THEATRE

Make a date with the dinosaurs at The Old Savoy Missing Strictly? Get your fix at the Derngate in July

Theatre dates that are pure Dino-mite!

From a sprinkle of titillation to a monstrous event for Jurassic fans, Northampton’s got a lot to share on its stages in the month ahead, as Sammy Jones reveals...

Strictly might be off the small screen at the moment, but seldom a week seems to pass without one of the twinkled-toed professionals passing through.

Here Come The Boys (July 1) is a bumper package with five familiars teaming up to perform against a backdrop of dance-floor anthems, club classics and guilty pleasures.

Join Graziano di Prima, Pasha Kovalev, Nikita Kuzmin and Strictly finalist Karim Zeroual for the high-octane bash.

It’s not all about the boys though; Nadiya Bychkova will bring added glamour to the night of sequins and sexy hip moves.

Speaking of Strictly, former Glitterball holder Ore Oduba arrives for a six day stay (July 4) back in his role of Brad in the fiery and fabulous rock n’ roll musical The Rocky Horror Show.

More than 30 million theatregoers have seen Richard O’Brien’s legendary delivery. May we suggest you start practicing those pelvic thrusts right away?

Over at The Underground, Seussical Jr. plays out (July 8-10) with Dr Seuss’ best-loved characters colliding, cavorting and springing to life in an unforgettable musical caper, performed by Royal & Derngate Youth Theatre and Young Company Musicals.

Horton the Elephant discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos... and that’s nothing to do with pocket-sized versions of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey!

Go support the rising talents in the area, and there are more champions of the future at the Derngate (July 10) with the NMPAT – New Generations concert at midday, and the Second Generation Concert at 6pm.

Jimmy Carr is Terribly Funny, which not coincidentally is the name of the show he’ll be performing at the Derngate (July 12).

Of course it contains jokes about all kinds of terrible things, but they are just jokes, not the terrible things themselves.

By way of warning, the show blurb advises ‘Having political correctness at a comedy show is like having health and safety at a rodeo.’

Which must make Carr the Bronco of this delivery...

The Mayhew School of Dance and Performing Arts is the ‘fampton’s oldest dance school, and they’ve lasted because they are great! They take to the Derngate stage (July 13 & 14) to present Once Upon A Time, a journey into the realm of faerie.

And there is still more local talent for the taking (July 15) when The Actors Company delivers The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Brecht’s epic play which sets the grotesque against the hilarious, with a backdrop of war and revolution.

An exploration of justice, motherhood and social corruption are explored in the ‘play within the play.’

A special night for Beatles fans comes to the Derngate (July 26) when the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra teams up with The Bootleg Beatles for a musical spectacular.

And In The End will see the music makers perform long-players Abbey Road and Let It Be in their entirety – but with a classical twist.

Come Together with your fellow Fab Four fans and get set for Something spectacular...

Tweed suits and flat caps at the ready; The Old Savoy is presenting a themed event paying homage to one of the biggest small screen smashes in recent years. Any Peaky Blinders devotees reading this?

Ore Oduba stars in The Rocky Horror Show Pic: David Freeman

You are invited to The Eden Club (July 22) for a lavish evening of food, drink and table entertainment. Those of you showing up in your best PB attire won’t only look ace, you’ll be battling it out for best dressed – with a bottle of prosecco for the one donning the best Tommy or Polly attire.

A day later (July 23) and An Evening of Burlesque blends cabaret, comedy, music, circus and burlesque for a scintillating few hours with glitz and glamour by the bucketload. Well, it is Saturday night. Beats the small screen drear by a mile.

And the following Saturday (July 30), Jurassic Earth will deliver roar-some entertainment for little people and their grown-ups.

If you love dinosaurs, you are going to be in Jurassic heaven – a chance to talk to a Triceratops, roar with a T Rex, scream with a Spinosaurus and revel in a Raptor!

And just wait until you meet the Dino babies. It’s cuteness overload!

There are two performances – choose from midday or 3pm. > Book up: Royal & Derngate: royalandderngate.co.uk The Old Savoy: theoldsavoy.co.uk