Derby Theatre - Summer 2018 Season Brochure

Summer Season April – July 2018

Box Office 01332 593939 Book Online derbytheatre.co.uk

Derby Theatre is part of

Pre-Theatre Supper Enjoy home-made quiche, served with fresh salad and a glass of wine for just £8.50 before all evening performances.

Add a cake for pudding and it’s just £10.

Derbyshire Cream Tea On matinee days, why not treat yourself to a delicious cream tea with freshly made scones served with clotted cream, jam and a pot of tea for just £4.25. Available before the show and in the interval.

Name a Seat Do you have a special anniversary coming up or a landmark birthday? Or would you like to remember someone special? Name a Seat at Derby Theatre is a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion, or remember someone who has enjoyed the experience of live performance, whilst supporting the work of your local theatre.

For £300, you can have an engraved plaque attached to a seat of your choice. We can add a personalised message and we’ll celebrate your support with a backstage tour for you, your family and friends, to include a photo opportunity sat in your very own seat!

To find out more visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk/nameaseat or contact David Brownlee at d.brownlee@derby.ac.uk or 01332 593924.

Get ready to take your seat!

For every £1 you donate to support Derby Theatre, Arts Council England will match it by £1. So every pound goes twice as far!

Welcome to our Summer Season Welcome to Derby Theatre’s summer 2018 brochure. I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about some of our successes over the last year and some of our big plans for the next 12 months.

Derby Theatre was recently awarded The Clothworkers’ Theatre Award, after facing stiff competition from many brilliant Midands venues, and we also received an uplift in our Arts Council funding, which means we can undertake two very exciting projects:

Your Place Firstly, we will be touring some theatre into community centres across Derby and could even come to ‘Your Place’! We are particularly hoping to reach audiences who may not attend our theatre or think theatre is for them. If you know of any suitable venues, or would like to register your interest, please do get in touch and email me direct at S.Brigham@derby.ac.uk.

You could also become one of our Community Ambassadors, helping people who don’t normally access theatre to come to our venue in the city centre. If you’re interested in finding out more please email Rafia Hussain at R.Hussain@derby.ac.uk.

Our Place We also have plans to develop our work for D/deaf audiences and are very excited to announce that in 2019 we will produce our first show with fully integrated sign language. We’ll need to consult with the community and will need lots of advice so please do get in touch if you think you can help by emailing me directly.

The funding we receive allows this work to happen, but it doesn’t pay for all of the work we undertake with children, young people and artists across the region. All of this is possible thanks in part to the generous donations by our audiences. Did you know that for every £1 you donate we can get an additional £1 from the Catalyst: Evolve - Arts Council England Funding?

This is for a limited period so if you are thinking of donating to our charity please do so!

I hope you enjoy many a great night out with us this season and I look forward to welcoming you.

Sarah Brigham Artistic Director & Chief Executive

Summer Season Tickets Main House

Studio

• Birdsong • Brighton Rock • Mountains • Abigail’s Party

• Leaving • Coconut • The Class Project • What Happened to Vandal Raptor?

• On Behalf Of The People • The Bee Project

Enjoy 4 world-class shows for just £54. Shows include:

4 shows for £28. Shows include:

Terms & conditions apply. Speak to a member of our box office team for more information.

Derby Theatre Productions

4

A Derby Theatre, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Wiltshire Creative and Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg production

Director Douglas Rintoul Designer Lee Newby Sound Designer Ivan Stott Lighting Designer Zoe Spurr Listed in the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes (BBC1’s Play For Today)

Wednesday 26 September – Saturday 20 October

A hilarious masterpiece of situation comedy.

Beverly and husband Laurence are entertaining their newlywed neighbours. Joining them is twitchy divorcee Sue, banished from the party of her teenage daughter. Over a stack of cheesy-pineapple sticks, small talk and splashes of alcohol, the appalling host’s soiree soon descends into chaos. As the sniping begins, this delicious comedy cracks open social climbing suburbia to savagely funny effect.

“A night of continuous guilty pleasure… a much-loved classic”The Telegraph (Abigail’s Party) Audio Described: Fri 12 Oct, 7pm Wed 17 Oct, 1.30pm BSL Interpreted: Fri 5 Oct, 7pm Purchase a half price ticket to Abi when you buy any ticket for Abigail’s Party.

Set in seventies Romford, with Donna Summer top of the hit parade and adults behaving disgracefully, join us for a great night out at the drinks party from hell!

Made famous by the BBC ‘Play for Today’ starring Alison Steadman, this fresh but faithful look at an iconic classic is directed by Douglas Rintoul (Made in Dagenham, The Crucible, Rope).

Please see our website for performance times Tickets

£15.50 - £26.50 Age Guide: 11+

5

Derby Theatre Productions

6

Abi Saturday 29 September – Saturday 20 October

Abi is told from the viewpoint of a contemporary Abigail who surveys what’s left after her parents’ night before, in response to Mike Leigh’s seminal play, Abigail’s Party.

This fresh new piece of writing, commissioned by Derby Theatre and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch as part of the RETOLD series, is by one of Britain’s most exciting new writers, Atiha Sen Gupta.

At 17, Atiha was commissioned by Hampstead Theatre to write What Fatima Did for the main stage in 2009. For this play, she was shortlisted for the Evening Standard’s Most Promising Playwright Award and the John Whiting Award in 2010.

Atiha has written further plays for Hampstead Theatre, including State Red, which was directed by Douglas Rintoul, as well as plays for Theatre Uncut/Teater Grob and Theatre Royal Stratford East. From 2016–2017, she was writer-in-residence at Theatre Royal Stratford East and in 2016 she received the IARA award for Best Playwright 2016.

RETOLD is a series of new one-woman plays commissioned by Derby Theatre from some of the most exciting female voices in contemporary theatre today. Previous productions have included the critically acclaimed Jinny, and the multi award-winning Joan. RETOLD’s aim is to crack open classic tales and see the story afresh from the perspective of a female character.

Writter Atiha Sen Gupta Director Sarah Brigham “This is the work of a writer with a future.”

Michael Billington on What Fatima Did, The Guardian

Reviews for previous RETOLD productions “Sharply funny” ★★★★ The Guardian (Jinny 2016) “Packs a surprising emotional punch” The Stage (Joan 2015) “A fascinating bit of drama” Public Reviews (Penelope 2014) Audio Described: Fri 12 Oct, 9.30pm Wed 17 Oct, 4pm BSL Interpreted: Fri 5 Oct, 9.30pm

e 1/2 Prics! t Ticnkpuerchased Whe gail’s with Abi Party

Please see our website for performance times Tickets

£10 (£8 Concessions) Age Guide: 14+ 7

Festival

Thursday 19 - Sunday 22 July

Departure Lounge is back for a sixth year!

Departure Lounge is Derby Theatre’s hugely successful summer festival of fresh, new and exciting theatre, produced by In Good Company.

Get your summer dosage of performance, workshops and talks and be inspired!

We have brand new work from Annie Siddons and Jess Green, as well as the premiere of the first ever In Good Company commissions from Dante or Die. Why not pull an all-nighter with LaPelle’s Factory and follow that with workshops from Milk Presents and Stacy Makishi.

As always, less conventional spaces will be animated by performances in the foyer, car park and even the shopping centre, and for the first time we welcome international work to the festival. Canadian company Theatre Replacement will bring their project Town Choir to the festival, bringing together writers and singers from around the world. We’ll be shaking up our symposium and discussion day and be bringing you the best speakers from contemporary theatre.

Look out for more festival announcements on the Derby Theatre website and on our social media platforms.

As usual we’ll have festival passes for the whole weekend, day passes and individual tickets available and lots of juicy deals so you can make the most of the festival.

8

Comedy

★★★★

‘GENUINELY HILARIOUS. BOY, DOES IT HIT THE FUNNY BONE’

WEST LO END’S RUNNNGEST C M ING EDY ( C uO rre ntly )

DAILY TELEGRAPH

★★★★★

‘I FEARED I WAS GOING TO HYPERVENTILATE’ DAILY MAIL

The Play That Goes Wrong Starring: nobody famous

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 April

EXTREMELY LIMITED AVAILABILITY We can’t believe it either!

Fawlty Towers meets Noises Off in this multi-award-winning smash-hit comedy, now playing on Broadway and enjoying its fourth year in the West End. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is putting on a 1920s’ murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! As the accident-prone thesps battle on against all the odds to reach their final curtain call, hilarious results ensue!

Performance Times

Hailed “a gut-busting hit” by the New York Times, The Play That Goes Wrong has won a host of celebrity endorsements from the likes of Joanna Lumley: “We laughed until the tears ran down our faces, it has to be seen” to Ant & Dec: “The funniest show we’ve seen! If you can get a ticket, go!”

Tickets

Evenings 7.30pm Wed, Thu & Sat Matinee 2.30pm £20.50 - £34.50 Age Guide: 8+

9

Musical

10

Selladoor productions

Director Daniel Buckroyd Designer Sara Perks Lighting Designer David Kidd Sound Designer Chris Bogg “A sharp, smart, scintillating production, guaranteed to help everyone look on the bright side” ★★★★★ Reviews Hub

Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 April

Funnier than the Black Death!

Lovingly ripped off from the hugely successful 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot is a riotous, comedy musical, full of misfit knights, killer rabbits, dancing nuns and ferocious Frenchmen. Join King Arthur as he travels with his hapless Knights of the Round Table on a divine mission to locate the illusive Holy Grail – with uproarious consequences.

Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best New Musical, the hilarious Spamalot was written by Python legend Eric Idle, with a fantastic score co-written by John DuPrez including Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.

Produced by the award-winning Selladoor Productions producers of Footloose, American Idiot, Avenue Q and The Little Shop of Horrors; and Mercury Theatre Colchester, this brand new even SPAMMIER UK tour of Spamalot will have audiences rolling in the aisles.

Spamalot is directed by Daniel Buckroyd, who previously directed Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at Derby Theatre in 2016.

“Imaginatively staged and immaculately delivered production of a Sondheim classic” ★★★★ The Stage (Sweeney Todd at Derby Theatre 2016, directed by Daniel Buckroyd)

Performance Times Evenings 7.30pm Weds & Sat Matinees 2.30pm

Tickets

£18.50 - £32.50 Age Guide: 12+

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University of Derby

University of Derby Contemporary & Performance and Technical Theatre Students present

The Street Of Crocodiles

Director Bruno Schulz Adapted by Simon McBurney and Mark Wheatley

Friday 27 – Saturday 28 April

Poland, 1934. Joseph, a lonely Jewish boy, creates a world finely balanced between recollection and make-believe.

Trapped in the ghetto with nothing but books and his daydreams, Joseph delves deep into the inner workings of his mind, conjuring tales of his family and other familiar characters as they figure in his imagination. Objects can take on lives of their own and people can morph into animals as the disrupted narrative plays out.

Based on Bruno Schulz’s recollections of life in a small Polish town leading up to the War and Nazi occupation, The Street of Crocodiles is a modern adaptation of Complicite’s 1999 blend of text and physical theatre. Layering the passions of three generations of artists: Schulz; Complicite and the current Ensemble, this 1937 collection of short stories pushes the boundaries of reality and slips increasingly into the fantasy 12 world envisioned by the protagonist.

Performance Times Evenings 7.30pm

Tickets

£11 (£9 concessions) £5 for UoD Students

Dance

National Dance Company Wales present

Terra Firma Tuesday 8 May

Terra Firma tells stories drawn from the very ground on which we build our communities:

Choreographers Caroline Finn, Marcos Morau and Mario Bermudez Gil “I went home elated” The Evening Standard

Folk is a vintage fairy tale, set in a rich fantastical world under the boughs of an upside-down tree, as darkly whimsical as it is enchanting.

Tundra is a barren landscape where ultra-modern creativity blinks into life and tears pages from Russian folk dance and revolution.

Atalaÿ is a watch tower from which far-off lands can be seen from four points; a contagious dance influenced by the warmth of the Mediterranean.

Discover Dance

Performance Time Evening 7.30pm

Why not join us for an interactive matinee with National Dance Company Wales, open to schools and other audience members. Join in a full company warm-up from your seat, then either take part or watch as members of the audience learn some steps on stage, ready for a professional performance of Folk!

Tickets

In association with

Wed 9 May, 1pm, £4

£16 (£14 Concessions)

Discover Dance: Interactive Matinee for Schools and all audiences 13

Drama

Black Theatre Live with Yellow Earth Theatre in association with Royal Exchange Theatre present

Mountains – The Dreams of Lily Kwok Thursday 10 - Saturday 12 May I invited you into my past... and you invited me into your future.

Helen has grown up in the UK, but always felt a piece of her story was missing.

By In-Sook Chappell Based on the memoir Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse “A gripping tale of struggle, laughter, love and food… with a universal story of survival that will move your soul.”

Ken Hom on Sweet Mandarin

Visiting her mother’s birthplace of Hong Kong for the first time, she is determined to find out who she really is and where she belongs. Amidst the skyscrapers and bustling streets, she meets her grandmother, Lily Kwok, and steps into her past where she discovers shocking family secrets that will change her life forever.

This stylish and evocative new play by award-winning writer In-Sook Chappell, tells the extraordinary story of the women behind the famous Manchester restaurant Sweet Mandarin.

Based on Helen Tse’s best-selling family memoir of passion, sacrifice and survival across three generations held together 14 with one lifeline - food.

With live cooking on stage.

Performance Times Evenings 7.30pm, Sat Matinee 2.30pm

Tickets

£15.50 – £26.50 Guide: 12+

Pilot Theatre & York Theatre Royal by special arrangement with STUDIOCANAL present

By

Brighton Rock

Adapted by Bryony Lavery

Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 May

Director Esther Richardson

Fred is found dead – they deny it was murder.

Music Hannah Peel

Rose is in love – they say she’s in danger.

Graham Greene

And that boy, Pinkie…. They say he’s evil – but what has he done?

When Pinkie Brown gets teenager Rose embroiled in a vicious gang war in Brighton, one brutal murder leads to the next.

The police are impassive - but the courageous Ida Arnold wants the truth. She has Pinkie in her sights. Nothing scares her. Whatever the cost, she’ll see justice is done.

Pilot Theatre and York Theatre Royal are proud to bring the dark underworld of Graham Greene’s classic novel Brighton Rock to the stage in this new adaptation by acclaimed writer Bryony Lavery with new music composed by Hannah Peel.

An unmissable version of this gripping noir thriller.

Co-commissioned by The Lowry for Week 53.

Performance Times Evenings 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Matinees 2.30pm

Tickets

£15.50 - £26.50 Age Guide: 13+

15

Drama

Birdsong Productions Ltd in association with The Original Theatre Company present Sebastian Faulks’

Birdsong

Stage version by Rachel Wagstaff

Monday 11 – Saturday 16 June

Marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Birdsong is the hit, critically acclaimed stage show based on the world-famous novel by Sebastian Faulks.

Director Alastair Whatley with Charlotte Peters Designer Victoria Spearing Lighting Designer Alex Wardle Sound Designer Dominic Bilkey “Stunning, compelling, powerful – if you see one play this year, make it Birdsong” Folkestone Herald

In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on a passionate and dangerous affair with the beautiful Isabelle Azaire that turns their world upside-down.

As the war breaks out over the idyll of his former life, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the sprawling tunnels that lie deep underground. Faced with the unprecedented horror of the war, Stephen clings to the memory of Isabelle as his world explodes around him.

A mesmerising story of love and courage. Set both before 16 and during the Great War.

Performance Times

Evenings 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Matinees 2.30pm

Tickets

£15.50 - £26.50 Age Guide: 12+

STAR CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED The Classic Thriller Theatre Company present

The Case Of The Frightened Lady Monday 17 – Saturday 22 September

When Inspector Tanner is called in to investigate a ruthless murder at Mark’s Priory, the grand ancestral home of the Lebanon family, he quickly discovers that nothing is quite as it seems.

As Tanner moves closer to the heart of the mystery, he uncovers a shocking and closely guarded secret…

Building on the phenomenal decade-long success of The Agatha Christie Company, which sold over two million tickets around the UK, comes a new thrilling chapter from the “King of the detective thriller”, EDGAR WALLACE. Widely recognised as the most popular writer of the early 20th century, Edgar Wallace’s gripping page-turners are regarded as the bedrock of the modern thriller and The Case of the Frightened Lady remains one of his most celebrated works. Adapted for film several times, this is your chance to catch this chilling, captivating and complex thriller live on stage…

By

Edgar Wallace Adapted by Antony Lampard Director Roy Marsden

Performance Times Evenings 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Matinees 2.30pm

Tickets

£18.50 - £32.50

17

Family

18

A Derby Theatre production

Holiday Wednesday 25 July – Sunday 5 August Lots of fun for under 5s and their families!

Gabi and Jaz want to go on holiday, but Gabi and Jaz aren’t going on holiday.

They have to stay at home instead.

It’s not fair.

What to do?

We’ll play at going on holiday!

Join Gabi and Jaz as they gather up their things, and with the magical power of their imaginations, they head to the beach where they play on the sand, swim, surf and snorkel with the fish in the sea, eat ice creams, catch crabs in a rock-pool and have a delicious picnic - but watch out for that cheeky seagull!

Then they travel even further… to a place where they learn to speak a new language, slurp spaghetti and camp out under the stars.

And all without leaving the comfort of their home.

Inspired by the funny and moving stories told to us about holidays by children from Derby, Holiday is the perfect summer treat for children aged 3-5 and their grown-ups.

This brand new, charming family show has been created and directed by award-winning director of theatre for Early Years, Sarah Argent, with original music by Ivan Stott (composer of Peter Pan and The Gingerbread Man).

Let’s play!

Running time: 45 minutes

By Sarah Argent Music by Ivan Stott Reviews for previous shows by Sarah Argent: “Sarah Argent has specialised in theatre for the very young and she certainly knows what she is doing” British Theatre Guide “She devises family theatre that speaks directly to children, and works hard to find their language, their visuals and their feelings” The Guardian BSL Interpreted: Thu 2 Aug, 1.30pm Captioned performance: Thu 2 Aug, 1.30pm

FREE

ice cream included with each ticket!

Performance Times 11am & 1.30pm

Tickets

£10 (£7 concessions) Family Ticket £30

19

Family A Little Angel Theatre Production Written by Jon Barton

Red Riding Hood and the Wolf Sunday 8 April, 11.30am & 2pm

Time for bed. Tuck yourself in. This is where Robyn’s story begins. How can they expect her to sleep at a time like this? She takes a book and starts to read. But she can’t relate to Red Riding Hood, sugar and spice and all things nice. There are two sides to every tale, and that is not how this one goes!

What if the Big Bad Wolf wasn’t big or bad at all? What if they got it wrong?

Robyn wants to tell you what really happened through a world of home-made make-believe.

And here is where our story starts.

A gentle wolf with a broken heart…

The Wolf isn’t big or bad, in fact he’s rather shy.

He won’t gobble up your Grandma, he’s an all-round nice guy.

Enjoy a new spin on this classic story – about two misfits who just want to fit in.

Derby Theatre Studio Tickets: £10 (£7 concessions) Age Guide: 7+

Filament Theatre

Rufus Longbottom and the Space Rabbit Monday 21 May, 1.30pm and Tuesday 22 May, 10.30am & 1.30pm When Space Rabbit’s planet is destroyed by a meteorite she escapes in the nick of time. A blast separates her from her family, sending her hurtling towards Earth.

There she lands outside the Tandaria Care Home, frightened and alone.

Inside is Rufus Longbottom, an old gentleman itching for one last adventure. Guided by her magical paws, the unlikely pair go on a journey which takes them to the ends of the earth in the search for a family and a place to call home.

Filament’s show uses song, music and a bit of magic to delight and enchant audiences young and old alike.

Derby Theatre Studio Tickets: £5 Age Guide: 6+

Nick Sharratt’s Big Draw-Along Tuesday 29 May, 2pm

Photo credit Jon Parker Lee. Illustration © Nick Sharratt

Join this much-loved children’s writer and illustrator in a family-friendly, fun-filled draw-along for all ages.

Nick’s best-selling picture books include You Choose, Shark in the Park and Pants. He’s also the illustrator of Jacqueline Wilson’s phenomenally popular children’s novels.

He’ll be showing you how he creates characters like Tracy Beaker and Timothy Pope, sharing ways to invent your own crazy creatures and giving loads of top tips as you draw along with him.

Bring pencils, paper and something to lean on.

Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions), Family Ticket: £36 Age Guide: 6+ Running time: 1 hour

Northern Ballet

Ugly Duckling Thursday 31 May, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm Don’t miss Northern Ballet’s hugely popular Ugly Duckling as it returns to the stage for the first time since 2013.

Ugly Duckling is lonely and fed up, ignored by those around her who think she is too ugly to fit in. She tries to make friends with fellow ducklings as well as with frogs, cats and even a fox, but realising she is not like any of these animals, she is left sad and alone. Follow the duckling on her journey as she overcomes her troubles and realises that she was beautiful all along.

Re-telling the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, Ugly Duckling is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time.

As seen on CBeebies, Northern Ballet’s sell-out productions for children are not to be missed.

This child-friendly performance lasts approximately 40 minutes.

The 2pm performance will be a Relaxed performance.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age Guide: 3+ 21

Family A Wrongsemble Production. Co-commissioned

by Barnsley Civic and Stockton ARC

The Selfish Giant

Saturday 9 June, 12.30pm & 3pm In a very cold, grey town, not too far from here, hidden behind a crumbling wall and a thousand signs which say ‘KEEP OUT’, lives... The Selfish Giant.

So selfish he shut away the garden where the children used to play and cursed the town to never-ending winter.

Or so the story goes...

But one curious child wants to discover what really lies within!

Oscar Wilde’s classic tale is reimagined for the stage in this magical adventure for the whole family by Wrongsemble.

Wrongsemble are a Yorkshire-based theatre company famed for creating fantastic family theatre for all ages, packed full of original music, puppetry, magic and adventure.

The Selfish Giant promises to be a theatrical treat not to be missed!

Tickets: £10 (£7 concessions) Age Guide: 3+

An Oily Cart Production

Kubla Khan

Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 June It was a miracle of rare device.

A sunny pleasure dome with caves of ice!

Welcome to the world of KUBLA KHAN, a multi-sensory pleasure dome that you can touch, taste and smell. From the sounds of a sitar to the feel of a flowing river, experience the temperatures and textures of Coleridge’s acclaimed poem as the aroma of incense drifts by...

Oily Cart’s astonishing new work for young people from age 3 to 19 comes in three distinct versions: • For those with profound and multiple learning disabilities • For those on the autism spectrum • And for the first time ever for the Oily Cart, for those who are deafblind with or without any cognitive impairment.

The intimate and interactive performance is limited to six young people at a time, each supported by an adult carer to maximise their involvement.

Performance Times: Sat 10.30am Deafblind, 1.30pm Autism, Sun 10.30am Autism, 1.30pm PMLD Tickets: Young Person and Carer Joint Ticket £14, Observer Ticket £5

A Derby Theatre production

Adapted by Mike Kenny Director Sarah Brigham Composer Ivan Stott Set Designer Neil Irish “A fantastic night of family fun” East Midlands Theatre (Peter Pan 2017)

Friday 30 November - Saturday 5 January

Follow our trail of breadcrumbs into the woods next Christmas for a deliciously festive treat.

Hansel and Gretel need to get back home in a hurry, but in the enchanted woods there’s a cottage made entirely of sugary sweets and gorgeous gingerbread, not to mention a wicked witch to contend with. Can Gretel save the day and rescue her brother? And can Hansel leave the lollipops alone and actually help?

Derby Theatre’s Christmas production team brings another magical and enchanting tale to the stage. With lashings of original music, heaps of colourful costumes and a super scrumptious talented team of actor-musicians, Hansel and Gretel cooks up a mouth-watering show.

Perfect for ages 7+ and their families and friends.

“Wholly original and truly inspired ” ★★★★ The Stage (Alice In Wonderland 2016) Audio Described: Thu 13th Dec 2pm Sat 29th Dec 1pm BSL Interpreted: Tue 11th Dec 2pm Sat 22 Dec 1pm Relaxed Performance: Tue 18 Dec & Thu 3 Jan 2pm Early Bird Offer Book and pay for your tickets before Friday 30 March and get 15% off the standard ticket price.

T&C’s apply.

Tickets

£12.50 - £28.50 Family Ticket £50 - £94 Group Tickets from £11.50 School rates available 23

One Nighters

Count Arthur Strong is Alive and Unplugged Sunday 29 April, 8pm Alone, solo and by himself, with no one with him, the show business Colossasus (check that) takes us back on a journey through his early career. Using the latest technology and all that (I presume we’ve got a projector?) he will be delving into his own personal box of video cassettes and talking us (you) through the highlights of his glittering TV career, with many of his trademark stories we’ve come to love him for. If you only buy one ticket for something this year make sure it’s this and bring someone with you.

You won’t be disappointed by him (me).

“A relentless blast of comic surprises” The Times “A laugh-out-loud absurdity, subtly slapstick in both word and deed, from this perfectly-realised fool.” Chortle

Tickets: £20

Henry Blofeld: 78 Retired Thursday 3 May, 7.30pm Henry ‘My Dear Old Thing’ Blofeld is one of Britain’s most loved and recognisable broadcasters. In spring 2018, he is touring the country with his brand new theatre show, jam-packed full of unheard anecdotes from on and off the pitch, as well as stories from the TMS box not allowed on the radio!

Don’t miss the chance to wave a bat in honour to the cherished golden voice of cricket.

Tickets: £20.50

Kate Rusby Friday 4 May, 7.30pm Of all the stars in folk music’s wondrous firmament few shine as brightly as Yorkshire’s Kate Rusby. A career which spans over 25 years in music showcases her as one of the finest interpreters of traditional folk songs and one of our most emotive original songwriters.

Audiences are sure to be thoroughly entertained by Kate’s choice of much-loved classics from her back catalogue stretching over her two decades of music making together with a selection of songs from her latest studio album Life in a Paper Boat.

Tickets: £25 (£23 concessions)

Rich Hall’s Hoedown Sunday 13 May, 8pm

Rich Hall’s critically acclaimed new show begins its second leg of touring.

There has never been a better time to be an American comedian in the UK. Hall’s precision dismantling of the tenuous relationship between two countries is as freewheeling and deadly accurate as ever. His BBC Four documentaries, most recently Rich Hall’s Countrier Than You and Rich Hall’s Presidential Grudge Match and BBC Radio 4 series Rich Hall’s (US Election) Breakdown have built him a new legion of followers, as has appearances on Have I Got News For You and QI. But if you’ve only ever seen Hall on TV, you’ve short-changed yourself.

“As close as it gets to a guaranteed good show” Scotland on Sunday

Tickets: £17.50

An Audience with Kate Humble Monday 21 May, 7.30pm Kate Humble is a writer and broadcaster specialising in science, wildlife and rural affairs.

Photo credit Tim Martin

Join Kate for a fascinating talk about her life working with animals as well with wildlife, the far flung places that this has taken her to and the inspiring people she has met on her travels. There’s also a unique chance to go ‘behind the camera’ as Kate describes how the programmes are made along with some lovely anecdotes about the filming.

The second series of Kate’s popular BBC programme Back to the Land will air in 2018 and will be the latest in a long line of programmes Kate has presented for the BBC including Springwatch and Autummwatch, Wild Shepherdess, Yellowstone: Wildest Winter to Blazing Summer, Curious Creatures and Extreme Wives with Kate Humble.

Tickets: £20.50

Bridget Christie: What Now? Tuesday 22nd May, 8pm

Brexit. Trump. Nuclear apocalypse. Environmental catastrophe. Is rolling news affecting your ability to enjoy the simple things? Like baking, gardening and autoerotic asphyxiation?

This new show from multi-award-winning member of the Metropolitan Liberal Elite, and star of her own Netflix special, is for you. Join Bridget (Room 101, Have I Got News for You, Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule) for a night of hope and despair.

Winner of Rose D’Or, Edinburgh Comedy Award and Southbank Sky Arts Award.

Bridget’s last show was The Guardian’s No 1 Comedy of 2016.

“A masterclass” The Guardian, “Superb” The Telegraph

Tickets: £17.50

25

One Nighters

Ken Clarke in conversation with Alan Johnson Friday 1 June, 7.45pm

Between them, Ken Clarke and Alan Johnson have over 60 years’ experience as MPs. On opposite sides of the political divide, they have both earned respect for their principled, but not always popular, views on issues of the day.

Having served as the MP for Rushcliffe for 46 years and the MP with the longest continuous service, Ken Clarke is the current Father of the House. In 2017 he published his biography A Kind of Blue, which charts his remarkable progress from working-class scholarship boy at Nottingham High School to high political office and the upper echelons of both his party and of government.

Alan Johnson visited Derby Book Festival in 2017 to talk about his third memoir, The Long and Winding Road. He publishes his first novel in 2019. Both Ken and Alan are music lovers and the event will include a performance by Derby Jazz featuring some of Ken’s favourite music.

Tickets: £15 Sponsored by Peveril Homes

The Bookshop Band with Louis de Bernières & Joanne Harris Photo credit Bonbon Photography

Thursday 7 June, 7.30pm A vibrant evening of books, music and lively author talks. Sure to be one of the highlights of Derby Book Festival 2018, the night pairs the fantastic Bookshop Band with awardwinning authors (and talented musicians), Louis de Bernières’ (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin), Joanne Harris (Chocolat) and Emma Hooper (Etta and Otto and Russell and James).

In 2016 The Bookshop Band and Louis de Bernières event was one of the Festival high points. The Festival is delighted to welcome them back for this special event which will see the authors discuss their new work and famous novels as well as play live with the band. The event also marks the launch of Emma’s latest book Our Homesick Songs. Truly unmissable!

Tickets: £12 (concessions £10) Sponsored by Geldards Law Firm

The Mozart Question Narrated by Sir Michael Morpurgo

Saturday 9 June, 7.30pm

The Mozart Question tells the story of Paolo Levi, a world-famous performer who developed his passion for music as a young child with the help of his teacher, Benjamin. Alongside this story, is that of his parents who were both musicians too – Jewish prisoners surviving, playing music in a concentration camp during the Second World War. Treated with utmost sensitivity for a family audience, The Mozart Question is a story of friendship and family, truth and secrets – interwoven by the power of culture and music.

Suitable for audiences from 8 years old this unique performance of the story, narrated by Sir Michael Morpurgo and Alison Reid, featuring Daniel Pioro on violin and string quartet The Storyteller’s Ensemble, it is beautifully enhanced and embellished with extracts from music by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Vivaldi.

Tickets: £23.50 (£21.50 concessions) Age Guide: 8+

Narrator Sir Michael Morpurgo

An Evening with England’s World Cup Winner Sir Geoff Hurst Sunday 17 June, 7.30pm Sir Geoff Hurst made sporting history just five months into his international career and emerged from the World Cup Final in 1966 as a household name and hero.

He was the first, and is still the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.

Sir Geoff comes to Derby Theatre bang in the middle of the 2018 World Cup and will be sharing stories and fascinating insights about his illustrious football career, as well as taking questions from the audience.

VIP ticket holders will have a chance to meet the man himself and have their football shirts signed and a photograph with him before the show.

An unmissable event for football fans.

Tickets: £25.50, VIP tickets £50

Dan Snow

Monday 25 June, 7.30pm An evening with the ‘History Guy’ will feature the well-known historian, broadcaster and BBC TV presenter recount anecdotes of memorable experiences from his very successful career. Otherwise known as ‘The History Guy’ Dan will also research and include historical facts relating to Derby and the surrounding area and region and will be aided by the use of digital screens. The show will be an undoubted success amongst historians, academics, students (schools and universities), families (young and old) and all those interested in the historical facts, legends and myths of their own region and town.

The show will conclude with a 20-minute Q&A. Tickets: £25.50 (£23.50 concessions)

The Big Chris Barber Band Europe’s finest Traditional Jazz and Blues Band

Wednesday 27 June, 7.30pm Jazz legend, Chris Barber, celebrates his 69th anniversary as band-leader in 2018 with a Europe-wide concert tour. Inspired by the ‘King Oliver Creole Jazz Band’, Chris formed his first band in 1949 at the age of nineteen and has since gone on to become not only one of Europe’s most successful and influential bandleaders, but a bona fide jazz legend.

With his 10-piece band, featuring a 7-strong front line, Chris plays a selection of his favourite music: from his roots in New Orleans style in ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ to the early music of Duke Ellington and Sidney Bechet... before going back to ‘When the Saints’!

The Big Chris Barber Band combine all these ingredients into an exciting, and often moving, evening of world-class jazz.

Tickets: £23.50 (concessions £21.50)

Community A CS production by Centre Stage Theatre Arts

The Wizard of Oz

Thursday 21 - Saturday 23 June, 7.30pm & 2.30pm (Saturday) Physical theatre, puppetry and steampunk style combine to bring this much-loved classic into the 21st century.

When Dorothy and her faithful friend crash into the wonderful land of Oz, they are met by a 50-strong cast of characters and creatures whose post-industrial chic is matched by inventive direction and eclectic modern choreography.

Join Centre Stage Theatre Arts, Derby’s premier musical youth theatre company, for a fabulous reimagining of this family favourite.

By L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics of the MGM motion picture score,

by Harold Arlen and E. Y Harburg, background music by Herbert Stothart, dance and vocal arrangement by Peter Howard, adapted by John Kane from the motion picture screenplay.

Tickets: From £15 (£13 concessions). Group discount available.

Age Guide: 3+

Creatio Arts

Oliver!

Tuesday 3 - Friday 6 July, 7.30pm Consider yourself at home with the award-winning Creatio Arts when they return to Derby Theatre following their ‘outstanding’ production of The Phantom of the Opera with Lionel Bart’s, Oliver!

The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow, takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sykes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.

Oliver! is a musical theatre masterpiece featuring an outstanding cast, live orchestra and another unforgettable production.

Tickets: From £15.50 Age Guide: 5+

Derby Theatre Studio Curious Monkey in association with Northern Stage

Leaving

By Paddy Campbell

Saturday 7 April, 7pm Leaving home for the first time… A new play by Paddy Campbell (Wet House, Live Theatre/ Soho – Guardian Top Ten plays 2013). Using young people’s own words, an ensemble cast and an award-winning creative team test the boundaries of verbatim theatre to bring these real voices to the stage. Giving voice to those working within the system, from staff in children’s homes to MPs and policy makers. An immediate, immersive experience that will change the way you think about young people in care.

Curious Monkey is collaborating with young people from Plus One to create a curtain-raiser performance inspired by the themes of leaving.

Q&A post-show with cast and Curious Monkey’s Artistic Director Amy Golding.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age guide: 14+ Vandal Factory

What Happened to Vandal Raptor?

Written and performed by Henry Raby

Friday 20 April, 8pm Punk poet Henry Raby celebrates 40 years of Punk Rock by breathing life into the spiky spirit of resistance.

He tells the tale of the fictional band, Vandal Raptor (the greatest 4-piece dinosaur-themed punk band), as they snarled through songs, snapped strings and sang about changing the world until… they broke up.

Using spoken word, poetry, live music and raw storytelling, this is a show about rebellion, growing up and friendship.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age Guide: 16+

Rob Rouse: Are You Sitting Comfortably?

Saturday 28 April, 8pm

Rob takes his trademark comedic storytelling to a career high in this new show, exploring issues of embarrassment, obsession, control, compromise and ultimately, submission. This is an irresistibly hilarious and candid story of the highs and lows of life in a small village, which has taught him to relinquish all attempts to control his life and forced him to face down literally one of the most awkward situations you’re ever likely to hear about.

“He’s a man with genuinely funny bones” The Sunday Times Tickets: £14.50 Age Guide: 16+

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Derby Theatre Studio University of Derby Theatre Arts and Technical Theatre Students

The Laramie Project Friday 4 and Saturday 5 May, 8pm Laramie, Wyoming. 1998.

20-year-old Matthew Shepard was tragically and horrifically murdered in a homophobic attack that shocked the town of Laramie. In 2018, 3rd year Theatre Arts students will mark 20 years since Matthew’s death with a performance of The Laramie Project.

Using verbatim and the real words of the residents of Laramie, the show delves into their lives to examine how Matthew’s death became a catalyst for change in America and in the UK. The Laramie Project, written by Moises Koffman and The Tectonic Theatre Project is a poignant and relevant show about justice.

Tickets: £10 (£7 concessions), £5 for UoD students Age Guide: 14+ Contains strong language

University of Derby Theatre Arts and Technical Theatre Students

Fugee

Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May, 8pm In 2016, 3,290 unaccompanied children sought asylum in the UK. Behind the media storm and the statistics, every child has their own story - this is just one.

University of Derby final year Theatre Arts students present a story of lost childhood and abandonment within the current UK migrant crisis.

As just another statistic, Kojo is let down by a system that is surely meant to protect him.

Fugee, by Abi Morgan, is the devastating story of 14-year-old Kojo. His family murdered in front of his eyes, he is ripped from his home in Côte d’Ivoire and thrown into the British asylum system as a child refugee.

Fugee reminds us of the part that we play in the current migrant crisis, and of the fifty million child refugees around the world running from conflict and poverty. Children who just need a place to call home.

Tickets: £10 (£7 concessions), £5 for UoD students Age Guide: 14+

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The Thelmas and Ovalhouse present

Coconut

by Guleraana Mir

Saturday 19 May, 8pm Ever feel like you are constantly disappointing people?

Meet Rumi, a British-Pakistani woman who’s referred to as a ‘Coconut’ (brown on the outside, white on the inside).

Born and brought up as a Muslim, Rumi spends more time enjoying fine wine and bacon than being at the mosque.

When she meets Simon, a white guy, she hopes that his decision to convert to Islam will be enough to keep everyone happy. However, as Simon begins to explore his faith, Rumi’s world spins off its axis in ways she could never have predicted.

Originally commissioned by Ovalhouse. Supported using public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

This tour is supported by In Good Company, the East Midlands’ flagship artists professional development programme.

The Thelmas are a New Diorama Emerging Company 2017/18.

Park Theatre’s Script Accelerator.

Captioned by the Difference Engine.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age Guide: 14+

On Behalf of the People

by Ray Castleton

Sunday 27 May, 7pm 1945: a land fit for heroes - this time? A powerful and engaging story of a post-war Yorkshire mining family, coming to terms with life and love in their rapidly changing world and a new Britain; told with warmth, humour and authenticity.

Tom Mason returns from the war to the arms of his grateful mother and fiancée – and to the bosom of the pit. His father George fights his own battles and an election to secure a better future for his union men and their families. Connie mourns, loves and unites; Liz sees a new world, brim-full of opportunity.

In a new Britain, will their hopes and dreams be reconciled?

Ray Castleton’s powerful play is based on extensive research and the true stories of those who lived through the period. On Behalf of the People reveals how millions of people in mining communities were affected by the end of the war, coal nationalisation and the huge period of social change which impacted on their lives, love, hopes and dreams.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age Guide: 12+ 31

Derby Theatre Studio Arch 468 presents a Theatre in the Mill commission

The Class Project

Written & performed by Rebecca Atkinson-Lord

Friday 1 June, 8pm This is a show about belonging. About tribes and families. About the place you belong because you were born there; the places that are in your blood but also the places you adopt; that you pretend are your home and the places you change yourself to try and belong in.

It’s about class mobility. And regional identity.

And being a Thatcher’s child. It’s about education and ‘making good’ for yourself. And maybe about how that can leave you exiled from the place you started. With nowhere to quite belong.

It’s about always being an imposter and trying to remember how to speak in your own voice.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Age Guide: 11+

The Bee Project

by Laura Ryder and Co

Friday 8 June, 8pm ‘You sip your drink, enjoying the sugary twang spike your tongue.

The first notes of your favourite song wrap around ears and propel you to the hive of dancers’.

There’s a hum at a party. Glitter in the air. Invite in hand, don’t forget why you’re here. It’s about movement, love and care. Take a journey into the world of these black and yellow pollinators.

We dance to celebrate. We dance to communicate. We dance to survive.

A show filled with movement, glitter and friendship. As the party continues, questions of responsibility are raised. You can hear the buzz in the bass. Don’t forget to hold the hand of a friend, when the music stops and the party ends.

Supported by Arts Council England.

Tickets: £10 (£8 concessions) Post-Show discussion Age Guide: 12+

Patrick Monahan: Rewind Selector 90s Sunday 10 June, 8pm

Brand new stand-up show from multi-award-winning Patrick Monahan and inspired by his Irish/Iranian/Teeside teens in the 90s. Identity cards, ‘Cool Britannia’, drink and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’ were some of the trademarks of the 90s but for the teetotal and drug-free Monahan it was ‘cake and tea and R ‘n’ B!’ Monahan explores what life was like for teenagers in the 90s growing up with their basic technology and compares the current problems teenagers face, such as faulty phone charger leads, dabbing and whether they should Instagram their dinner or just eat it! The 90s’ teenagers didn’t have to make many choices as there wasn’t much to choose from!

The touring show is in two halves: Rewind Selector 90s is the second half and the first half is a club set coupled with fun audience participation set.

Tickets: £12.50 (£10.50 concessions) Age Guide: 14+

Barbara Nice Friday 22 June, 8pm

Join the Edinburgh Fringe’s favourite housewife, Barbara Nice, for an evening of proper good fun.

Entrance price includes a complimentary raffle ticket!

Experience this critically acclaimed tip-top character comedy live - from ‘Phoenix Nights’ actress and comedian Janice Connolly. A playful life-affirming show for all the family including the chance to win a prize off Barbara’s table.

With her enviable track record of garnering five-star reviews and sell-out shows, Barbara will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step with this new show about chance and luck.

“The response from the crowd was sheer, unquestioning joy” ★★★★ @bath theatre Tickets: £14.50 (£12.50 concessions) Age Guide: 14+ 33

In Good Company Hosted by Derby Theatre & In Good Company

Scratch That Itch Saturday 23 June, 6pm

Our summer Scratch Night, offering a selection of new work from the most exciting artists in the region.

This is a chance for artists to try out new ideas in front of an audience and for audiences to feed into the development of the next big thing! Artists - look out for the open-call on our website to have your chance to perform.

Tickets: £5

In Good Company is the flagship professional development programme for artists making work in the East Midlands. Funded by Arts Council England, In Good Company is delivered by Derby Theatre, Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester, Lincolnshire One Venues, Mansfield Old Library and Burton Brewhouse.

There is a range of opportunities for East Midlands’ artists including; performance platforms, workshops, commissions, festivals, meet-ups, pitching sessions and bespoke mentoring.

In Good Company is committed to increasing opportunities and support for all. We recognise the need within ‘all’ to be diverse and representative of the world we live in today.

Upcoming Events: Check-in Festival at Attenborough Arts Centre Fri 13 & Sat 14 April Lincoln and Leicester Artist Take-Over Fri 20 & 22 April Christ Thorpe workshop at Drill Hall, Lincoln Sat 21 April Find out about all of our workshops and performance events, as well as associate artists, by checking the Artist Development pages on the website or signing up for our bi-weekly newsletter. In Good Company is led by a team of independent producers who are actively working within the industry to produce and tour new work.

Email igc@derby.ac.uk to join our mailing list or to request to meet one of the IGC producers.

In Good Company works in collaboration with The Big House, which offers support and advice to creative and digital businesses across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Learning Derby Theatre and the National Theatre present

Connections 2018 Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 April

Derby Theatre hosts the East Midlands festival of youth theatre for National Theatre Connections.

Eight young companies from around the region, including Derby Youth Theatre, stage new plays written for them by some of theatre’s most exciting playwrights.

Over the Festival, Derby Theatre will become a vibrant artistic hub for young people, offering not just the chance to perform, but also to participate in workshops with leading creative professionals, open mic events.

Derby Youth Theatre (years 10-13) will perform [BLANK] by Alice Birch in the this year’s festival.

Most shows and workshops are suitable for age 14+ Check our website for more details

Derby Youth Theatre Double Bill

Friday 27 - Saturday 28 July

A double bill of theatre not to be missed.

Two powerful tales have been chosen by the Year 7-9 groups for this summer’s double bill, and you’re invited to join them on stage to see them come to life.

Both plays have been written specifically for teenager actors, and our ensemble have put their own imaginative twists on the stories.

Performance times: 7.30pm and Saturday Matinee 2.30pm Tickets: £8 (£6 concessions) (ticket price includes both performances)

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Get Involved

A Learning Theatre A theatre for everyone to come and find out more!

Youth Theatre Our Youth Theatre provides young people aged between 8 and 18 the opportunity to not only enjoy theatre, but also to explore their creativity and express themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Working with professional theatre practitioners, all groups work towards a major annual show, either on our main stage or in our studio theatre. Our friendly groups are open to all. We have several groups for different ages. Please see our website for details.

Summer Holiday Workshops Play in a Week Come and join Derby Theatre professionals this summer to learn new skills and work as a team to create a performance to be shared on the final day for family and friends.

Cost: £90 for the week* 6 – 10 August for academic years 4 – 6, 9.30am – 3.30pm 13 – 17 August for academic years 7 – 9, 9.30am – 3.30pm

DT Ambassadors

Have you ever wanted to know more about how a theatre works across all the different departments?

Cost: £80 a term* Our Ambassadors group meets fortnightly to Academic Years 4 – 13/FE work with designers, programmers and marketing professionals amongst others. You will get Young Technicians complimentary tickets for special Ambassadors’ This annual course looks at all aspects of the technical nights so that you can help us spread the word side of theatre including lighting, sound and design and about our fabulous shows. is run by our professional technicians. You will also gain technical experience and shadowing opportunities on Time: Mondays fortnightly, 4.30 – 5.45pm Age: Academic Years 9-13/FE our shows.

Cost: Free Cost: £40 a term* DT Young People’s Network Academic Years 9 – 13/FE To join our groups, please contact Cheryl at learning@derbytheatre.co.uk. Please note, there is currently a waiting list for all our groups but you can still get involved with us through the following groups and activities:

No matter what you’re interested in, get in touch and you can automatically become a member of our network. We’ll send you regular information about a whole range of exciting stuff, from discounts on tickets to early opportunities to get involved in projects.

For more information or to book a place contact: learning@derbytheatre.co.uk or call the Box Office 36

*For all our youth groups there are a limited number of half price and free places available for families with limited financial means. Please enquire in confidence to Cheryl on learning@derbytheatre.co.uk

Photography by Chris Webb

For Children and Young People

Get Involved

For Everyone Costume and Prop Hire At Derby Theatre we hire costumes and props to professional, amateur, community theatre groups, schools and colleges. We have over 2,500 costume pieces built up over many years and an eclectic selection of props… and we are always adding to our stock.

Cost on enquiry

Tea and Tour Come and look round backstage and meet members of the team to find out more about roles in theatre.

Approx 1 hour Cost: £10 per head (including tea and biscuits) Why not combine it with a matinee performance and add the Tea and Tour for just £5 a head.

Availability is limited. Please enquire at learning@derbytheatre.co.uk.

Become an Ambassador for Derby Theatre

derbytheatre.co.uk | Box Office: 01332 593939

For Schools and Colleges As a Learning Theatre, we can give you special access to work with practitioners right across the whole theatre-making process, from designer to director, technician to actor.

We have a huge amount on offer this season, including a residency led by Pilot Theatre connected to their unmissable production of Brighton Rock.

Download our Learning Programme and see the full programme of events at www.derbytheatre.co.uk.

We also work in partnership with all the major arts and cultural organisations in the city including Déda, QUAD, Derby Museums and Baby People to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your creative and cultural learning requirements. To find out more email our Cultural Education Producer, Alix on a.manning-jones@derby.ac.uk.

To sign up to receive our Learning Programme, please email: learning@derbytheatre.co.uk

With regular invites to our Press and Guest nights, discounts and social events, all we ask is that you bring a friend who is new to the theatre. Please email, r.hussain@derby.ac.uk to join or to find out more.

The Eagle Awards Sunday 15 July, 7pm This sparkling awards ceremony is the major event of the year in the amateur theatre community. The evening combines the celebration of excellence and the best in entertainment from local artists and companies.

Derby’s answer to the Oscars!

Full entry details for The Eagle Awards can be found on the Derby Theatre website.

Tickets £10 (£8 concessions)

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University of Derby

Love to Learn at University of Derby We have an exciting portfolio of media and performing arts courses.

These full-time BA (Hons) courses are taught through practice-based workshops, lectures and seminars. Students will also benefit from the links the university has with Derby Theatre – working alongside professional productions in fantastic facilities.

• Technical Theatre • Contemporary Theatre and Performance • Costume and Set Design • Music • Photography and Film Production • Film Production • Visual Effects and Post-Production • Radio Production • Media Production For more information visit: www.derby.ac.uk/arts

facebook /DerbyTheatre

twitter @derbytheatre

Image from Something Wicked This Way Comes, the third year Shakespeare production December 2017. Photo: Chris Webb.

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How to book

How to book Opening times

Concessions

Non-performance days

Concessions are available for over-60s, under-16s, full-time students, registered unemployed, people with a disability and their carer, members of BECTU, Equity and the Writers’ Guild.

9.30am – 5.30pm

Performance days

In person: 9.30am until 15 minutes after the start of the last event of the evening.

Children under 18 months will only be admitted to suitable performances and must be in possession of a valid ticket (not available to book online).

Phones: 9.30am until half an hour before the first performance of the evening begins.

Sundays and Bank Holidays One hour before the start of the first event until 15 minutes after the start of the last event.

Groups of 10 or more, and school groups receive a discount on most shows, as well as a flexible booking process. See page 42 for more details.

We are only open on Sundays and Bank Holidays if an event is on.

Exchanges, refunds and reprints All tickets are non-refundable unless the event is cancelled.

Book online at www.derbytheatre.co.uk

How to pay We accept all types of card payments, except American Express. Cheques are only accepted for group bookings of 10 or more.

We can only reserve seats without payment for group bookings of 10 or more.

We can post tickets to you if you are booking seven days in advance, at a cost of £1. Otherwise, you can collect the tickets from us at your convenience, or we can email them to you to print at home.

We can exchange tickets for another performance of the same event at a cost of £1 per ticket. This must be done no later than 24 hours before the event in question and all tickets held by the customer, including print-at-home tickets, must be returned to the Box Office in person or by post. Tickets cannot be exchanged after the event has passed.

Lost tickets can be reprinted free of charge no earlier than one hour before the start of the performance.

STAGE

Premium

Classic

Mid

Saver

W Wheelchair space

*Please note that price bands are subject to change for some events.

Data Protection

Derby Theatre is committed to upholding the data protection principles of good information-handling practices. When processing your booking the Box Office will ask you your name, address, telephone number and email address. This information may be used to keep you informed about forthcoming events at Derby Theatre. With your permission we may also pass on your name and address to other arts organisations who may send you information of a similar nature. You’ll be asked if your details can be used in this way at the time of booking. Prices and information correct at the time of going to print but are subject to change.

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Diary April

Fri 11

Mountains

Tue 3 The Play That Goes... 7.30pm

Fri 11

Fugee 8pm

Wed 4 The Play That Goes...

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 12 Mountains

Thu 5 The Play That Goes...

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 12 Fugee 8pm

Fri 6

7.30pm

Sun 13 Rich Hall 8pm

Sat 7 The Play That Goes...

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tue 15 Brighton Rock

7.30pm

Sat 7 Leaving

7pm

Wed 16 Brighton Rock

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sun 8 Red Riding Hood

11.30am & 2pm

Thu 17 Brighton Rock

7.30pm

Mon 9 Connections Festival

7.30pm

Fri 18

7.30pm

The Play That Goes...

PS

Brighton Rock

7.30pm

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tue 10 Connections Festival 7.30pm

Sat 19 Brighton Rock

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Wed 11 Connections Festival

7.30pm

Sat 19 Coconut

8pm

Thu 12 Connections Festival

7.30pm

Mon 21 Kate Humble

7.30pm

Fri 13 Connections Festival

7.30pm

Mon 21 Rufus Longbottom 1.30pm

Sat 14 Connections Festival

7.30pm

Tue 22 Bridget Christie 8pm

Tue 17 Spamalot 7.30pm

Tue 22 Rufus Longbottom

Wed 18 Spamalot

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sun 27 On Behalf of the People 7pm

Thu 19 Spamalot

7.30pm

Tue 29 Big Draw-Along 2pm

Fri 20 Spamalot

7.30pm

Thu 31 Ugly Duckling

C

10.30am & 1.30pm

12pm, 2pm & 4pm

Fri 20 Vandal Raptor 8pm

June

Sat 21 Spamalot

Fri 1

Ken Clarke 7.45pm

Fri 27 Street of Crocodiles 7.30pm

Fri 1

The Class Project 8pm

Sat 28 Street of Crocodiles 7.30pm

Thu 7

Bookshop Band 7.30pm

Sat 28 Rob Rouse 8pm

Fri 8

The Bee Project 8pm

Sun 29 Count Arthur Strong

Sat 9

The Mozart Question 7.30pm

May

Sat 9

The Selfish Giant

Thu 3 Henry Blofeld 7.30pm

Sun 10 Patrick Monahan 8pm

Fri 4

Kate Rusby

7.30pm

Mon 11 Birdsong 7.30pm

Fri 4

The Laramie Project

8pm

Tue 12 Birdsong 7.30pm

Sat 5

The Laramie Project

8pm

Wed 13 Birdsong

2.30pm & 7.30pm

8pm

PS

12.30pm & 3pm

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Tue 8 Terra Firma 7.30pm

Thu 14 Birdsong 7.30pm

Wed 9 Discover Dance 1pm

Fri 15

S

Thu 10 Mountains 7.30pm

40

Birdsong 7.30pm

Sat 16 Birdsong

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 16 Kubla Khan

10.30am & 1.30pm

AN

Sun 17 Geoff Hurst 7.30pm Sun 17 Kubla Khan

10.30am & 1.30pm

Wed 25 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm AN

Thu 26 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Fri 27 Youth Theatre Double Bill 7.30pm

AN

Thu 21 The Wizard of Oz 7.30pm

Fri 27 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Fri 22

Sat 28 Youth Theatre Double Bill

2.30pm and 7.30pm

Fri 22 Barbara Nice 8pm

Sat 28 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Sat 23 The Wizard of Oz

Tue 31 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

The Wizard of Oz 7.30pm

2.30pm & 7.30pm

Sat 23 Scratch Night 6pm

August

Mon 25 Dan Snow 7.30pm

Wed 1 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Wed 27 The Big Chris Barber Band 7.30pm

Thu 2 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm BSL

July

Fri 3 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Tue 3 Oliver! 7.30pm

Sat 4 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Wed 4 Oliver! 7.30pm

Sun 5 Holiday

11am & 1.30pm

Thu 5 Oliver! 7.30pm

September

Fri 6 Oliver! 7.30pm

Mon 17 The Case of The Frightened... 7.30pm

Sun 15 The Eagle Awards 7pm

Tue 18 The Case of The Frightened... 7.30pm

Thu 19 Departure Lounge

Please see website

Wed 19 The Case of The Frightened... 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Fri 20 Departure Lounge

Please see website

Thu 20 The Case of The Frightened... 7.30pm

Sat 21 Departure Lounge

Please see website

Fri 21

Sun 22 Departure Lounge

Please see website

Sat 22 The Case of The Frightened... 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Main House

Studio

P

Preview

PS

Post-show Discussion

PN

BSL

Press Night S

C

British Sign Language Captioned

R

REST

AD

C

The Case of The Frightened... 7.30pm

Audio Described AN

Additional Needs

Schools Performance

What is a preview performance?

Preview performances are a fantastic opportunity to see a public performance in its early stages.

The creative team are still in the process of applying final touches to the production and the great ticket price for these performances reflects this.

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Group bookings

Schools and group bookings Derby Theatre warmly welcomes groups and schools and we offer a flexible booking process and special prices.

Groups of 10 or more

• Up to £4 off standard ticket price for most shows for groups of 10 or more. Please see pricing page for more info.

• Reserve now, pay later.

• Special group rates available for family-friendly events (non-schools) – ask at Box Office.

• Hire our Alan Bates room for your group to use pre- and post-show and during the interval.

For more details on hiring this space, please email: hires@derbytheatre.co.uk

School groups

• We have school tickets available for the majority of main house shows.

• Every eleventh ticket free for a teacher or supervisor.

• We offer help with risk assessments and coach drop-offs.

• Reserve now, pay later.

Call the Box Office, call in or email us on tickets@derbytheatre.co.uk for info and to make your booking.

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*Only available on Mid and Classic seats. Discount will be capped at lowest price seats on each performance.

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Derby Theatre 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF Car

By train or by taxi

The most convenient car park is intu Derby basement car park (DE1 2PL) accessed from Traffic Street. To make life even easier you can buy your evening car park ticket at the same time you book your theatre tickets. Parking is only £2 after 5pm in this car park.

Derby Theatre is a 10-minute Trentbarton runs buses in Derby and to and from nearby towns and villages. walk from the train station, follow the signs to intu Derby. Most buses stop at the bus station – just 5 minutes’ walk from the theatre.

We’ll be more than happy to order a taxi to be waiting for You can buy a reduced-price bus ticket with your theatre ticket from the Box Office – you after the performance, please ask at the Box Office either a zigzag city play ticket (unlimited travel in the Derby city area for £2.50) or a upon arrival. zigzag play network ticket (unlimited travel across the whole network for £4.50).

By bus

Access

Access for all Derby Theatre welcomes all customers and has an extensive range of services to ensure you have an enjoyable and comfortable visit. Don’t hesitate to speak to a member of staff if there is anything you require on arrival. We have been verified as being an accessible venue for disabled people by CredAbillity – an independent quality mark run by disabled people. More information can be found on our website: www.derbytheatre.co.uk/your-visit/accessibility If you require any assistance or support during your visit with us please inform the Box Office when booking your tickets, this way we can find the best seats for you and ensure our staff are aware to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

Standing and queueing

Derby Theatre has seating on all levels of the building. You can pre-order your interval drinks on arrival to minimise queuing times during busy periods.

Wheelchair access

Derby Theatre has limited wheelchair spaces in the main auditorium, which need to be booked in advance through the Box Office. For our studio shows please contact Box Office to book wheelchair spaces and access is through the intu basement car park. We have a fully accessible drop-off point at the top of the theatre for access to our main auditorium with a permanent ramped double door entrance. This entrance is opened an hour before the performance begins. Alternatively you can park in the intu basement car park in area C. There is a Derby Theatre lift situated inside the car park, which will give you full access to both floors of the theatre. We have accessible toilets on both levels of our building and our café, bar and Box Office all have low counters for easier service.

Personal support

We operate an assisted access scheme for those who require somebody to be present in order to assist them to readily access theatre shows.

This scheme allows members to purchase one standard ticket and have one ticket for the assistant at no cost. To apply for the access scheme please contact the Box Office.

Difficulty accessing audible information

Sound enhancement systems are installed in the main auditorium. We offer Digital RF Headsets which can be picked up from our Front of House team when you arrive. You could also take advantage of our new digital system by setting your hearing aid to the setting and using an induction loop provided

by Derby Theatre.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the building.

Please discuss this when booking your tickets.

Difficulty accessing visual information

Captioning by the Difference Engine

If you would like our brochure in large print please enquire at the Box Office.

Where possible, Derby Theatre offers audio described performances, ideal for visually impaired customers Some performances provide captioning using the Difference Engine – a tool that can be downloaded onto your smart phone or tablet prior to the show.

Please try to arrive 30 minutes before the show so that we have time to give clear instructions.

The captioning is streamed directly to your phone so we recommend that your mobile device is fully charged prior to the performance.

There will be some battery packs available on the day.

This is not a replacement for BSL and we appreciate it will not be suitable for all Deaf audiences.

Access performances: Coconut

Abi

Ugly Duckling

Audio Described: Fri 12 Oct. 9.30pm Wed 17 Oct. 4pm

Captioned using Difference Engine: 9 May. 8pm Relaxed Performance: Thu 31 May. 2pm

Kubla Khan

See show page 22.

Holiday

BSL Interpreted: Thu 2 Aug. 1.30pm Captioned using Difference Engine: Thu 2 Aug. 1.30pm Abigail’s Party BSL Interpreted: Fri 5 Oct. 7pm Audio Described: Fri 12 Oct. 7pm Wed 17 Oct. 1.30pm

BSL Interpreted: Fri 5 Oct. 9.30pm

Hansel & Gretel BSL Interpreted: Tue 11 Dec. 2pm Sat 22 Dec. 1pm

Audio Described: Thu 13 Dec. 2pm Sat 29 Dec. 1pm Relaxed Performance: Tue 18 Dec. 2pm Thu 3 Jan. 2pm Please be aware that touch tours will be held one hour before the start of the Audio Described performance.

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We would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support:

University of Derby Theatre Limited is a registered charity (No: 1129005)