Norwich Theatre Autumn Highlights Sep - Dec 2021

What’s On May–Sep 2021

Reopening Season Autumn 2021 Theatre Royal Playhouse

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DIARY

DIARY

Playhouse

Welcome Back!

We are excited to share with you a full listing of what's to come, in the diaries below, and a selection of Autumn highlights from Theatre Royal and Playhouse. We can't wait to welcome you back through our doors again!

Theatre Royal AUGUST Sarah Millican: Bobby Dazzler Nemesis

28 Aug 31 Aug

SEPTEMBER A Beautiful Noise Rumours of Fleetwood Mac Brainiac Live!

Michala Jane School of Dance Milton Jones Grayson Perry: A Show for Normal People Tim Vine is Plastic Elvis Pam Ayres: Up In The Attic Johnny Ball’s Wonders Beyond Numbers Simon Amstell: Spirit Hole Sixties Gold SIX the Musical Jack Dee: Off the Telly Bedknobs and Broomsticks

01 Sep 03 Sep 04 Sep 05 Sep 06 Sep 07 Sep 08 Sep 09 Sep 11 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 20 Sep - 25 Sep 26 Sep 28 Sep - 03 Oct

MUSIC MUSIC FAMILY DANCE COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC COMEDY FAMILY COMEDY MUSIC MUSICAL COMEDY MUSICAL

OCTOBER Two Mr P's in a Podcast The Dresser Jon Richardson Jason Donovan Alan Carr: Not Again, Alan!

Ross Noble: Humournoid Northern Ballet: Merlin Looking Good Dead Jonathan Pie: Fake News

02 Oct 05 Oct - 09 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 13 Oct & 14 Oct 16 Oct 19 Oct - 23 Oct 25 Oct - 30 Oct 31 Oct

ENTERTAINMENT DRAMA COMEDY MUSIC COMEDY COMEDY DANCE DRAMA COMEDY

NOVEMBER Rocky Horror Dragons & Mythical Beasts Engelbert Humperdinck Groan Ups Glyndebourne Tour: The Rake's Progress Glyndebourne Tour: Messiah Concert Glyndebourne Tour: Don Pasquale Marti Pellow

01 Nov - 06 Nov 09 Nov - 11 Nov 13 Nov 15 Nov - 20 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26 Nov 27 Nov

MUSICAL FAMILY MUSIC COMEDY OPERA MUSIC OPERA MUSIC

COMEDY DANCE

SEPTEMBER Austentatious Paul Zerdin: Hands Free Cloudbusting: The Music of Kate Bush Iain Stirling: Failing Upwards Jenny Eclair: Sixty! (FFS!) Jenni Murray in Conversation

23 Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep & 27 Sep 29 Sep & 15 Oct 30 Sep

ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC COMEDY COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER Ed Byrne: If I'm Honest The Doris Day Songbook Two Mr Ps in a Podcast - LIVE Tom Rosenthal: Manhood The Cavern Beatles The (Steve) Royle Variety Performance Ode to Joyce Simply Dylan Mark Thomas John Shuttleworth's Back Luisa Omielan: God is a Woman Gary Meikle: Surreal Rambert2: Double Bill Ivo Graham Maddie Moate Mae Martin: SAP Bridget Christie:Who Am I The Amazing Bubble Man Rob Newman: Philosophy Show Alistair McGowan: The Piano Show Mark Thompson Spontaneous Potter Kidz Spontaneous Potter Adam Buxton Rambles…

01 Oct & 08 Oct 02 Oct 02 Oct 03 Oct & 04 Oct 05 Oct 06 Oct 07 Oct 09 Oct 11 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 17 Oct 20 Oct & 21 Oct 22 Oct 23 Oct & 24 Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct & 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 30 Oct 31 Oct

COMEDY MUSIC COMEDY COMEDY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC COMEDY COMEDY COMEDY COMEDY DANCE COMEDY FAMILY COMEDY COMEDY FAMILY COMEDY COMEDY FAMILY FAMILY COMEDY COMEDY

01 Nov 02 Nov 03 Nov 04 Nov 05 Nov 06 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov & 19 Nov 21 Nov

COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY DRAMA MUSIC DANCE ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT

23 Nov - 05 Dec

MUSICAL

NOVEMBER Sofie Hagen: The Bumswing Codebreakers Jason Byrne Who Cares Ronnie Scott's Orchestra Sati & Shiva Clinton Baptiste Mark Watson Lady Glenconnor Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World

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Book with Confidence • Box Office Mon – Fri 10am – 6pm 01603 630 000 • Online www.norwichtheatre.org • All tickets are subject to a £2.80 per order transaction fee unless you are a Friend of Norwich Theatre.

• Details are correct at the time of print.

Norwich Theatre reserves the right to alter the advertised programme, prices and facilities as necessary and apologises for any inconvenience this may cause. For age guidance please check the website or call our Box Office.

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MUSICAL

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Bedknobs and Broomsticks 28 Sep – 03 Oct Theatre Royal

Mats Thu, Sat & Sun 2.30pm Eves Tue to Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £48 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Friends

When the three orphaned Rawlins children are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all. Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.

©Disney

Enter a world of magic and fantasy as Disney’s classic movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks makes its world premiere as an exciting new stage musical. With original songs by the legendary Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ), including Portobello Road, The Age Of Not Believing, The Beautiful Briny, and new music and lyrics

by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill, Bedknobs and Broomsticks will be brought to life by award-winning theatre-makers Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison.

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DRAMA

Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly

The Dresser

directed by Terry Johnson

05 Oct - 09 Oct Theatre Royal

Mats Wed, Thu & Sat 2.30pm Eves Tue to Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £39.50 Discounts U18s, 60+, Groups & Friends

Inspired by memories of working as Donald Wolfit’s dresser as a young man, Ronald Harwood’s evocative, affectionate and hilarious portrait of backstage life is one of the most acclaimed dramas of modern theatre.

It is 1942 and in a war-torn provincial theatre an ageing actor manager, known to his loyal acting company as ‘Sir’, is struggling to cling on to his sanity and complete his two hundred and twenty seventh performance of King Lear.

Starring Julian Clary as Norman and Matthew Kelly as Sir, it is down to Norman, Sir’s devoted dresser, to ensure that in spite of everything, the show goes on.

For sixteen years Norman has been there to fix Sir’s wig, massage his ego, remind him of his opening lines and provide the sound effects in the storm scene.

Poignant, funny and utterly authentic M A I L O N S U N DAY

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DANCE

Northern Ballet: Merlin 19 Oct – 23 Oct Theatre Royal

Mats Thu & Sat 2.30pm Eves Tue to Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £46 Discounts U18s, 60+, Schools, Groups & Friends

Discover how the world’s most famous sorcerer mastered his magic to unite a warring kingdom.

Inspired by the story of the mythical wizard, Northern Ballet’s Merlin will take you on a sweeping epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and more than a little magic.

Choreographed by Olivier award-winning Drew McOnie (Broadway’s King Kong and Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom), expect an enchanting spectacle.

Don’t miss the legend reawakened through Northern Ballet’s unrivalled blend of classical ballet and dramatic storytelling.

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DANCE

Rambert2: Double Bill Killer Pig by Sharon Eyal Home by Micaela Taylor 20 Oct – 21 Oct Playhouse

Eves Wed & Thu 7.30pm Tickets £18 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Schools

Rambert2 made their debut on the Playhouse stage in 2019 and returned again in Jan 2020 to a sell-out success!

In February 2020, 650 early career dancers attended open auditions to join the new Rambert2 ensemble.

11 dancers were chosen for their outstanding ability and individuality.

This exciting new group makes their on-stage debut as a company in a bespoke programme featuring Home, a new commission by up-and-coming American choreographer Micaela Taylor, paired with Sharon Eyal’s pulsating and uncompromisingly physical Killer Pig.

Spiky, sassy dancers seize the stage T H E G UA R D I A N

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DRAMA

Looking Good Dead starring Adam Woodyatt and Gaynor Faye 25 Oct – 30 Oct Theatre Royal

Mats Wed & Sat 2.30pm Eves Mon to Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £35.50 Discounts U18s, 60+, Groups & Friends

No.1 best-selling author Peter James returns with the world premiere of Looking Good Dead, starring award-winning actor and EastEnders icon, Adam Woodyatt and star of stage and screen Gaynor Faye (Emmerdale, Coronation Street, The Syndicate).

No good deed goes unpunished…hours after picking up a USB memory stick, left behind by another passenger on a train seat, Tom Bryce inadvertently becomes a witness to a vicious murder. Reporting the crime to the police has disastrous consequences, placing him and his family in grave danger.

Adapted by award winning writer Shaun McKenna, Looking Good Dead will keep you on the edge of your seat until the chilling final moments!

Peter James is the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, recently played by John Simm in a major ITV series, Grace.

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MUSICAL

Rocky Horror Show 01 Nov – 06 Nov Theatre Royal

Mats Fri & Sat 5pm Eves Mon to Thu 7.30pm & Fri & Sat 8pm Tickets £10 - £46.50 Discounts Groups & Friends

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, the Rocky Horror Show returns as part of a sell-out worldwide tour, having been seen by over 30 million theatregoers.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe and featuring timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp.

The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet.

When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.

Fierce and fabulous fun!

DA I LY E X P R E S S

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COMEDY

Groan Ups from the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong 15 Nov – 20 Nov Theatre Royal

Mats Thu & Sat 2.30pm Eves Mon to Sat 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £33.50 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Friends

Following their phenomenal rise to global success with The Play That Goes Wrong, The Comedy about a Bank Robbery and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, multi awardwinning Mischief return on tour with their brand new comedy all about growing up.

Do we choose who we become? Is the story of our lives already written? Do we ever really grow up? Follow an unruly classroom of six year-olds on their journey through anarchic high school teenagers to the challenges of adulthood.

Mischief shows sell out fast, so bag your tickets early - this is a lesson not to be skipped!

Photo shows original West End cast.

Cast to be announced.

★★★★

A very funny farce. There’s no resisting gags of this calibre S U N DAY T I M E S

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MUSICAL

Fantastically Great Women

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Who Changed The World 23 Nov - 05 Dec Playhouse

Morn Sun 11am Mats Sat & Sun 2.30pm & 4.30pm Eves Tue to Sat 6pm & 7.30pm Tue 30 Nov, Wed 1 & Thu 2 Dec 10.30am* Tickets £22.50 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Schools

Can I have your attention please?!!!

The producer of smash hit musical SIX brings you the world premiere of a brand new kickass-pirational pop musical as the Fantastically Great Women take to the stage to tell their stories.

BASED ON THE BOOK BY

K AT E PA N K H U R S T AND PUBLISHED BY BLOOMSBURY

An empowering new stage show which will be celebrated by anyone who is prepared to move and be moved, with characters and songs that pack a popstar punch! Join our inquisitive heroine Jade as she breaks away from her class to take a peek behind the scenes at the not yet open Gallery of Greatness in the local museum. Along her journey she is surprised to meet the original and incredible Wonder Women: Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie, Emmeline Pankhurst to name just a few.

Don’t miss the opportunity to be the first to see this brand new musical adapted by Chris Bush with songs by Miranda Cooper whose hits include number 1 records for the Sugababes and Girls Aloud.

*Schools Only

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OPERA & MUSIC

Glyndebourne Tour 24 Nov - 26 Nov Theatre Royal

Eves Wed to Fri 7.15pm Tickets £10 - £58.50 Discounts Friends

Join us for an incredible season of opera and more this autumn with two beloved operas – Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress designed by David Hockney, and Donizetti’s exhilarating comic opera Don Pasquale – as well as our first ever Messiah concert.

The Rake’s Progress 24 Nov

Messiah Concert 25 Nov

Don Pasquale 26 Nov

A bearded lady, a small-town boy and a deal with the Devil: classic fairy tale meets modern morality play in Stravinsky and W.H. Auden’s exhilarating fusion of high drama and low comedy.

The Glyndebourne premiere of Handel’s choral masterpiece, Messiah.

There’s no fool like an old fool…

When the mysterious Nick Shadow appears at his door, Tom Rakewell immediately abandons country life and his sweetheart Anne for the temptations of the city. But London’s glittering promise soon corrodes, and love, money and even sanity slip further and further from Tom’s grasp. Can true love save him, or will the Devil have the last laugh?

Join us for a rare opportunity to see – and hear – Glyndebourne’s exceptional chorus centre-stage as they sing Handel’s rousing oratorio about Jesus’ life for the first time. While most oratorios put the spotlight on the soloists, Handel’s Messiah has the chorus at its heart.

As exhilarating now as it was then – this is a piece that wholeheartedly showcases its singers.

Nimble and breathless, outrageous and exhilarating, Donizetti’s late comic masterpiece pits two generations against one another in a musical battle of wits and wills.

Miserly old bachelor Don Pasquale is fed up with his nephew Ernesto, and vows to get married and produce an heir, so he can cut the feckless young man out of his will. But when Ernesto and his beloved Norina get wind of the plan, they come up with their own scheme to outwit him. The trap is set, and romantic tangles, tussles and intrigue quickly ensue.

★★★★

a revival brings charm and warmth T H E G UA R D I A N ( 2 0 1 1 D O N PAS Q UA L E T O U R )

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PLAYHOUSE

PLAYHOUSE

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30 Sep 7.30pm £15 or £25 with book – Playhouse

07 Oct 7.30pm £14 | Discounts £12 – Playhouse

01 Nov 8pm | £15 – Playhouse

02 Nov 7.30pm | £15 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Students – Playhouse

Jenni Murray

Ode to Joyce

Sofie Hagen

Codebreakers

09 Oct 7.30pm | £23 – Playhouse

23 Oct 11.00am, 1.30pm & 4.00pm and 24 Oct 11.00am & 2.00pm £10 or £23 with Book – Playhouse

04 Nov 7.30pm | £13 Discounts U18s, 60+, Schools & Students – Playhouse

05 Nov 7.30pm | £22 Discounts U18s & 60+ – Playhouse

Simply Dylan

Maddie Moate

Who Cares

Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra

25 & 26 Oct 11.30am & 2.00pm | £11.50 – Playhouse

29 Oct 11am & 2pm £12.50 Discounts U18s & 60+ – Playhouse

06 Nov 7.30pm | £12 Discounts U18s, 60+ & Students – Playhouse

18 & 19 Nov | £20 – Playhouse

The Amazing Bubble Man

Mark Thompson

Sati & Shiva: Diwali

Mark Watson

This is printed on 100% recyclable paper

Front cover: Northern Ballet: Merlin

The Wind in the Willows 14 - 18 Jul

The Importance of Being Earnest 7 Aug

Sarah & Duck 10 - 14 Aug

INTERLUDE in the CLOSE Wed 14 Jul - Mon 30 Aug

Circus Lates 24 - 30 Aug

01603 630 000 norwichtheatre.org