Lots on offer as the Theatre Royal unveils its autumn season

The Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds has announced details of its autumn 2019 season with a variety of productions from a range of companies as it continues to celebrate its 200th anniversary.

Headlining the new season and following on from last year’s successful “Goodnight Mister Tom” is a Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds Summer School production of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”.

Directed by Marcus Romer, the Simon Reade adaptation features a line-up of professional actors.

The only thing in the world that matters to Mrs Bennet, is marrying all five of her daughters to rich, landed gentleman. As the Bennet sisters haplessly search for love in Jane Austen’s ultimate romantic comedy, it is Mr Darcy who unwittingly finds his match. (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 7 Sep)

Continuing the 200th anniversary fundraising, a sparkling series of events are lined up this autumn. Roy Hudd returns to the stage to host a birthday bash to end all birthday bashes.

“A Right Royal Revue” will bring superstars from the world of film, stage, comedy, magic and circus together to perform for one incredible night (Sun 13 Oct).

The popular “An Evening With…” events continue with Sir Michael Parkinson reliving the best moments from a show that, for many, defined Saturday nights (Sun 1 Sep); and Sir Derek Jacobi, CBE will talk to Libby Purves, OBE about his life and career as one of Britain’s greatest Shakespearian actors and a founding member of the National Theatre Company (Sun 17 Nov).

For a tipsy treat join us for “Call My Festive Bluff: The Wine Quiz”, a riotous evening of laughs, fun and fine wine, hosted by Nethergate Wines (Thu 12 Dec).

There’s drama in abundance this autumn, including The Classic Thriller Theatre Company’s production of “The Lady Vanishes”, based on the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, ranked as one of the best British films of all time, a quick-witted and devilishly fun thriller (Mon 16 – Sat 21 Sep) and the return of Blackeyed Theatre with another Regency classic, Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre” (Thu 14 – Sat 16 Nov).

Proteus Theatre Company stage their their re-imagining of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, as a corporate thriller set in 1980s Britain (Mon 28 – Tue 29 Oct); Tilted Wig Productions present “Murder, Margaret and Me”, the story of two of our greatest and most celebrated national treasures – Agatha Christie and Margaret Rutherford (Mon 11 – Wed 13 Nov); and The Theatre Chipping Norton presents a production of the Olivier Award-winning “Skylight”, an intimate play of passionate ideas and complex love – delicate, hilarious and thought provoking (Tue 1 – Thu 3 Oct).

Comedy lovers will be well looked after, Matt Chorley presents his new show – “This Is Not Normal” with hilarious tales of Parliamentary resignations, reshuffles and recriminations (Sat 28 Sep); and Theatre Royal Wakefield return with a production of John Godber’s “Gym & Tonic”, a laugh out loud comedy about trying to find a moment of calm in challenging times (Mon 21 – Tue 22 Oct).

“The Noise Next Door: Remix” sees a cheeky and charming quartet weaving audience suggestions into fantastically funny scenes and songs in the blink of an eye (Fri 18 Oct); and “Austentatious” will see a cast of the country’s quickest comic performers conjure up a brand new “lost” Jane Austen novel based on nothing more than a title suggested by the audience (Thu 31 Oct – Fri 1 Nov).

Darren Day stars in Noël Coward’s “Me and the Girls”, a touching and evocative musical comedy of the last days of vaudeville (Tue 10 – Sat 14 Sep); and pianist Lucy Parham presents another composer portrait – “I, Clara”, the life and music of Clara Schumann, featuring narration by Patricia Hodge (Thu 17 Oct).

There are musical tributes too with “Radio Gaga” – a celebration of the music of Queen (Fri 4 Oct); Abba Reunion combines superbly accurate harmony vocals with stunning replica costumes and excellent choreography (Sat 5 Oct); “The George Michael Story” tells in detail the career of George and his 100 million record selling history (Wed 16 Oct); a musical journey celebrating 50 years of a legend – “Sweet Caroline: The Ultimate Tribute to Neil Diamond” features performances from Neil’s legacy of songs (Sat 2 Nov); and M J HIStory returns to the stage with an exhilarating live performance of the greatest hits of Michael Jackson (Sun 10 Nov).

Theatre Royal is always delighted to welcome local companies to the stage, this autumn is no exception.

Suffolk Young People’s Theatre are back with the tongue-in-cheek “Legally Blonde – The Musical” (Wed 7 – Sat 10 Aug); Bury St Edmunds Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (BSEAODS) return with a classic musical adaptation of a beloved film – “Evita” (Tue 8 – Sat 12 Oct); and Irving Stage Company present their production of Lerner & Lowe’s musical comedy “My Fair Lady” (Tue 5 – Sat 9 Nov).

There’s plenty for families too, Ballet Theatre UK are back with a new production of L Frank Baum’s iconic tale “The Wizard of Oz” (Mon 18 – Wed 20 Nov); Freckle Productions return with their funky musical production of “Tabby McTat” (Wed 25 – Thu 26 Sep); timeless children’s classic book “Dear Zoo” joins us again with a menagerie of mesmerising animal puppets (Wed 23 – Thu 24 Oct); and direct from the West End, Olivier Award nominee “The Tiger Who Came to Tea” celebrates over 10 years on stage (Fri 25 – Sun 27 Oct).

To round off the season in style, the return of Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds’ traditional family pantomime is “Peter Pan”.

Join Peter, Wendy and the outrageous Tiger Lily as they face the most fearful pantomime villain of all: Captain Hook. (Fri 29 Nov ‘19 – Sun 19 Jan ’20).

Tickets go on general sale on Sat 27 Apr at 10am. There is a 7 day pre-sale period for Theatre Royal members starting Sat 20 Apr at 10am. Friends Memberships start at £47 per year and offer great benefits. To find out more about Theatre Royal memberships visit www.theatreroyal.org/support-us.

Booking is simple, just visit www.theatreroyal.org and log in to book online, call the Box Office on 01284 769505, or stop by and say hello in person.

FULL LISTING

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

Legally Blonde (Wed 7 – Sat 10 Aug)

Pride & Prejudice (Fri 23 Aug – Sat 7 Sep, Audio Described/Captioned Performance Sat 7 Sep at 3pm, optional Touch Tour at 2pm)

An Evening with Sir Michael Parkinson (Sun 1 Sep, 7.30pm)

Me and the Girls (Tue 10 – Sat 14 Sep)

Lunchtime Concert – Braziliero (Thu 12 Sep, 1.10pm)

The Lady Vanishes (Mon 16 – Sat 21 Sep, Audio Described/Captioned Performance Sat 21 Sep at 3pm, optional Touch Tour at 2pm)

Theatre Royal Writers 2019 (Mon 23 Sep, 7.30pm)

Tabby McTat (Wed 25 – Thu 26 Sep)

Matt Chorley: This Is Not Normal (Sat 28 Sep, 7.30pm)

OCTOBER

Skylight (Tue 1 – Thu 3 Oct)

Radio Gaga (Fri 4 Oct, 7.30pm)

Abba Reunion (Sat 5 oct, 7.30pm)

Evita (Tue 8 – Sat 12 Oct)

Lunchtime Concert – The Edmund Octet and Friends (Thu 10 Oct, 1.10pm)

A Right Royal Revue (Sun 13 Oct, 7.30pm)

The George Michael Story (Wed 16 Oct, 7.30pm)

I, Clara (Thu 17 Oct, 7.30pm)

The Noise Next Door: Remix (Fri 18 Oct, 8pm)

Bury’s Got Talent 2019 (Sun 20 Oct, 7pm)

Gym & Tonic (Mon 21 – Tue 22 Oct)

Dear Zoo (Wed 23 – Thu 24 Oct)

The Tiger Who Came to Tea (Fri 25 – Sun 27 Oct)

Clare College Choir (Sat 26 Oct, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church)

Macbeth (Mon 28 – Tue 29 Oct)

NOVEMBER

Austentatious (Thu 31 Oct – Fri 1 Nov)

Sweet Caroline (Sat 2 Nov, 7.30pm)

My Fair Lady (Tue 5 – Sat 9 Nov)

Lunchtime Concert – Chris Ingham Trio (Thu 7 Nov, 1.10pm)

MJ HIStory (Sun 10 Nov, 7.30pm)

Murder, Margaret and Me (Mon 11 – Wed 13 Nov)

Jane Eyre (Thu 14 – Sat 16 Nov)

An Evening with Sir Derek Jacobi, CBE and Libby Purves, OBE (Sun 17 Nov, 7.30pm)

The Wizard of Oz (Mon 18 – Wed 20 Nov)

DECEMBER/JANUARY 2020

Peter Pan (Fri 29 Nov ’19 – Sun 19 Jan ’20, BSL Interpreted Performance Wed 11 Dec, 7pm; Relaxed Performances Thu 9 Jan 7pm, Fri 10 Jan 10.30am)

Carols From Cambridge (Wed 11 Dec, 1.10pm, St Mary’s Church)

Call My Festive Bluff: The Wine Quiz (Thu 12 Dec, 7.30pm, The Hunter Club)