THEATRE

Comedy, rock anthems, kids shows and a classic murdermystery. It’s another variety filled month ahead in theatre-land. Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes you through the happenings....

Give us a The suspects are lined up for Cluedo at Milton Keynes Theatre this month

CLUEDO!

Anew stage play based on the classic board game Cluedo opens at Milton Keynes Theatre (May 30-June 4) guaranteeing armchair crime solvers a top time.

When Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs Peacock, Reverend Green, Mrs. White and Colonel Mustard all arrive at a country house one dark and stormy evening, they are concerned to find they have all received the same mysterious invitation from Lord Boddy.

They all have something to hide and the mystery and hysteria grows when the inhabitants and guests of Boddy Manor start being picked off one by one, with a variety of familiar weapons, leaving everyone to wonder, ‘who will be next?’

Stage favourite, and former EastEnder Michelle Collins will appear as Miss Scarlett, and the spoof of a thriller is being directed by Mark Bell, the chap behind marvelous shows including The Play That Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery.

If you need a bit of a laugh, Mark Steel is your man, and he’s coming back to The Stables (June 10) to give one, so to speak!

‘A few years ago, it seemed unlikely that the UK would vote to leave the EU; we had a reasonable opposition to the Tory Government; Donald Trump was a buffoon who surely wasn’t going to beat Hillary Clinton and Mark was living the married suburban ideal… since then it’s all gone to absolute sh*t!’ says the show bumf. But Mark maintains that Every Little Thing Is Going To Be Alright.

Some of you will recall Menopause the Musical, and now the follow-up – Cruising Through Menopause – sails into town (June 11).

A quartet of familiar faces will be bringing the story to the stage; Benidorm’s Crissy Rock, Casualty’s Rebecca Wheatley, Eurovision player Nicki French and West End star Susie Fenwick will take you on a trip of self-discovery, love and friendship, which comes with a sideportion of parodied hits...and quite probably hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, memory lapses and weight gain.

While remaining a roar-some celebration of the musicality of Meat Loaf and his long-term collaborator Jim Steinman, Bat Out of Hell – The Musical (June 14-25) has also become the perfect way to pay tribute to both men who we have lost in the last year; Jim passed in April of 2021, and Meat departed this world in January.

But what a musical legacy they leave behind them. Bat Out of Hell is just part of the feast of fabulous music, and includes the title number, Dead Ringer For Love, You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth, and It’s All Coming Back To Me Now. It’s time to get revved up – the cast certainly are: “Great music is timeless and ageless,” says Glenn Adamson who plays Strat, “...and nobody wrote rock anthems that are essentially musical theatre numbers like Jim.” Bat Out of Hell is on a lengthy UK tour, but Glenn is looking forward to Milton Keynes in particular: “I’m a local boy, so all my family will be coming along,” he said, “It’s going to be so good to be at home and to see everyone.”

Billionaire Boy comes to the stage at Milton Keynes Theatre Pic: Mark Douet

Henry Blofeld returns to The Stables (June 22) with My Dear Old Things, recalling his time as a young England hopeful, with film and images on the big screen. A treat for the cricket connoisseur.

Anyone who saw Harry Redknapp in the jungle a few years back will know that the football manager can tell a good story or 10, and he’ll be doing precisely that when he brings his An Evening with Harry Redknapp tour to MK Theatre (June 28).

The show title mightn’t be inspiring, but his ace ability as a raconteur will keep you hanging on his every word.

David Walliams’ Billionaire Boy takes its turn on the theatre stage (June 30 – July 3). Joe Spud is just 12 years old and the richest boy in the country with his own sports car and £100,000 a week pocket money.

But money can’t buy you everything, and what Joe really needs is a friend...

‘What a magnificent show! If this production was on Britain’s Got Talent I’d be giving it the Golden Buzzer! It’s fantastic!’ declared one pundit. Oh, hold on, it was David Walliams that delivered those words!

He is great with a pen though, is David, and while this show is aimed at kids, some of us adults delight in the tales too!

Mark Steel gives us his take on the past few years at The Stables

> Reach for the plastic pal: Milton Keynes Theatre: atgtickets.com/ venues/milton-keynes-theatre The Stables: stables.org