THEATRE

Pic: Richard Hubert Smith

Pic: Tristram Kenton

No ticket? Then you ‘carrn’t’ see Jimmy!

Classic musicals, funny folks and a family of little piggies... Pulse’s Sammy Jones brings you this month’s theatre highlights.

The title of his current tour is Terribly Funny, but unless you are already booked in to see Jimmy Carr on his return to MK Theatre this month (March 6), you’ll not find anything to laugh about – tickets are rarer than a politician who didn’t enjoy a party or two during lockdown.

Those who did move quickly to secure their seat are in for a treat and a half from the razorsharp master of merriment. Laugh for all of us, you jimmy-jammy ticket-holders!

Chicago brings the razzle-dazzle decadence of 100 years ago to the stage (March 8-12).

Housewife and nightclub dancer Roxie Hart murders her on-the-side lover after he makes threats to walk out on her. Roxie is desperate to avoid conviction, so she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, with the aid of Chicago’s most formidable criminal lawyer.

It’s cold outside, but the temperature is guaranteed to rise if you check in for this steamiest of musicals.

Taking on the iconic roles this time around?

One time star of the Cobbles, Faye Brookes will be Roxie, while leading light of the West End stage, Djalenga Scott, is Velma Kelly.

What your current theatre brochure won’t tell you is that Sheila Ferguson is also onboard as Mama Morton, and Russell Watson is playing Billy Flynn. A show with murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery, and all that jazz, of course.

Friends! The Musical Parody will be there for you (March 13). It’s the one about the typical day at New York’s only coffee shop, until an unexpected runaway bride enters the picture and kicks the whole gang out of second gear!

Rather than simply imitate Ross, Chandler, Welsh National Opera are on tour again, Monica, Phoebe, Joey and Rachel, this and ready for their annual visit to the new is a good-hearted romp through some of town with performances of Madam Butterfly the favourite moments from the show. It (March 22 & 26), Don Giovanni (March 23 & simultaneously celebrates and pokes fun at 24) and Jenůfa (March 25). the smash hit comedy from the ‘90s. Jenůfa is about to have a child out of

Uncensored and music-filled, but bereft of wedlock but hopes to marry the father any smelly cats, which is just as well. before the secret is revealed – but not if her

There’s a grand show for kids during half stepmother has her way, and her actions term (March 15/16) and we promise have terrible consequences for we aren’t telling porkies! Jenůfa. The heart-wrenching tale

Peppa Pig is back with her has engaged audiences for Best Day Ever – she is going more than a century. It will be on a special day out with told in Czech with surtitles in George, and mummy and English. daddy pig, and it will be full of If you are heading to any of fun adventures; from caves, the WNO shows, you might dragons and dinosaurs to ice- like to check in for the precreams and muddy puddles. performance talks too - worth There are five performances across the two days, promising porcine perfection. Clive Anderson visits The Stables asking about when booking. We’ll skip over to The Stables at Wavendon (March 26) for a visit

Forget reaching for the stars, and by Clive Anderson with his first ever solo instead reach for the flag – you’ll need it for the tour, Me, Macbeth & I, which he promises Last Night of the Spring Proms (March 20) will be ‘funnier than Shakespeare’s greatest which will feature music by Elgar, Strauss, tragedy,’ and there is more smiley stuff a day Puccini and Rossini ahead of the finale with later, with Andy Zaltzman who invites his Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory. audience to submit topics, issues and gripes for him to satirise to order. It makes for a truly unique show from the comedian, broadcaster and writer. Back at MK Theatre, We Will Rock You (March 28-April 2) crams 24 of Queen’s most-loved tracks into its two and three quarter hours, but with tickets nearly all mopped up by music fans months back, we’ll sign off for now. We’ll be back with a bumper crop of brilliant shows for April...

> Book in: MK Theatre: atgtickets.com/ venues/milton-keynes-theatre The Stables: stables.org