FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MediaRelease
9 September 2014
Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds
Autumn Season
Sept 2014 – Feb 2015
The Theatre Royal Serves up Extended Season of Drama and Entertainment
The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds has announced its Autumn Season which, this year, will see the brochure covering a jam-packed six months of productions, running from September 2014 to February 2015, and encompassing a range of pieces including a number ofin-house productions.
Sponsored by Beckett, the season is filled with a whole host of exciting productions, it will entertain audiences for six months!
With a solid core of high quality drama running throughout the season, alongside a wide selection of music, entertainment, comedy, dance and fringe work there’s a production for everyone.
From John Godber’s On The Pisteand Teechers, to Michael Morpurgo’s stunning Private Peaceful,this is a seasons packed with fantastic drama.
One highlight will be the heart-warmingYou’re Never too Old, coming straight from Edinburgh andstarring Ian Lavender, known for his iconic role as Pike, in Dad’s Army and Ruth Madoc, known for her role as Gladys Pugh in Hi-De-Hi.
Another must see show will be the returning Pride and Prejudice from the popular Two Bit Classics.
Marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War, Private Peaceful will touch the heart with Michael Morpurgo’s bittersweet tale of a young WWI soldier facing the firing squad for cowardice.
The Theatre Royal is also thrilled to announce that it has once again produced its own work.
Teaming up with the widely successful, Whepstead based, Original Theatre Company, (who brought Birdsong to the Theatre in the spring) the Theatre Royal has co-producedThree Men in a Boatwhich finishes its run tonight (12 September) at the theatre before heading out on a national tour which includes a run at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich on21-25 October.
In Januarythe Theatre will also be producing its very own production of Sign of the Times, written by renowned playwright Tim Firth (Calendar Girls) and directed by Karen Simpson.
The play tells of Frank, Head of Installation at Forshaws, a commercial lettering factory, and his reluctant trainee Alan.
High on a platform above a Yorkshire retail park, this duo learn more about one another, the power of words and the value of dreams as their roles are reversed and they realise that they hold the key to one another’s salvation.
Again, local community groups will be performing including Cole Porter’s classic, Anything Goes from the Bury St Edmunds Amateur and Operatic and Dramatic Society’s and Jesus Christ Superstarbeing performed by the Irving Stage Company.
The Theatre Royal Young Actors Company are currently in rehearsals for thedramatic and powerful The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
This is also the season to be jolly, and the Theatre Royal will once again be serving up a sparkling festive treat filled with catchy songs, silly jokes, and a sprinkling of magic in Cinderella.
The Theatre Royal is known for its traditional, fun-filled family pantos, and Cinderella will be no exception.
Packed with dastardly villains, miraculous mice, swirling dresses and some stupendous slapstick - you’re sure to have a ball!
This will be Karen Simpson’s directorial debut for the Theatre Royal and it promises to be a glittering success.
Christmas at the Theatre is not limited to panto though, as audiences can also get into the festive spirit in November, with Ballet Theatre UK’s Swan Lake, Clive Francis in A Christmas Carol and in December the Theatre’s annual Christmas concert at St Mary’s Church, with a programme of seasonal favourites sung by the Chapel Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge.
For Opera lovers, there’s the opportunity to enjoy Carmen, directed by Jonathan Miller, from the Mid Wales Opera Company, and La Traviata from the Olivier Award winning company, Opera Up Close.
Meanwhile, other forms of music are celebrated with Songbird: The Music of Eva Cassidy, Buddy Holly and the Cricketers,the ever-popular Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and even an anniversary edition of Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music.
The Theatre’s series of popular lunchtime concerts continues, with a new line up this season to add a bit of fun to everyone’s lunch hour and the ovation-worthy Last Night of the Proms (13 September) looks like being a sell-out.
Families will find much to keep them entertained this Autumn, with a fun production of The Princess and the Pea, and a stunning production of Lionboy complete with circus and live percussion, from award-winning company, Complicite.
For those keen on adventure, be sure to travel the world in 80 days, with the joyful, frenetic, whirlwind production of Jules Vernes’ classic Around the World in 80 Days.
And for some Fringe Festival fun, the popular LipService will be bringing their tongue-in-cheek production of The Picture of Doreen Gray, whilst John Shuttleworth amuses in A Wee Ken to Remember.
There is also the opportunity to take a rollercoaster journey through the world of Paul Robeson’s life in Call Mr Robeson, whilst things are drawn closer to home with Suffolk Stories, celebrating Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds in this exquisite duo of plays from Elizabeth Kuti.
All in all, Autumn at the Theatre Royal will be one to savour, share and remember!
For tickets and further details please call the Box Office on 01284 769505 or visit .
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For press enquiries, images, or review tickets, please contact Nicki Dixon, Press and Communications Officer via or 01284 829947.
Notes to Editors:
- The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds is the UK’s last surviving working Regency playhouse. Under the care of the National Trust, it is a Grade 1 Listed building, which underwent a £5.3 million restoration in 2005 to return it to its original 1819 layout and design.The Theatre Royal is owned by the Greene King Brewery, leased by the Brewery to the National Trust, which in turn has leased the Theatre to Bury St Edmunds Theatre Management Ltd to run it as a working theatre.
The Theatre Royal’s Autumn Season is generously sponsored by Beckett