‘Lights Up’ as theatre unveils new season
The Theatre Royal Bath has announced its programme for the year ahead as it plans to reopen in line with the Government’s roadmap.
With theatres being shut for over a year now, the Bath theatre is wasting no time and is planning a year filled with dramas, comedies, thrillers, musicals – and a Christmas panto.
They are calling the upcoming season Lights Up, which is the announcement made backstage by stage management indicating that the play is about to begin or resume.
Danny Moar, director of Theatre Royal Bath, said: “They are two words that have been uttered literally thousands of times in the long history of our theatre, and they seem particularly apt now as, with the extended interval of our closure nearly over, we prepare to invite audience members to take to their seats once again at the Theatre Royal Bath.
“I am delighted to be able to announce an exceptional range of shows for our Lights Up season, as we keenly anticipate the return of audiences to the Theatre Royal Bath. Staff are busy preparing to reopen our three auditoria once again and we are thrilled that the time has nearly arrived.”
Drama highlights in the season include a visit by Ralph Fiennes, in the
world premiere stage adaptation of TS Eliot’s masterpiece, Four Quartets.
Michael Frayn’s multi awardwinning Copenhagen will be coming to Bath, starring Philip Arditti, Haydn Gwynne and Malcolm Sinclair.
And David Mamet’s riveting Oleanna, starring Jonathan Slinger and Rosie Sheehy, returns to the Ustinov Studio before a West End run.
A Splinter of Ice, a new play by Ben Brown about the friendship between Graham Greene and Kim Philby starring Oliver Ford Davies and Stephen Boxer, and Ronald Harwood’s evocative portrait of backstage life, The Dresser, starring Julian Clary and Matthew Kelly, both join the line-up.
Thrillers range from Susan Hill’s hugely acclaimed ghost story, The Woman in Black, to Dan Brown’s exhilarating blockbuster The Da Vinci Code.
A wealth of comedy includes three equally hilarious productions from the UK’S favourite farceurs, Mischief – The Play That Goes Wrong, Groan Ups and Magic Goes Wrong, Noel Coward’s classic gem Private Lives, starring Nigel Havers and Patricia Hodge and a new stage version of the much-loved sitcom The Good Life.
The pizazz of the West End comes to Bath in the form of hit musicals Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and smash-hit musical about Henry VIII’S wives, SIX, returns after enjoying huge success on its first visit in 2020.
Traditional family pantomime returns for Christmas with Bath favourite Jon Monie starring in the best-loved pantomime of them all, Cinderella.
The Ustinov Studio is presenting a vibrant Visiting Company Season of comedy, dance and drama; The Egg theatre’s much-feted Egg Assembly presents an exciting range of summer schools, and students from Bath Theatre Academy showcase their work both onstage and online.
Those signed up to the Theatre Royal Bath’s two membership schemes can book in advance, with Associate Booking and Friends Booking open now.
General booking for all shows opens on Monday via the box office on 01225 448844 and online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk