Derby Theatre announces summer 2017 season

Derby Theatre is delighted to announce its summer 2017 season…and its big production for the autumn 
  
Looking ahead to summer 2017, Derby Theatre will produce four fantastic Youth Theatre productions, present, for a fifth year, a summer festival of fresh and exciting theatre; play host to top quality touring productions, fabulous family shows and great one nighters; provide yet another exciting and eclectic season of cutting edge Studio shows; offer a vast programme of events, performances and opportunities for new and emerging artists – and, on top of all this, we will once again offer a wealth of opportunities for people of all ages to get involved and engage in the work we do. At this time of year, we also look forward to announcing our big show for the autumn! 
 
One of the highlights of the summer season is the return of DEparture Lounge, a fantastic festival of exciting new work celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. Audiences and artists can expect a bumper line-up of shows, workshops, talks, Edinburgh previews…plus the chance to see Derby Theatre transformed into a lush green festival site, and as you may never have seen it before. So, why not try something new at the Theatre, stockpile your sun cream and prepare for a hot theatrical feast.   
    
For audiences wanting to see some really great young talent next season, and to support the next generation of actors, the Derby Theatre Youth Theatre groups will present four great plays – The Blue Road, an inspiring new project which premieres this brand new play written by exciting, up-and-coming playwright, Laura Lomas in four venues across the UK, and presented by our older Youth Theatre group, and Daffodil Scissors by Philip Ridley, Stay Brave Bryony Gravy by Carl Grose and Dark Age by Richard Hurford, all presented by our younger groups.  
 
Top-class touring productions for summer 2017 include: Northanger Abbey presented by Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, a stylish, witting and fast-moving adaptation by Tim Luscombe of Jane Austen’s earliest novel; Cyrano, a Northern Broadsides, in partnership with New Vic Stoke, production, a highly acclaimed and lively new adaptation of Deborah McAndrew’s adaption of Edmund Rostand’s romantic comedy; Ruth Rendell’s A Judgement in Stone with an all-star cast, including Andrew Lancel who starred as Brian Clough in last year’s production of The Damned United at Derby Theatre; award-winning choreographer, Gary Clarke’s COAL, a strong, powerful and emotive dance theatre show about life at the coal face and Super Sunday, a funny, brave and irreverent daredevil super-fun creation performed by an award-winning company of Finnish circus artists. 
 
Wonderful one-nights and comedy in the main house for the summer includes: Oh Goody! Tim Brooke Taylor in conversation with Chris Serle, an unforgettable evening in the company of one of the funniest and best-loved comedy performers with broadcaster and writer, Chris; Morgan & West: Parlour Tricks, a mind-boggling, jawdropping magic show for adults; the Reduced Shakespeare Company with a barnstormingly, irreverent and breathtakingly hilarious celebration of our cultural heritage;  The All-Star Stand-Up Tour, with three top comedians, Stewart Francis, Justine Moorhouse and Jim Tavare, along with returning host Jarred Christmas; Made in the Great War, a heartfelt true story told in words and music and featuring the actual fiddle made by Richard S Howard; Count Arthur Strong: The Sound of Music, where the showbiz legend pays tribute to one of the best musicals he can remember; Graeme of Thrones, a unique journey through the Seven Kingdoms direct from the West End and  La Bohéme presented by OperaUpClose, an Olivier Award-winning version of Puccini’s much-loved weepie 
 
Family theatre and fun for the summer includes: a Derby Theatre Open Day, a chance for members of the public to see backstage and take part in different activities; One Little Word by M6 Theatre Company, a beautiful and gentle story of friendship, power struggles and the rich world of creative play for ages 3+; Theatre Company Blah Blah Blah with A Tale to Tell, an enchanting journey into storytelling and shadow play for ages 7+; Dinosaur World, a brand new dino-mite adventure and interactive show for all the family, suitable for ages 3+; Babe, The Sheep-Pig, a heartwarming tale of friendship which sees this classic novel, which inspired the Oscar-winning film, adapted for the stage in this enchanting family favourite, perfect for ages 5+ and their families and friends; Mr Bloom’s Nursery, from the popular children’s TV show,  a fun and inspiring show with strong educational values suitable for ages 3+; Northern Ballet with Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a perfect opportunity for little ones to experience and enjoy live ballet, music and theatre for the first time; Morgan & West’s Magic Show for Kids and Childish Grown-ups, a mind-boggling, jaw-dropping show with lots of magic and mayhem for ages 5 to 105 and Deafinitely Theatre, the UK’s largest Deaf theatre company, with Something Else, an award-winning and much-loved story brought to life for the stage for children aged 3+ and their families which celebrates everyone’s right to be different.   
 
For ages 11+, the National Theatre Connections Festival, a combination of theatre, performance, new writing, workshops and much more, returns to Derby Theatre at the end of April. Connections is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved and immerse themselves in theatre, connect with Theatre staff, leading creative professionals, performers and workshop leaders; see great work, make new friends…and have lots of fun. 
 
Studio highlights for the summer include: Waves written and performed by Alice Mary Cooper, an incredible story of Elizabeth Moncello; unofficial inventor of the Butterfly stroke, a true delight for audiences aged 8+; Kessoku Remix, a chance to meet extraordinary characters from Japanese stories, beautifully told through movement, music and puppetry; Melancholy by Certain Dark Things, an imaginative combination of puppetry, physical theatre and animation to tell the story of one man as he treads the fine line between genius and insanity; Octopus by Paper Tiger Productions and Greenwich Theatre, a post-Brexit satire that explores what it’s like to be treated as a foreigner in your own land…and the power of punk and SCI-FI? by Sleeping Trees, a hilarious and madcap journey into the deep and infinite unknown accompanied by an inter-cosmic live score.  
 

University of Derby Theatre Arts and Technical Theatre productions for next season include: Pronoun by Evan Placey, a sensitive and powerful story of Dean and his journey to acceptance; Kvetch by Steven Berkoff, a powerful insight into the psyche awash with striking imagery and dialogue and Marat Sade by Peter Weiss, a powerful and savage play about the inmates of the French asylum of Charenton, under the direction of the Marquis de Sade. 
 
Looking ahead to the autumn… We are also pleased to announce our big show for the autumn, a big, bold and brilliant production of  Charles Dickens’ classic, Great Expectations adapted by Neil Bartlett and directed by Sarah Brigham …and booking is now open! 
 
Lots of opportunities to get involved In addition to the productions we produce and present, the Theatre also offers a wealth of opportunities for all ages to get involved in the work we do, including: Youth Theatre, Young Technicians, Summer Schools, DT Ambassadors, Theatre Unwrapped, Technical Training & Advice, Tea and a Tour and Work Experience. For more information about how you can get involved visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk and/or email learning@derbytheatre.co.uk  
 

Derby Theatre Season Ticket For the new season, we are once again offering two fantastic ticket deals, see Northanger Abbey, Cyrano and Great Expectations from only £39 per person and see four Studio shows, Waves, SCI-FI?, Melancholy and Octopus, for just £28 per person. 
 
All productions and events in the summer season, plus Great Expectations in the autumn, are now on sale. For  FULL season details, more information and to book tickets call 01332 593939, visit our Box Office in person or visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk  

Back to news