Theatres - Coming Soon - January 28 onwards

Jan 26 2010 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

COMING SOON

ANDERSEN’S ENGLISH (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, March 2-6)

OUT of Joint have put together a top notch cast for Sebastian Barry’s haunting new play, directed by Max Stafford-Clark, including Niamh Cusack and David Rintoul. Celebrated children’s writer Hans Christian Andersen arives, unannounced, for a stay at Gad’s Hill Place in the Kent marshes - home to Charles Dickens and his charismatic family. It seems to be a scene of domestic bliss but Andersen doesn’t at first see the storms brewing within the family. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

ARDEN OF FAVERSHAM (Emlyn Williams Theatre, Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, February 11-March 6)

AN ELIZABETHAN drama by an anonymous author based on a true story in which desire, envy and greed inexorably lead to death. The play, directed by Terry Hands, is an early example of Elizabethan tragi-comedy. Visit www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or ring 0845 330 3565.

CALENDAR GIRLS (The Lowry, Salford Quays, February 9-20)

FOLLOWING two sell-out weeks at The Lowry, Calendar Girls has become the fastest selling tour ever and has triumphed in the West End. Now it’s back for one final season starring Lynda Bellingham, Gemma Atkinson, Judith Barker, Letitia Dean, Jan Harvey and Hannah Waterman. A group of ordinary women do something extraordinary and spark a global phenomenon when they persuade one another to pose for a charity calendar with a difference! Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

DANCING IN THE STREETS (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, February 8-13)

A CELEBRATION of 50 years of Motown with a company that dynamically recreates the energy, style and music of the stars of the Motown stable including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, The Four Topes and The Temptations. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, June 28-July 3)

THE Chester Little Theatre season comes to a close with this classic George Bernard Shaw play. Set in colonial America during the revolutionary era, it tells the story of Richard Dudgeon, a local outcast and self-proclaimed “Devil’s Disciple”. In a twist, Dudgeon sacrifices himself in a Christ-like gesture despite his professed infernal allegiance. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

DIE FLEDERMAUS (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, February 8-9)

ONE of the world's most famous operettas gets a glittering new look from the country's best small-scale opera and operetta company. Opera della Luna have earned themselves a matchless reputation. They now turn their hand to the waltz king Johann Strauss and this most sparkling of scores. This entirely new and saucy production is directed by Jeff Clarke. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

A DOLL’S HOUSE (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, May 10-15)

THE Chester company present Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, his first to create a sensation and now perhaps his most famous work. The play is an important piece from the naturalist mivement, in a departure from previous forms. It is often referred to as the first “feminist” play. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

THE DREADFUL HOURS (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, February 11-13)

COMBINING Tmesis Theatre’s trademark physicality with new writing from acclaimed North West playwright Chris Fittock, this is a darkly comic drama exploring the quiet disintegration of love’s first flourish through the lifetime of one couple’s relationship. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

THE EVENT (Axis Arts Centre, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, February 11)

THE man stands in a pool of light on the stage. He is an actor. We know this because he tells us so. He appears to be intelligent but this might just be clever direction. This deceptively simple piece of theatre is presented by Absurdum International, written and directed by John Clancy and performed by David Calvitto. Visit www.axisartscentre.org.uk or ring 0161 247 5302.

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.

GOOD WILL (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, April 23-25)

IN A local government office, one woman searches for the courage to keep her dignity and finally voices the truth. Card-maker Margaret Gallagher is a lonely widow who is cajoled into teaching by Clare, a newly promoted manager at the local authority. Margaret is needed to cover a staff shortage but is unaware of a pending inspection set to shape the future of the service. This thrilling drama by Paul Kelly is a story of exploitation, betrayal and integrity. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 2 (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, March 8-13)

THE first film was turned into a stage musical that was so successful, its sequel has now received the same treatment. All the much-loved characters from the film series make a welcome return and the soundtrack features songs such as What Time Is It and You Are The Music In Me. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

HOLD TIGHT IT’S 60S NIGHT (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, March 18-27)

CINDERELLA revisited with the beehives, the minis, Dusty, Cilla and much more. Suburban England in the middle of the Swinging Sixties. Downtrodden teenager Ruby dreams of meeting her handsome prince, falls asleep and is suddenly whisked away to the arms of Rock Hard at the Plastic Palais de Dance. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

HOOF! AND HOOF JNR! (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, February 19-20)

OVER the last six years, Spike Theatre have ensured this cult impro show has established itself as a unique live event. A bare stage transforms into a visual, verbal and musical feast as four performers and a musician catapult the audience into a totally improvised world. And for younger viewers there is Hoof Jnr!, a totally improvised fairytale where the audience decides everything from its title to who are the heroes and villains. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES (Library Theatre, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, February 11-27)

TOUCHING, poignant and typically funny Neil Simon comedy drama. Hollywood screenwriter Herbert Tucker is down on his luck. Struggling with writer’s block, his career is on the skids. One day, his daughter Libby, an aspiring New York actress he abandoned nearly 20 years ago, turns up unannounced at his door. Visit www.librarytheatre.com or ring 0161 236 7110.

MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE (Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, February 15-20)

BOURNE’S triumphant modern re-interpretation of Swan Lake turned tradition ulside down when it was premiered in 1995. Now it is firmly crowned as a modern day classic, blending dance, humour and spectacle with extravagant, award-winning designs. Visit www.ambassadortickets.com/stoke or ring 0844 871 7649.

MEDEA (Everyman Theatre, Hope Street, Liverpool, February 23-27)

THE acclaimed Northern Broadsides company returns with their highly charged performance and charismatic cast of actors who take on the Euripedes classic in a new version by Tom Paulin. Alone and betrayed by a husband she sacrificed everything for, Medea unleashes a horrifying vengeance on her enemies, making both assassins and victims of her children. Visit www.everymanplayhouse.com or ring 0151 709 4776.

NODDY IN TOYLAND (Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, February 15-16)

JOIN Noddy and Tessie Bear’s sing-a-long, dance-a-long party to which everyone is invoted - apart from those two naughty goblins Sly and Gobbo. Noddy will keep an eye on those two and knows exactly how to stay one step ahead of their games. With Mr Plod, Whiz the Robot, Bumpy Dog, Car and, of course, Big Ears, this is a fun-filled 60th anniversary adventure. Visit www.liverpoolempire.org.uk or ring 0844 847 2525.

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.

PRIVATE FEARS IN PUBLIC PLACES (Little Theatre, Gloucester Street, Newtown, Chester, March 8-13)

THE most contemporary offering of the latest Chester Little Theatre season is this 2004 Alan Ayckbourn play. It intimately follows a few days in the lives of six characters in four tightly woven stories through 54 scenes. Visit www.chestertheatreclub.co.uk or ring 01244 322674.

SCATTERED (The Lowry, Salford Quays, February 9-10)

COMBINING highly physical dance theatre with mesmerising aerial imagery and film, Scattered - presented by Motionouse - uses projection technology, daring dancing plus aerial harnesses and bungees to create an extraordinary world in which the dancers move seamlessly in, on and through the image. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

TO BREAK A MAN (The Lowry, Salford Quays, February 11)

FLORA is a disturbed young woman with an unbearable insight into the human predicament. Harry is an ordinary man caught between doing the right thing and doing what is best for everyone. Tonight he must choose whether to save his daughter...by losing her. Sometimes, you have to make a decision which will change your life. Sometimes, whatever you choose, you lose. Tonight the audience and chance will decide how the story will be told in this Tarry Theatre presentation. Visit www.thelowry.com or ring 0870 111 2000.

UP ‘N’ UNDER (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, May 8-15)

JOHN Godber’s classic rugby-playing comedy. The Cobblers Arms have been the best and most feared amateur rugby league team for the past 10 years. But then ex-pro Arthur bets their boss that he could train a bunch of deadbeats to defeat them in a local rugby sevens tournament. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.

THE WOMAN WHO COOKED HER HUSBAND (Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester, April 9-11)

FOOD for thought from playwright Debbie Isitt for any man with an appetite for adultery. Hilary is a housewife with all the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping her home shipshape. the only problem is husband Kennth takes his dinner and clean clothes for granted. Then Kenneth decides to have an affair with a younger woman who can’t cook to save her life. Visit www.tiptopproductions.co.uk or ring 01244 341296.