Theatre announces its summer season

Chris Smith

09 April 2009

SIXTIES heart throb David Essex is one of the star names in the summer season of shows at Northampton's Royal and Derngate.

The chart topping singer's musical All the Fun of the Fair (May 4-9) stars himself and features many of his best-loved hits, taking audiences on a roller-coaster ride of romance and rock ‘n’ roll set against the backdrop of a travelling funfair.

The ever-popular Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat returns (June 1-6) followed by the slick and sassy Chicago (July 6 -11), the sensational Disney classic musical Beauty and the Beast (September 8-12), new 70s musical Jackie (September 21-26) which is inspired by the teen magazine of the same name and Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies (April 27 - May 2) while the English National Ballet will present the UK premier its Angelina Ballerina’s Big Audition (May 21-24).

Among the inhouse productions will be Dylan Thomas' rich and poetic masterpiece Under Milk Wood (May 1-16), painting a unique picture of the sleeping and waking desires of the eccentric community of Llareggub.

As popular and influential playwright Alan Ayckbourn approaches his 70th birthday, Royal & Derngate's artistic director Laurie Sansom – who spent four years working as his associate at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough – brings together a three month festival celebrating his life and work.

As part of Ayckbourn at 70 the theatre will be presenting three plays from different periods in his writing career - the 1976 play Just Between Ourselves (May 22 - June 13), Private Fears in Public Places from 2004 (June 22 - July 11) and, directed by Ayckbourn himself, the award-winning play of 1988, Man of the Moment (July 27 - August 15) - all performed by one company of actors, including Matthew Cottle, best known from TV sitcom Game On and Lucy Briers, daughter of veteran actor Richard Briers.

The theatre's Community Actors Group will also contribute to the festival with their production of Ayckbourn's The Revengers' Comedies (July 7-11), a two-part play that pays homage to the classic thriller Strangers on a Train, while Royal & Derngate's Youth Theatre presents Ayckbourn's musical, medieval romp Orvin – Champion of Champions (July 16-18). The Ayckbournathon of Ayckbourn events also features a Festival Gala, discussions, and play readings, including extracts of all 72 of Alan's plays (May 24).

There will be a host of children's shows including Wish Wash (June 6-27), an interactive show takes children on a fantastical voyage into a magical world where anything is possible; Milkshake Live (June 13-14), featuring a host a well-loved children's TV characters and a stage version of the award winning picture book The Gruffalo (September 20).

Illusionist Derren Brown will be on stage (May 25-27) while musical highlights of the summer season are The Drifters (May 11) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (June 7) while Australian writer, broadcaster and raconteur Clive James will present an evening of opinion, concluding with a question and answer session (June 24).

Full details of the summer season are online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

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