Category: News

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh takes a Grand trip to the seaside. Winnie and friends bounce into The Grand Theatre August 14–16. Deep in Hundred Acre Wood, an exciting new adventure is about to happen… This musical adaptation is told through the eyes of characters that have played roles in the lives of children for generations. Created by… Continue reading Winnie and friends take seaside break

She’s got the time, the curiosity, the resources—and a thirst for true crime. Meet Aki Browne—online sleuth like no other… A one-act play, Being Purple Aki, featuring the hunt for a real-life bogeyman / racist caricature, this is an absurd journey into the obsessive world of a digital detective. It’s at the White Hotel, Dickinson Street, Salford… Continue reading Meet super sleuth Aki Browne

Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and HOME Manchester celebrate the 30th anniversary of Jonathan Harvey’s coming-out and coming-of-age story Beautiful Thing. Raphael Akuwudike (Ste) and Joshua Asaré (Jamie) will lead the cast and are joined by Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge (Tony), Shvorne Marks (Sandra) and Scarlett Rayner (Leah). Director Anthony Simpson-Pike says: “Beautiful Thing is an iconic queer… Continue reading 30th birthday for Beautiful Thing

Tara Arts Artistic Director Abdul Shayek has died of natural causes aged 39, according to a statement from the theatre company. The statement said, “tt is with immense sadness that we are announcing the death of Abdul Shayek, beloved artistic director and joint CEO of Tara Theatre, aged 39. We are heartbroken to share this… Continue reading Abdul Shayek dies aged 39

London Classic Theatre is to tour Brian Friel’s Faith Healer beginning at the New Vic, Newcastle-under-Lyme. Consisting of four monologues delivered by three characters, Faith Healer follows the story of Frank, Grace and Teddy, each of whom takes the audience on a journey of shifting perspectives and conflicting memories as they individually reflect on lives which are inextricably intertwined.… Continue reading Friel’s Faith Healer tour to start in Staffordshire

Birmingham’s Old Rep and the city’s Electric Cinema which are based on the same street are to join forces for a day during Birmingham Heritage Week. The Old Rep was the UK’s first purpose-built repertory theatre, while the Electric Cinema is the UK’s oldest working picture house. The Station Street, Digbeth venues will host a… Continue reading Old Rep backstage tours to celebrate Heritage Week

British Youth Musical Theatre is returning to Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio to present a new musical, #50 Days. Performed by a company of 14- to 21-year-olds from across the UK with a number from Birmingham, #50 Days retells the story of the 50-day period that led to the outbreak of the British civil wars. With parallels to Brexit,… Continue reading Birmingham to host new young people’s musical

Staffordshire’s New Vic is to bring back its “most spectacular show ever” to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s receiving its charter to become a borough. Astley’s Astounding Adventures is the story of Philip Astley. Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, he became the international impresario who invented circus. The show is “filled with fast-paced action, laugh-out-loud humour, gripping… Continue reading “Spectacular” circus show returns to New Vic

Leicester is to host a free, two-day festival using creativity to explore the climate crisis. The first Re/action Festival will feature performances and pop-up shows including a huge puppet, Gnomus, caretaker of our planet, created by Brighton-based outdoor puppetry company Puppets with Guts, which will explore Leicester’s High Street. Another highlight will be Leicester’s Nupur Arts hosting… Continue reading Leicester festival explores climate crisis

Birmingham’s community arts festival Little but LIVE! is to return to Moseley Park for the fourth year running. The “family-friendly” festival will present a new, Birmingham-inspired version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Birmingham-based company Paperback Theatre is behind the production, with its founders George Attwell Gerhards adapting and Lucy Bird directing. They are working with composer Steve… Continue reading Follow the yellow brick road to Birmingham festival