s never quite the same twice. 7pm | Tickets £10 - £15
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7pm | Tickets £13 - £15
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After all shows in our Cellar Theatre there will be a post-show talk where you can hear from the artists, writers and creatives.
Main House 7pm - Tue & Thu 2pm & 7pm - Wed & Fri 1pm & 6pm - Sat Tickets £14 - £27.50 Presented by Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company, join everyone’s favourite unlikely hero in a spectacular musical adventure celebrating friendship, courage and the joy of being yourself. Featuring a live orchestra, spectacular scenery and dazzling costumes, this fun-filled show promises an unforgettable experience for audiences aged 4 to 94. This is an amateur production brought to you by Woodhouse Musical Theatre Company.
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DRAMA
Our community production returns with a Lawrence Batley Theatre spin on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, reimagined on the streets of contemporary Huddersfield. Beneath the railway arches, Oliver finds friendship, freedom and a family among Fagin’s gang. But in this world, nothing comes for free… Bold, gritty and brought to life by a community cast of all ages, this fresh adaptation by Head of Creative Programme Olivia Race explores belonging, loyalty and the courage to forge your own path.
Fri 9 – Sun 11 April Main House 7:30pm - Fri & Sat 5pm - Sun CAP Captioned Performance Tickets £5 - £10
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EVENTS IN THE COURTYARD:
OUR OUTDOOR SUMMER FESTIVAL IS BACK!
We’re once again turning our courtyard into the ultimate sum mer hangout, packed with live mu sic, feel-good theatre, laugh-out -loud comedy, top DJs and family fun. Grab your friends, feel the sun shine, and dive into the good vibes — the courtyard is calling …
COURTYARD LIVE Fri 25 June - Sat 24 July
Free live music from talented local musicians.
ST U G U A 6 I R F O LBT.ORG T FRI 25 JUNE VISIT THE E OR M FIND OUT
FLUSHED Thu 1 July
Theatre in the open air from locals Mikron Theatre Co mpany.
COURTYARD COMEDY FESTIVAL Fri 30 – Sat 31 July
An outdoor weekend of top stand-up comedy.
DINKY DISCO: FESTIVAL STYLE! Fri 6 August
Our family daytime dance par ty heads outside.
TE IN DJ PAULERTTYARD THE CO6UAugust Fri
Headline D
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J set from a legend.
house music
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DANCE
MUSICAL THEATRE
Gorilla Circus
Sat 17 April Main House 7:30pm Tickets £15 - £33
Fri 16 April Main House 2pm & 7:30pm Tickets £13 - £21 Get your skates on! RPM is a high octane, mesmeric show combining exhilarating acrobatics, adrenalinepumping street dance and breathtaking roller skating. All set on a giant moving treadmill!
Dreamcoat Stars are back! Enjoy the UK’s biggest night of musical smash hits, featuring stars of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat performing favourites from Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Rocky Horror, Saturday Night Fever and We Will Rock You.
DRAMA
Wed 21 April Main House 7:30pm
HHHH
‘Moving portrayal of determination and survival.’ The Times
Tickets £15 - £32 Inspired by the life of Nina Simone and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live, Apphia Campbell’s stunning play won the Best Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024. Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for over 10 years. 20
Apphia Campbell in the original production. Photo: Peter Dibdin
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Huddersfield Light Opera Company
MUSICAL THEATRE
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Mon 26 April – Sat 1 May
The West End Tenors
MUSICAL THEATRE
Leading men from London’s West End combine in a powerhouse of vocal talent. The cast of The West End Tenors have starred in musicals such as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia.
Main House 7:30pm
Thu 13 May
Main House 7:15pm - Mon - Fri 1pm & 5:30pm - Sat
Tickets £13 - £34
Tickets £11 - £22 Huddersfield Light Opera Company return with a spectacular celebration of love, courage and transformation. Featuring dazzling costumes, magical staging and favourite songs, this timeless tale promises laughter, romance and wonder for audiences of all ages. This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI www.mtishows.co.uk
DRAMA
‘British Theatre’s Hidden Gem’ The Telegraph
Mikron Theatre Company
Northern Broadsides supported by Blackpool Grand Theatre
She Sells Seashells Fri 7 May
DRAMA
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Main House Audio Described 7pm Performance Tickets £13 - £21 Mikron will transport you to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast to unearth the story of Mary Anning, the greatest fossil hunter that ever lived. Mary, a self-taught, working-class fossil finder from Lyme Regis unearthed some of the most significant geological finds ever seen.
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Every performance of She Sells Seashells has integrated audio description without the need for headsets.
Wed 19 – Fri 21 May Main House 7:30pm Post-show talk: Wed 19
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Tickets £13 - £30 In the heart of a bustling city, a penniless student murders in cold blood. He is caught in a spiral of paranoia and delusion as a cunning detective circles. Northern Broadsides bring their bold and playful style to one of the world’s greatest novels.
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DRAMA DANCE
FAMILY
Northern Ballet Phizzical
Henna Party Thu 27 – Sat 29 May Main House 7:30pm Post-show talk: Thu 27
It’s the night before Rumi’s wedding. The music’s loud, the samosas are hot, and everyone’s dancing—until Grandma’s memory unlocks a disturbing secret buried for fifty years. Henna Party is a funny, tender British South Asian play with songs, inspired by a disturbing chapter in 1970s Britain’s treatment of migrant South Asian women. Presented in English, with Gujarati, Punjabi and Swahili.
Robin Hood Wed 2 June
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Main House Main Audio Described 12pmHouse Performance 7:30pm Audio Described 2pm Performance
4pm £15 - £30 Tickets
RP Relaxed Performance
Tickets £12 - £14
Tickets £15 - £20
Friendship, bravery and fighting for fairness lead the way in this Don your deerstalker grabHood. your adventurous retelling and of Robin magnifying as thismakes talented This vibrant glass new ballet for the company use audience suggestions perfect introduction to the magic of to create a hilarious for improvised live performance your littlemurder ones. mystery. All you have to do... is solve it!
FAMILY
Natural History Museum
FAMILY
Dinosaurs Live Thu 3 June Main House 2pm Tickets £18 - £20
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Get ready for a roaring adventure like no other as London’s Natural History Museum, the home of dinosaurs, heads out on tour! Watch life-like dinosaurs come alive right on stage as you journey through the pre-historic and explore how our planet has changed over hundreds of millions of years.
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DRAMA
MUSIC
Huddersfield Thespians
The Girl on the Train Wed 9 – Sat 12 June Cellar Theatre 7:15pm 2pm - Sat matinee Tickets £17 Huddersfield Thespians are back with a gripping production based on Paula Hawkins’ international bestseller. When the woman she’s been watching through the train window disappears, Rachel finds herself at the centre of a thrilling mystery.
MUSIC
A Night to Remember: Motown Show Fri 18 June Main House 7:30pm Tickets £15 - £36
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A Night To Remember: Motown Show takes you back in time to 1960’s Detroit. Be prepared for a high energy show, packed with the greatest Motown hits of all time. This live show is guaranteed to be a night to remember!
Fri 11 June Main House 7:30pm Tickets £15 - £36
Spend A Country Night in Nashville and celebrate the very best of country music. Featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present including Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Dolly Parton, The Chicks, Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves, showcased by the amazing Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. 27
FAMILY
FRECKLE PRODUCTIONS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROSE THEATRE PRESENT
LIVE O N S TA G E
BASED ON THE BOOK BY
2027 TOUR IN ASSOCIATION WITH QUEEN’S THEATRE HORNCHURCH
Tue 20 – Thu 22 July Main House 4:30pm – Tue 10:30am – Wed Performance 1:30pm – Wed RP Relaxed 10:30am & 1:30pm – Thu 28
Tickets £17 - £19
From the producers of Zog and Stick Man, Zog and the Flying Doctors flies into theatres as a live show packed with laughter, music and mischief for all the family based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Zog and the Flying Doctors © 2016 Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Published by Alison Green Books, an imprint of Scholastic Children’s Books.
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Young Company Running during term time, our Young Company offers young people aged 6 –16 weekly workshops to help develop their performance and creative skills. Each term our passionate tutors focus on a specific theme, inspired by professional productions performed on our stage. Friendly and welcoming, our Young Company offers a relaxed space for young people to get creative whilst learning to work with others and make new friends.
Find out more about getting involved at thelbt.org
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Your Visit
Access
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Lawrence Batley Theatre. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time through our doors, we’re here to make your visit as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Booking All bookings are subject to a £2.50 transaction fee. When you book an e-ticket, you’ll receive an email straight after your purchase with the e-ticket attached. Receiving e-tickets is free and these do not need to be printed, just have them ready on your phone when you arrive. If you order a physical ticket to collect at Box Office you will incur a £1 Physical Ticket Fee per transaction. If you require your tickets to be posted this will incur a £3 fee. Charges cover the cost of our booking system.
Getting Here Address: Queen Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP We’re right in the heart of Huddersfield town centre. Set back from the street, the main entrance is through our Courtyard. We’re just a 10-minute walk from the train and bus stations. Coming by car? We recommend parking at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre car park, King St Huddersfield, HD1 2QB. 32
We’re proud to be an accessible and welcoming space for everyone. Our venue is wheelchair accessible, and service dogs are always welcome. We also offer free Essential Companion tickets, which can be easily booked through our Box Office. An Accessibility Box is available at our Box Office. It contains ear defenders, fidget toys, and other sensory aids. We have accessible toilets and baby changing facilities. We also have a Multi-Faith Space available for your use. It is on the first floor, above the Box Office. Accessible Performances Some of our shows feature Relaxed Performances, British Sign Language interpretation, Captioning or Audio Description with an accompanying Touch Tour. We use a Sennheiser Tour Guide System to assist those with hearing impairments which works with or without a hearing aid. How We Can Help If you would like to make use of our facilities, please inform the Box Office when making your booking or ask one of our friendly team members for assistance at the event.
Relax in our Bar Our Bar opens 90 minutes before the show. You will find our specially curated wine list as well as a selection of local and imported beers and lagers. We also have a selection of hot drinks, soft drinks and 0% beers, spirits and ciders. At our Kiosk you will find a selection of bottled beers, wine, soft drinks and snacks. We also have a fantastic range of ice creams on offer from Northern Bloc. Order your interval drinks from the scan points in the theatre before you go in to avoid the queues!
Scan the QR code for more info about visiting us.
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Spring/Summer at a glance JA N U A RY Wed 13 - Wed 3 Feb Dhol Classes: Dance Dhamaka F E B R U A RY Wed 3
Playreading (evening)
Wed 3 – Sat 6
Northern Fanfare
Fri 5
Murder, She Didn’t Write
Sat 6
Swinging with the Big Band
Tue 9
Playreading (daytime)
Fri 12
An Evening Without Kate Bush
Wed 17 - Sat 20
SIX: Teen Edition
Thu 18
Boozy Book Club
Thu 18
Comedy Cellar February
Tue 23
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 24
Attic Stories
Fri 26
Dinky Disco
Fri 26 – Sun 28
Room on the Broom
MARCH Wed 3
Playreading (evening)
Thu 4 – Sat 6
The Uncrackable Case
Tue 9
Playreading (daytime)
Fri 12
Obscura
Thu 18
Boozy Book Club
Thu 18 – Fri 19
48 Thoughts Per Minute
Fri 19
Dinky Disco
Fri 19
Ladies Only Bhangra Night: Dance Dhamaka
Tue 23
Playreading (daytime)
Tue 23 – Wed 24
Remember Romeo
Wed 24
Attic Stories
Wed 24
Rooted
Thu 25
Comedy Cellar March
Thu 25
Ross Noble: Cranium of Curiosities
Fri 26
Amazing Animals
Tue 30 – Sat 3 Apr
Shrek The Musical
APRIL Tue 6
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 7
Playreading (evening)
Fri 9 – Sun 11
Oliver Twist
Wed 14 – Wed 28 Ceilidh Dance Classes: Dance Dhamaka Thu 15
Boozy Book Club
Fri 16
RPM
Sat 17
Dreamcoat Stars
Tue 20
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 21
Black Is The Color Of My Voice
Mon 26 – Sat 1 May Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Wed 28
Attic Stories
Fri 30
Dinky Disco
MAY Tue 4
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 5
Playreading (evening)
Wed 5 – Wed 9 Jun Bhangra & Ceilidh Dance Classes: Dance Dhamaka Thu 6
Comedy Cellar
Fri 7
She Sells Seashells
Thu 13
The West End Tenors
Sat 15
The Wittering Whitehalls: Recollections May Vary
Tue 18
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 19 – Fri 21
Crime and Punishment
Thu 20
Boozy Book Club
Fri 21
Dinky Disco
Fri 21
Matt Bragg: Stand Up Comic
Sat 22
Count Arthur Strong: And It’s Goodnight From Me!
Wed 26
Attic Stories
Thu 27
Comedy Cellar May
Thu 27 – Sat 29
Henna Party
JUNE Tue 1
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 2
Northern Ballet: Robin Hood
Wed 2
Playreading (evening)
Thu 3
Natural History Museum presents Dinosaurs Live
Wed 9 – Sat 12
The Girl On The Train
Fri 11
A Country Night in Nashville
Sat 12
Bhangra Ceilidh: Dance Dhamaka
Tue 15
Playreading (daytime)
Thu 17
Boozy Book Club
Fri 18
Dinky Disco
Fri 18
A Night To Remember: Motown Show
Thu 24
Comedy Cellar June
Fri 25 – Sat 24 Jul Courtyard Live Tue 29
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 30
Attic Stories
JULY Thu 1
Flushed
Wed 7
Playreading (evening)
Tue 13
Playreading (daytime)
Wed 14
Mark Simmons and Friends
Thu 15
Boozy Book Club
Thu 15
Tiny Island
Tue 20 – Thu 22
Zog and the Flying Doctors
Wed 28
Courtyard Stories
Tue 27
Playreading (daytime)
Fri 30 – Sat 31
Courtyard Comedy Festival
AUGUS T Fri 6
Dinky Disco: Festival Style!
Fri 6
DJ Paulette in the Courtyard
Tue 10
Playreading (daytime)
Thu 19
Boozy Book Club
Tue 24
Playreading (daytime)
SUPPORT US TODAY As a registered charity your donation ensures that we can continue bringing the magic of theatre to local people. Visit thelbt.org/support-us to find out more. Charity No. 510693 35