LEGENDARY WHO-DUNNIT TO HIT DARLINGTON

The record-breaking 60th anniversary tour of The Mousetrap comes to Darlington Civic Theatre from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 February.

The Mousetrap is famous around the world for being the longest-running show of any kind in the history of theatre, with over 25,000 performances. Now the 60th anniversary production is back starring Louise Jameson (Dr Who, EastEnders, Doc Martin) as Mrs Boyle.

The scene is set when a group of people gathered in a country house cut off by the snow discover, to their horror, that there is a murderer in their midst. Who can it be? One by one the suspicious characters reveal their sordid pasts until at the last, nerve-shredding moment the identity and the motive are finally revealed.

In her own inimitable style, Dame Agatha Christie has created an atmosphere of shuddering suspense and a brilliantly intricate plot where murder lurks around every corner.

Louise Jameson is best well-known for her long-running roles as Leela, a companion of Tom Baker’s Doctor in Doctor Who, Susan Young in Bergerac¸ Eleanor Glasson in Doc Martin, and Rosa di Marco in EastEnders. In addition to Louise’s illustrious roles on screen, she has also appeared on stage in Love, Loss and What I Wore (The Mill, Sonning), Noises Off (Mercury Theatre), Gutted (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) and Oedipus (The Liverpool Everyman & Nottingham Playhouse).

Louise said: “I thought about doing something special for my 65th birthday in 2016. Just how did I get to be 65? The same way The Mousetrap has run for nearly that length of time I suppose, so we’ll be celebrating together. That’s quite special.”

The Mousetrap comes to Darlington Civic Theatre from Monday 8 to Saturday 13 February.

Tickets* £20 to £31.50

To book contact the Box Office on 01325 486 555 or visit www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

*All prices include a £1 restoration levy

YORK’S LEGENDARY DAME BERWICK KALER ANNOUNCES THE NAME OF THE 2016 PANTOMIME.

 

York Theatre Royal’s once-in-a-lifetime pantomime Dick Whittington (and his meerkat) closed on Sunday 24 January following an incredibly successful run in its temporary home The Signal Box Theatre at the National Railway Museum.  According to tradition, writer, co-director and the UK’s longest serving panto dame Berwick Kaler announced the name of the pantomime for 2016-17:

CINDERELLA

Dick Whittington (and his meerkat) was Berwick Kaler’s 37^th outing as dame in what is believed to have been the first ever pantomime in a traverse theatre.  York Theatre Royal was forced to move its famous pantomime to The Signal Box Theatre following unique architectural discoveries during the theatre’s £4.1million redevelopment project.  The theatre has received its largest ever number of letters, messages, phone calls and social media posts praising the production, which has been seen by an audience of almost 50,000.

Berwick Kaler said:

It’s everyone’s favourite and it just seems fitting to celebrate the newly restored theatre with a title that has all the ingredients for magnificent sets and costumes, pathos, slapstick, inventive lunacy. I’ll even retain the plot – mind you, I’ve not written it yet so don’t quote me!

Tickets for CINDERELLA will go on sale in person only on Tuesday 1 March from the York Theatre Royal Box Office in the De Grey Rooms, St Leonard’s Place.

The theatre’s re-opening spring 2016 season will feature two world premiere co-productions, starting with an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited with English Touring Theatre from Friday 22 to Saturday 30 April.  This sparkling re-imagining of the classic novel by writer Bryony Lavery and director Damian Cruden will tour nationally before returning to York Theatre Royal from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 June.  From Friday 13 May to Saturday 4 June York Theatre Royal and Pilot Theatre will present The Machine Stops, based on the 1909 short story by E.M. Forster.  The story has been adapted for the stage by Neil Duffield and will be directed by Juliet Forster and features a brand new soundtrack composed by John Foxx, pioneer of electronic music and founder of Ultravox and analogue synth specialist Benge. In addition a wide range of top class touring companies including Northern Broadsides, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English Touring Opera will bring their productions to the newly renovated theatre.

Tickets for the spring 2016 season are on sale now in person at the York Theatre Royal Box Office, by phone on 01904 623568 or securely online at yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

HiddenCity presents
MORIARTY’S GAME

• NEW TICKETS RELEASED: LAST CHANCE TO EXPLORE HIDDENCITY’S MORIARTY’S GAME, ENDS ON 31 MARCH 2016

• DISCOVER LONDON THROUGH A SERIES OF CRYPTIC CLUES INSPIRED BY ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S SHERLOCK HOLMES NOVELS

 

Don’t miss the chance to explore London with Moriarty’s Game, created by cryptic city trail innovator HiddenCity. New tickets have been released and are available until 31 March 2016.This brand new, immersive game launched on 2 December 2015 and has been garnering an array of strong reviews, selling out on its weekend dates.

Time Out says, “Puzzle fans will love this cross-London game”

Radio Times calls it, “As an entertaining activity to do with your friends, it was perfect – but as an offbeat tour around London it was also a slam dunk.”

The Stage says, “Fascinating urban adventure game that invites participants to explore hidden corners of the city”

Moriarty’s Game is the 28th trail created by HiddenCity and is inspired by characters from Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, The Final Problem, published in 1893. Players find themselves exploring exhibitions in a Mayfair Townhouse, celebrating contemporary architecture and drinking in Georgian public houses as they solve puzzles sent via text messages, in search of Moriarty’s hidden safe house.

‘Professor James Moriarty invites you to celebrate the finest minds of London by solving his cryptic challenge, which he has personally prepared. Your goal is to find his London safe house. Succeed and he will present you an offer you won’t refuse.’

Each clue directs participants to a hidden location within walking distance, and asks a specific question about the surroundings. If participants reply with the correct answer they receive the next clue.

In Moriarty’s Game, explorers interact with the real world. As they progress on their journey, participants find themselves studying botanical books, inspecting classical French paintings and delivering codewords to people they meet, as they uncover Moriarty’s true nature.

HiddenCity was created by two brothers who wanted to organise an alternative city experience for friends. HiddenCity now has trails operating in London, Manchester and Brighton.

To book tickets visit inthehiddencity.com/moriartysgame.

LISTINGS

2 Dec 2015 – 31 March 2016
Moriarty’s Game
Start point: Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, W1B 1AD
Start time: 11.30am – 2pm (Trail takes 2 – 4 hours to complete)
020 7112 8951
www.inthehiddencity.com/moriartysgame
Price: £60 for a team of up to four people
Strictly adults, 18 or over
Dress appropriately to gain entry to Moriarty’s safe house. No shorts or tracksuits.

Apollo Theatre Company presents:

CAST ANNOUNCED FOR RIGHT NOW BY CATHERINE-ANNE TOUPIN

BUSH THEATRE 23 MARCH – 16 APRIL 2016

TRANSLATED BY CHRIS CAMPBELL
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BOYD

The cast is announced and rehearsals begin today for RIGHT NOW, a co-production between the Bush Theatre, Traverse theatre Company and Theatre Royal Bath Ustinov Studio.

The roles of Juliette, Ben, Alice, Francis, and Giles will be played by Maureen Beattie, Sean Biggerstaff, Lindsey Campbell, Dyfan Dwyfor and Guy Williams.

The co-production, directed by former RSC Artistic Director Michael Boyd, runs at the Bush Theatre from 23 March – 16 April 2016. Press night is 29 March.

Director Michael Boyd said, “Our challenge to do justice to this heart-breaking, hilarious and disturbing play begins today, and I couldn’t feel better equipped than with this brilliant dare-devil cast.”

Written by Catherine-Anne Toupin and translated by Chris Campbell, RIGHT NOW is a disquieting exploration of one woman’s crisis and darkest desires. It walks a delicate line between playful laughter and deep trauma, teasing and thrilling audiences from beginning to end.

As Alice and Ben settle into their beautiful new flat they realise that the family across the hall hope to be more than just good neighbours. Soon, Juliette, Giles, and their son Francis are wearing out the welcome mat; suggesting drinks, hors d’oeuvres and dancing. Things begin to heat up as innocent invitations lead to passionate encounters and unsettling revelations.

Maureen Beattie trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and graduated with the James Bridie Gold Metal. Since then Maureen has gone on to play many roles with companies across the UK including the National Theatre of Scotland, National Theatre of Great Britain, the Globe, and the RSC, as well as touring internationally. Previous theatre credits include: The List, The Carousel, The Deliverance (Stellar Quines); John Gabriel Barclay (Óran Mór); Yer Granny, 27 and The Enquirer (National Theatre of Scotland); Romeo & Juliet (Rose Theatre Kingston); Dark Road, The Cherry Orchard (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh); Noises Off (The Old Vic); No Quarter (Royal Court Theatre); Ghosts (Citizens Theatre); Masterbuilder, Othello, The Merry Wives of Windsor (National Theatre); The History Plays, Richard III, Titus Andronicus, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe  (Royal Shakespeare Company). Maureen’s television and film credits include: Outlander, Doctor Who, Vera, Casualty, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, Taggart, Bramwell, The Bill, Hard to Get, The Worst Week of My Life, Doctors, Moving On and Decoy Bride.

Sean Biggerstaff obtained his first professional acting role at ten, playing the son of MacDuff in a Michael Boyd production of Macbeth at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow. He then joined the Scottish Youth Theatre and spent six years with the group. Other theatre work includes: Solid Air (Theatre Royal Plymouth); The Girl with the Red Hair (Lyceum/Bush/Hampstead Theatre);An Appointment with the Wicker Man (National Theatre of Scotland).

Sean’s film work includes: Whisky Galore, Mary Queen of Scots, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 2) playing the part of Oliver Wood. His television work includes: Marple, Charles II, and Consenting Adults for which he won BAFTA Scotland’s Best Actor Award for his performance.

Lindsey Campbell trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 2013. Previous stage credits include: Nights (White Bear Theatre); The Harvest (Theatre Royal Bath/Soho); The Big Meal (Theatre Royal Bath/Hightide). Television credits include: Casualty, Doctor’s, Dani’s House, Blue Haven, Single Father.

Dyfan Dwyfor graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2007. He won the Richard Burton Award at the National Eisteddfod in 2004. Most recently he has appeared inCandylion (National Theatre Wales). Other theatre credits include: The Harvest (Soho Theatre/Ustinov Studio Bath); Titus Andronicus (The Globe); Praxis Makes Perfect (National Theatre Wales);Too Clever by Half (Royal Exchange); Fortunes Fool (The Old Vic); Ahasverus, Hamlet,  Little Eagles, Romeo & Juliet, The Drunks, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors (RSC). Film and Television work includes: Yr Oedi, Hinterland, Caerdydd, A470, Y Llyfrgell, The Passing, I Know You Know and The Baker.

Guy Williams trained at LAMDA and has gone on to perform in a huge range of theatre, television and film roles. Previous theatre credits include: Spanish Tragedy (Arcola); King Lear, The Seagull, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Winters Tale (RSC); The Duchess of Malfi (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Present Laughter (Theatre Clwyd); Rebecca (National Tour); Journey’s End (Comedy); The Romans in Britain (Crucible Theatre); Pravda, The Government Inspector, Venice Preserved, Antigone, Coriolanus, (National Theatre), Timon of Athens (Leicester); Rose Rage (Propeller, Watermill, Theatre Royal); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Propeller, Watermill, Comedy). Guy’s film credits include: London Has Fallen, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, The Cosmonaut, Sherlock Holmes, Middleton’s Changeling, To Walk With Lions, Thin Ice. Television work includes: Indian Summers, Young Cilla, Peaky Blinders, Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge, Father Brown, Ripper Street, This is England 88, Land Girls, Law and Order, The Queen, Silent Witness, Spooks, King Lear, A Very Social Secretary, Trial and Retribution and Happy Valley.

Pink Mist, the acclaimed Bristol Old Vic production, runs at the Bush Theatre from 21 January – 13 February 2016.

LISTINGS

23 March – 16 April 2016
RIGHT NOW
by Catherine-Anne Toupin
translated by Chris Campbell

Director Michael Boyd
Designer Madeleine Girling

Mon to Sat at 7.30pm (excluding 25-26 March)
2.30pm Saturday matinees (from 2 April)

Audio described performance 9 April 2.30pm

Captioned performance 15 April 7.30pm

Ticket prices:

Evenings: £20

• £12.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £15.50 for Senior Citizens
• £12.50 for students/under 26s
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Previews: £15.50

• £10.50 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £12.50 for Senior Citizens
• £10.50 for students/under 26s
• £12.50 for Bush Local members

Matinees: £15

• £10.00 concessions (registered unemployed and disabled)
• £10.00 for students/under 26s
• £10.00 for Senior Citizens
• 10% off for Bush Local members

Season Offers*

Season 3 for 2
See 3 shows for the price of 2. Valid for top price tickets only, shows must be purchased at the same time. Not valid for previews, matinees or RADAR.

Live or work locally – Join our free local membership scheme Bush Local for £12.50 preview tickets, 10% off all other performances and a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar. For more information and to become a member, visit bushtheatre.co.uk

Educational Groups – Schools tickets are £10 (matinees) and £12.50 (evenings), plus one teacher goes free with every 10 pupils. To reserve tickets, please call the Box Office between 12 – 8pm.

Bush Connect scheme – A free membership scheme for students and under 26s, BUSH CONNECT offers its members £10-£12.50 tickets for all Bush Theatre productions, a 10% discount at the Cafe Bar, special offers, giveaways and competitions, and exclusive events and networking opportunities.

Group Bookings – Book for a group of 11 or more people and the 11th person will go for free.

*Terms and conditions apply, see the Bush website for further information.

FOUND & LOST
by Emily Hall
at Corinthia Hotel London
25 January – 3 February 2016

• CORINTHIA HOTEL LONDON RELEASE MORE TICKETS FOR SOLD OUT WORLD PREMIERE OF EMILY HALL’S BRAND NEW PROMENADE OPERA

• AUDIENCES EMBARK ON A SONIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOTEL’S INTIMATE AND EXCLUSIVE SPACES AS NARRATIVE UNFOLDS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCE AND SOUND INSTALLATION
  

The Corinthia Hotel London has today released more tickets for the premiere of Emily Hall’s site-specific opera, Found & Lost. Hall’s brand new piece was conceived in collaboration with the internationally renowned sound designer David Sheppard during her stay at the distinguished five-star hotel as its Artist in Residence. It will be performed for audiences of 12 at a time in the beautiful rooms, intimate spaces, and restricted areas of the hotel from bedrooms through to boiler rooms. The piece invites audiences to embark on a sonic journey of discovery in a promenade performance where they will be led by a live choir and find musicians where least expected accompanied by   specially recorded music. Rooms will spontaneously break into song and drama will unfold along the corridors. An opera unlike any other, Found & Lost will have its official opening night at the hotel on 27 January.

Alongside Hall and Sheppard, poet and Jerwood-Aldeburgh winner Matthew Welton (The Book of Matthew, We Needed Coffee But…) has created the libretto exclusively from texts found within Corinthia Hotel London, including wine lists, housekeeping check lists, and lost and found records. Award-winning Director Ella Hickson (Wendy & Peter, Eight, Boys) has advised on the production. The composition integrates music recorded in a variety of spaces on-site, intertwined with a live chorus sung by members of Siglo de Oro, and live performances from James McVinnie on a specially simulated organ. Recorded artists featured in the production include: tenor Allan Clayton; singer-songwriter Mara Carlyle; cellist Oliver Coates; vocalist Sofia Jernberg; singer songwriter Puzzle Muteson, and treble Duncan Tarboton, allrelayed in crystal clear sound through a series of portable Bowers & Wilkins speakers which will be woven seamlessly into the fabric of the hotel.

Emily was selected in April 2015 from eleven finalists to create the piece at Corinthia Hotel London after entering the hotel’s fourth Artist in Residence competition – a search to find a composer or company to produce a brand new opera inspired by the luxury five star hotel. Her idea was selected by a panel of music and arts industry leaders including opera luminaries Alex Beard CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, Joseph Calleja, internationally acclaimed award-winning tenor and James Conway, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of English Touring Opera among others.

Previous residencies saw winning commissions from aspiring filmmakers Zawe Ashton and David Petch (2014), immersive theatre company Look Left Look Right (2013) and photographic artist Noémie Goudal (2012).

Champagne provided by Laurent-Perrier.

All speakers for the production have been provided by Bowers & Wilkins.

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Found & Lost
Corinthia Hotel London, Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2BD

Monday 25 January – Wednesday 3 February 2016
Monday – Friday evening performances: 7.00pm & 8.15pm (except Monday 25 January, just 8.15pm)
Saturday performances: 3.00pm, 7.00pm & 8.15pm
Booking: corinthia-air.com / +44 (0) 8444 77 1000

Website: corinthia-air.com/opera
Twitter: @CorinthiaLondon

Ticket prices:
Standard: £27.50 including a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne
Premium: £35 including a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne and an exclusive libretto
Concessions*: £20
*Under 26, full-time students, job seekers, seniors (60+) and people with a disability.

Running Time: 1 hour

Full performance schedule:

Monday	25-Jan-16	8.15pm
Tuesday	26-Jan-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Wednesday	27-Jan-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Thursday	28-Jan-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Friday	29-Jan-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Saturday	30-Jan-16	3pm, 7pm & 8.15pm
Sunday	31-Jan-16	No show
Monday	01-Feb-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Tuesday	02-Feb-16	7pm & 8.15pm
Wednesday	03-Feb-16	7pm & 8.15pm

A Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre co-production of

SINGLE SPIES

• REHEARSAL IMAGES RELEASED FOR UK TOUR OF SINGLE SPIES BY ALAN BENNETT

• NICHOLAS FARRELL, BELINDA LANG AND DAVID ROBB LEAD THE CAST

• PERFORMANCES BEGIN ON 4 FEBRUARY AT CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE

Rehearsal images for Alan Bennett’s hit comedy Single Spies are released today.  The production embarks on a UK tour from 4 February opening at Chichester Festival Theatre before touring to Birmingham, Richmond, Canterbury, Newcastle, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bath, Leeds, Salisbury and Sheffield.

Following the success of The King’s Speech, Chichester Festival Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre collaborate once again on this award-winning comedy masterpiece, Single Spies.

Olivier Award-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh directs Nicholas Farrell (as Guy Burgess), Belinda Lang (Coral Browne and Her Majesty the Queen) and David Robb (Anthony Blunt) in an extensive UK tour opening in February 2016.

Bennett’s award-winning espionage double bill is a pointedly satirical snapshot of two members of the infamous ‘Cambridge Five’, Guy Burgess and Anthony Blunt, both recruited as spies by the Soviet Union during World War II.

In 1950s Moscow, Coral Browne receives an invitation to lunch with shunned Soviet spy, Guy Burgess, with the sole instruction to ‘bring a tape measure’.  An Englishman Abroad is a wry and touching play which chronicles the pair’s fleeting friendship and Burgess’ attempts to cling to his way of life as a Soviet citizen.

A Question of Attribution gives us a glimpse into Anthony Blunt’s life of espionage within the very walls of Buckingham Palace.  Following his double-life as an art historian to royalty and a Soviet spy, this witty tale of forgery and deceit culminates in a sharp and candid interrogation from Her Majesty the Queen herself.

Single Spies premiered at the National Theatre in 1988, opening to critical acclaim and receiving an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 1990.

LISTINGS:

Chichester Festival Theatre
4-13 February
Oaklands Parks, Chichester, PO19 6AP
01243 781312
Online bookings: www.cft.org.uk

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
17- 27 February
Centenary Square, Broad Street, B1 2EP
0121 236 4455
Online bookings: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Richmond Theatre
1-5 March
The Green, Surrey, TW9 1QJ
0844 871 7651
Online bookings: www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre

The Marlowe Theatre
8- 12 March
The Friars, Canterbury, CT1 2AS
01227 787787
Online bookings: www.marlowetheatre.com

Theatre Royal Newcastle Upon Tyne
15-19 March
100 Grey Street, NE1 6BR
08448 11 21 21
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse
21-26 March
Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW
01865 305305
Online bookings: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

The Everyman Theatre
29 March – 02 April
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ
01242 572573
Online bookings: www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Theatre Royal Bath
04 – 09 April
Sawclose, BA1 1ET
01225 448844
Online bookings: www.theatreroyal.org.uk

Leeds Grand Theatre
12 – 16 April
46 New Briggate, LS1, 6NZ
0844 848 2700
Online bookings: www.leedsgrandtheatre.com

Salisbury Playhouse
18- 23 April
Malthouse Lane, Wiltshire, SP2 7RA
01722 320 117
Online bookings: www.salisburyplayhouse.com

Sheffield Theatres
26-30 April
55 Norfolk Street, S1 1DA
0114 249 6000
Online bookings: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

www.cityvarieties.co.uk

0113 243 08 08

Swan Street – Leeds – LS1 6LW

Follow us on Twitter @cityvarieties

WHAT’S ON

 

FEBRUARY

Thursday 4 7.30pm FAIRPORT CONVENTION The return of the legendary of Folk Rockers fairportconvention.com

Friday 5 7.30pm DR JOHN COOPER CLARKE Poet; Movie Star; Rock Star; Presenter; Comedian; Social and Cultural Commentator johncooperclarke.com

Saturday 6 7.30pm LEE NELSON: Suited & Booted Comedian Lee Nelson at his absolute best… live and unleashed! leenelson.com

Friday 12 7.30pm NO SUCH THING AS A FISH The QI Elves present the first live tour of their hit podcast qi.com/podcast

Thursday 18 8pm RICHARD HERRING: Happy Now!? Richard returns in his twelfth solo stand-up show richardherring.com

Friday 19 7.30pm HOWARD JONES SOLO An intimate evening of songs and stories from the 80s synth-pop pioneer howardjones.com

Saturday 20 2pm SING-A-LONG-A FROZEN (PG) A full screening of Disney’s Frozen with lyrics on screen to help you sing along singalonga.net/frozen/

8pm SING-A-LONG-A DIRTY DANCING (15) A screening of the1987 classic film with on-screen lyrics singalonga.net/dirty-dancing/

Saturday 27 7.30pm TONY LAW: FRILLEMORPHESIS Brand new stand-up art show from the multi award-winning comedian mrtonylaw.com

MARCH

Wednesday 2 7.30pm PARTON SINGS PARTON Stella Parton shares both her and Dolly’s lives through Music, Song and Laughter stellaparton.com

Friday 4 8pm ANDREW NEWTON: The Hypnotist LIVE! World-famous hypnotist newtonhypnosis.com

Saturday 5 7.30pm DEBRA STEPHENSON: Night of One Hundred Voices An evening of comedy, music and impressions socomedy.co.uk/artist/debra-stephenson/

Sunday 6 7.30pm THE FUREYS All the hits plus selections from their new album The Times They Are A Changing thefureys.com

Monday 7 7.30pm THE PUPPINI SISTERS: The Highlife Tour The hugely popular vocal trio perform old favourites and new album cuts thepuppinisisters.com

Wednesday 9 7.30pm THEA GILMORE plus special guests Acclaimed singer-songwriter tours following her 15th album release theagilmore.net

Friday 11 7pm THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Saturday 12 12 Noon & 4.30pm THE GOOD OLD DAYS Variety spectacular starring Anita Harris – for full line-up see cityvarieties.co.uk

Sunday 13 8pm RUSSEL KANE: Right Man, Wrong Age A new show about growing up, growing down, and why farts will always be funny russellkane.co.uk

Wednesday 16 7.30pm HALFWAY TO PARADISE: The Billy Fury Story The story of one of Britain’s best loved rockers with the original Tornadoes billyfurystory.co.uk

Thursday 17 7.30pm Paul Carrol’s MUSIC HALL TAVERN The “girls” return for another evening of laughter, song and dance musichalltavern.com/uk/

Friday 18 7pm THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Saturday 19 12 Noon & 4.30pm THE GOOD OLD DAYS Variety spectacular starring Billy Pearce – for full line-up see cityvarieties.co.uk

Sunday 20 7.30pm JOE LONGTHORNE in Concert A rescheduled date from Sept 2015 + support from Chris Berry joelongthornembe.com

Monday 21 6pm & 9pm CIRCUS OF HORRORS: Welcome To The CarnEvil Tickets from £26* Circus of Horrors’ terrifying new show set in Victorian London circusofhorrors.co.uk

Thursday 24 7.30pm LAURIE BRIGGS: Ladies of Song Tickets from £18.50* A heartfelt homage to the iconic female vocalists from jazz & popular music

Friday 25 7.30pm EDDI READER Tickets from £24.10* Acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter and vocalist with Fairground Attraction eddireader.co.uk

Thursday 31 7.30pm THE STORY OF GUITAR HEROES Phil Walker and his band take you on a multimedia journey through rock storyofguitarheroes.com

APRIL

Wednesday 6 2.30pm WE’LL MEET AGAIN Nostalgic wartime revue show featuring the Martyn St James Band + guests

Thursday 7 7.30pm JUDIE TZUKE Acclaimed singer songwriter famed for Stay With Me Till Dawn tzuke.com

Friday 8 8pm PAUL ZERDIN: Spongefinger America’s Got Talent winner 2015, Paul Zerdin returns to the UK paulzerdin.com

Sunday 10 7.30pm JOE LYCETT: That’s The Way A-ha A-ha The self-proclaimed ‘absolute lad’ is back with an all new stand-up show joelycettcomedy.co.uk

Tuesday 12 7.30pm G4 : Back For Good Tour 2016 Jonathan Ansell and friends reunited – VIP Meet & Greet tickets available g4official.com

Friday 15 8pm MARK STEEL: Who Do I Think I Am? Mark’s surprising and enthralling life story told with aplomb marksteelinfo.com

Mon 18 & Tue 19 7.30pm NEW DAWN FADES Acclaimed play about Joy Division and Manchester

Wednesday 20 8pm KEITH BARRY: Brain Hacker The star of ITV’s You’re Back In The Room – rearranged from October 2015 keithbarry.com

Thursday 21 8pm KATHERINE RYAN: Kathbum A rapid return following the sell-out show in January katherineryan.co.uk

Saturday 23 7.30pm GERRY MARSDEN: Gerry Cross The Mersey The legendary 60s superstar chats about his career and sings the hits gerryandthepacemakers.co.uk

Saturday 30 7.30pm MARK WATSON: I’m Not Here Multi-award-winning comedy star returns with new show markwatsonthecomedian.com

MAY

Wednesday 4 7.30pm THE RUBETTES featuring Alan Williams Original members of the 70s Glam stars relive memories and play the hits rubettesfeaturingalanwilliams.com

Thursday 5 7pm Greg Foot: CAUTION Safety Goggles Required! An evening of curious questions & explosive answers from TV’s top scientist gregfoot.com

Wednesday 11 8pm JULIAN CLARY: The Joy of Mincing Julian’s celebration of 30 years as a camp comedian julianclary.co.uk

Saturday 14 7.30pm SONS OF PITCHES + Special Guests Acclaimed vocal group & winners of BBC2’s The Naked Choir 2015 thesonsofpitches.co.uk

Friday 20 7.30pm DAVID HAMILTON’S Rock’n’Roll Back The Years Show The legendary broadcaster is joined by live performers to recreate hits from the 50s & 60s

Monday 23 7.30pm GYLES BRANDRETH: Word Power! An uproarious and unexpected magic carpet ride around the awesome world of words

Thursday 26 7.30pm ROMESH RANGANATHAN: Irrational Examining issues close to his heart and explaining why everybody else is wrong romeshranganathan.co.uk

JUNE

Saturday 4 7.30pm An Audience With IAN WAITE & NATALIE LOWE The Strictly Come Dancing favourites deliver a night you will remember forever ian-waite.com

Friday 10 7.30pm ROGER McGOUGH / LiTTLe MACHINe A unique double bill of poetry and music little-machine.com rogermcgough.org.uk

Saturday 11 7.30pm SARA PASCOE Acclaimed comedian Sara Pascoe in a show about empathy and its limitations sarapascoe.com

JULY

Saturday 2 6pm THE KEN DODD HAPPINESS SHOW The legendary Liverpudlian entertainer returns kendoddshows.com

SEPTEMBER

Saturday 17 7.30pm AL MURRAY THE PUB LANDLORD: Lets Go Backwards Together Sunday 18 7.30pm The nation’s critically acclaimed bar-based braveheart returns thepublandlord.com

OCTOBER Thursday 6 7.30pm LEE MEAD – Some Enchanted Evening Lee performs classics from 1930s & 1940s musicals lifted from his new album leemead.co.uk

Saturday 15 7.30pm VONDA SHEPARD Singer-songwriter who shot to fame through live performances on Ally McBeal vondashepard.com

Broken Cabaret presents: