Theatres - Coming Soon - November 26 onwards

Nov 24 2009 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

COMING SOON

ALADDIN (Opera House, Quay Street, Manchester, December 5-January 3)

THE most mystical pantomime of all flies into Manchester, guaranteeing another spectacular extravaganza for all the family. Join heroic Aladdin on a magic carpet ride as he tries to outwit the evil Abanazar. Headling is Coronation Street bad boy Gray O’Brien, joined by Hollyoaks star and Dancing On Ice finalist Chris Fountain as well as Eric Potts, Mike McClean and Sue Devaney. Ring 0844 847 2484 or visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

ALADDIN (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, December 15-January 3)

TIP Top Productions return to traditional pantomime for this home-grown production written by Peter Swingler who has been creating pantos for more than 30 years. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

BLITHE SPIRIT (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, December 9-January 23)

NOEL Coward’s glorious supernatural comedy comes to the Exchange with a cast headed by Suranne Jones. When Charles Condomine and his wife Ruth hire the services of eccentric Madame Arcati, they don’t realise they are in for an evening of high spirits - especially with the madcap mystic accidentally brings Charles’ ex-wife Elvira back from the beyond. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, December 9-31)

ROBERT Perkins returns with his successful one-man version of Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas story, bringing to life a host of familiar characters including the infamous Scrooge. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

DICK WHITTINGTON (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, December 10-January 10)

JOIN Dick Whittington on his fun-filled quest for fame and fortune in this traditional family panto starring Jonathan Wilkes, Christian Patterson and Steven Serlin. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

THE GOLDEN PATHWAY ANNUAL (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, February 16-19)

PUPILS from Theatretrain schools in Chester and Wrexham present a play by John Harding and John Burrows that is a series of connected sketches following the life of Michael Peters from the age of 2-23. It is a nostalgic look back at the period from the end of the Second World War to the 1960s but it is also much more than that. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

GRIMM TALES (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, December 5-January 23)

THE Brothers Grimm’s dark and spooky stories have been brought to life on stage by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy in this new Library Theatre Company production which promises to provide a feast of physical, musical and mythical theatre. Suitable for ages six and upwards. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

KAFKA’S DICK (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, January 8-10)

AN AMATEUR production of Alan Bennett’s fast-paced comedy. In Prague 1919, Franz Kafka is a dying man and his best friend Max Brod promises to burn all his unpublished works after his death. In present day suburban England, a married couple is astonished when Max turns up on their doorstep - swiftly followed by Kafka himself! Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

THE ORIENTATIONS TRILOGY (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, February 17-27)

RE-ORIENTATIONS is the third part of ground-breaking theatre company Border Crossings’ trilogy and is a visually stunning feast, tackling issues of gender, sexuality and performance in mythic and contemporary Asia. The trilogy is produced in association with the all-male company Yaksha Degula from Bangalore in India. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

OUR DAY OUT (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, January 21-30)

AN AMATEUR production of Willy Russell’s hilarious but moving story of a bunch of under-privileged school children taken on a day out to Conwy Castle by their teachers. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN (Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, January 27-February 20 2010)

LORRAINE Hansberry’s play was the first written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, winning the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for best play of 1959. Lena’s life on Chicago’s Southside has always been about staying alive with “a pinch of dignity”. Now the insurance money from her husband’s death is coming through, her family sees the chance to make their dreams come true. But when those dreams conflict, it becomes harder than ever to retain that dignity. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

RE:PLAY FESTIVAL 2010 (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, January 26-February 6)

FIRMLY established as the primary platform for theatre companies to present the best productions first seen in smaller venues in manchester and Salford to a wider audience. Details of the programme will be available on the Library website. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, December 7-12)

THE legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical by Richard O’Brien returns to the stage with the usual assortment of outrageous characters led by Frank n Furter and also featuring the hapless Brad and Jent, rippling Rocky and vivacious Magenta. Hit numbers include Sweet Transvestite, Damn It Janet and, of course, The Time Warp. Ring 0844 847 2484 or visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

SALT (Royal Exchange Theatre Studio, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, February 3-20 2010)

WORLD premiere of Fiona Peek’s sparkling and seductive play, one of four winners of the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition. Though Amy and Simon have the money and children that life has so far denied Nick and Rachel, a friendship forged years ago remains constant. When they find the cash to enable their friends to hold on to their dreams, a simple act of charity brings everything bubbling to the surface. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Palace Theatre, Oxford Street, Manchester, December 14-January 16)

A REAL coup for the Palace Theatre sees Connie Fisher herself return to her role she sensationally made her own on national TV and the West End stage in this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. The production also features TV and stage star Michael Praed as Captain Von Trapp and, direct from the West End show, Maggie Preece as Mother Abbess. Ring 0844 847 2484 or visit www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk.

SPACESHIP ‘87 (Royal Exchange Theatre Studio, St Ann’s Square, Manchester, December 16-January 2)

1987: the year of shell suits, casio keyboards and the great storm. A little girl’s bedroom has been turned into a spaceship - a place to dream about astronauts, aliens and asteroids. But there is a storm raging, both through her family and outside, a storm which threatens to destroy everything. This is a flourescent voyage exploring the power of the imagination, accompanied by a classic 1980s soundtrack. Visit www.royalexchange.co.uk or ring 0161 833 9833.