Classic drama, First World War commemorations and rock ‘n’ roll panto are just a few of the elements that make up an autumn season of immense variety at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold.

And the line-up’s artistic vision will be led by three inspirational directorial talents who have played such a crucial part in the recent successful history of the acclaimed venue - Emma Lucia, Tim Baker and Peter Rowe.

Emma Lucia will direct a new production of Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen to open the autumn season.

Theatre director Emma Lucia
Theatre director Emma Lucia

Lucia follows her successful productions of Copenhagen by Michael Frayn and Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man last season with Ibsen’s masterpiece, which was written in 1881 but banned from the British stage until 1914.

Ghosts is a drama which powerfully exposes family secrets, social hypocrisy and hidden passions.

Mrs Alving is preparing for the opening of an orphanage, dedicated to the memory of her late husband. Her son Oswald, a struggling artist, returns home for the occasion but his presence triggers ghosts of the past returning to haunt the present.

Ghosts can be seen in the Emlyn Williams Theatre from Thursday, September 25– Saturday, October 18, and will be staged in a version by Mike Poulton, designed by Simon Kenny with music by Colin Towns.

In the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Peter Rowe will direct Somewhere in England, a new play by Mike James, from Thursday, October 16– Saturday, November 8.

In the summer of 1941 the BBC was forced to evacuate radio production from London to Bangor, pretending to the nation that they were still ‘somewhere in England’.

Mike James’ new take on this true story is an affectionate tribute to the heyday of radio comedy, featuring comedians of the day including Tommy Handley and Arthur Askey, the defiant wartime spirit and also a touching love story. Somewhere In England is designed by Judith Croft.

Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey

Tim Baker, Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s associate director, directs Not About Heroes by Stephen MacDonald, the story of the friendship between two of the finest Great War poets, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon.

Director Tim Baker in rehearsal at Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Director Tim Baker in rehearsal at Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Owen was killed just one week before the Armistice in November 1918 and the play tells of his journey to become a poet destined for posthumous greatness.

Staged to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, and the winner of a Fringe First accolade at Edinburgh, Not About Heroes is designed by Mark Bailey and can be seen in the Emlyn Williams Theatre, from Thursday, November 6 – Saturday, November 29.

This year’s Christmas pantomime is Jack and the Beanstalk – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, written and directed by Peter Rowe with design by Judith Croft, in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre from Friday, November 28 – Saturday, January 24.

Rock 'n' roll panto returns to Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Rock 'n' roll panto returns to Clwyd Theatr Cymru

Jack and the Beanstalk is a potent mix of traditional panto laced with a string of smash hits - more than 20 rock ’n’ roll and soul favourites including Mercy, Reach Out I’ll Be There and Hit The Road Jack – played live by a multi-talented cast of actor/musicians.

Highlights for children include Sky Hawk, a musical adaptation of the best-selling children’s book by Gill Lewis, presented by Clwyd Theatr Cymru Theatre For Young People.

The touching story of how protecting a rare bird forges a special friendship, this edge of your seat adventure takes audiences on a journey that stretches from Wales to Africa. Sky Hawk is adapted and directed by Tim Baker in Studio 2, from Tuesday, September 23 – Saturday, October 4.

The production will then tour to Swansea Grand Theatre, The Gate Cardiff, Lyric Theatre Belfast, Stiwt Wrexham, Venue Cymru Llandudno, Theatr Brycheiniog Brecon and Ffwrnes Llanelli.

For younger children, the season also includes the hit musical stage adaptation of The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, from Tuesday, September 30– Saturday, October 4.

For 3–5 year olds, Oily Cart’s new show There Was An Old Woman Who features a live musician, plenty of puppets and all sorts of shoes, in the Emlyn Williams Theatre, from Tuesday, January 20–Saturday, January 31.

The family musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat comes to the Anthony Hopkins Theatre from Tuesday, November 11 – Saturday, November 15. X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels is Joseph in this, the UK’s longest-running musical. Joining him is Danielle Hope, winner of the BBC’s Over The Rainbow, playing the Narrator.

The first touring production this season is the international smash-hit musical Blood Brothers which comes to the Anthony Hopkins Theatre from Monday, September 8 – Saturday, September 13.

Written by Willy Russell, it is the captivating story of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks only to meet again with fateful consequences. The superb score includes the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

Casting for Blood Brothers includes Maureen Nolan as Mrs Johnstone, a role she has previously played during the production’s epic West End run.

Other visiting drama highlights include JB Priestley’s Dangerous Corner, a thriller of sex, secrets and lies, in the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, Monday, September 15 – Saturday, September 20. The cast includes Michael Praed, Colin Buchanan and Lauren Drummond from Cheshire, well known as a series regular in BBC TV’s Waterloo Road and Holby City.

The West End hit Eric and Little Ern, a brilliant comedy that re-creates the all-ages appeal of Morecambe and Wise in their heyday, returns to the Anthony Hopkins Theatre, from Wednesday, October 1–Saturday, October 4.

In September visiting one man shows include Simon Callow in The Man Jesus, Facing the Music: A Life in Musical Theatre with Patricia Routledge, Iolo Williams in Welsh Rarebit and Just So with Robert Powell.

The Clwyd Theatr Cymru Celebrity Classical Concert Season combines some of the brightest young British musicians with established international stars in a high-quality season.

It begins with the leading pianist of his generation, John Lill, on Sunday, September 14, followed by the award-winning Solem Quartet on Sunday, October 26 and the brilliant young German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich on Thursday, November 16.

The series continues in the New Year with the Vienna Piano Trio on Sunday, January 25, the dazzling Welsh pianist Llyr Williams in recital on Sunday, March 15, Sinfonia Cymru, the national chamber orchestra of Wales, on Sunday, March 29, Britain’s best young violinist Jennifer Pike on Sunday, April 19 and the internationally renowned Aronowitz Ensemble on Sunday, May 31.

Details of all events, including an extensive autumn film programme, the latest information on production casting and up-to-the-minute programme updates, are available from the theatre’s web site www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk . All autumn events are booking now through the box office on 0845 330 3565 or online.