Theatre round-up
Mission Theatre
Plenty by David Hare
In it’s 25th birthday year Next Stage celebrates its 20 year association with patron Sir David Hare (inset below) by staging a production of the playwright’s 1975 classic Plenty.
Full of passion, contrast and cutting humour, Plenty is still widely regarded as one of Hare’s best plays. Its themes of political chaos, betrayal, moral outrage and a country searching for a new identity could not be more topical.
The play, directed by Alison Paine, spans the period from 1943 to 1962, and tells the story of one brave, fiercely intelligent English girl, Susan Traherne.
As she moves from the idealism and intensity of life as a resistance courier in Nazi-occupied France, into a post-war life of dissent and disillusion, Susan expresses Hare’s own scathing, satirical judgement on the behaviour of the British Establishment after World War II.
The play contains strong language and scenes of an adult nature.
Plenty runs from Tuesday to Saturday, March 26 to 30, at 7.30pm. Matinee at 2pm on Saturday 30th. Tickets: £12.50 (£10.50 concs). Students/ job-seekers £5. ‘Pay What it’s Worth’ Saturday matinee. Tickets available at www.missiontheatre.co.uk/tickets, 01225 428600 or email nextstagebath@aol.com. The Magic of the Music Hall This March The Mission brings an exciting range of entertainment from contemporary dance to music hall singalongs showcasing a diverse range of local talent.
Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society presents The Magic of the Music Hall from Friday 1st to Saturday 2nd March at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2pm on the Saturday.
Back in 2017, Bath G&S wowed audiences with their Old Time Music Hall show, and returns to provide another tantalising tribute to the great British institution – an institution which evolved after WWI with increasing emphasis on variety and the arrival of new stars including Flanagan and Allen, Gracie Fields, Arthur Askey and Tommy Trinder.
With consummate competence, of course, our Chair will guide the audience through proceedings and raucous renditions are guaranteed such as: “My Old Man”, “Knees up Mother Brown” and “Daisy, Daisy”.
Tickets, at £11, are available from the Bath G&S Ticket Secretary on 01225 400295 or the Bath Box Office: 01225 463362, www.bathboxoffice.org.uk. BAMSA Night: In Two Minds Bath Area Malaysian Students Association presents BAMSA Night: In Two Minds by Matthew Chung and Samantha Lim from Friday 8th to Saturday 9th March at 7.30pm Andi is without a doubt the best detective in Malaysia. Her reasoning is flawless, and her perfect record has turned her into a legend among those in the Royal Malaysian Police.
As she prepares to take on the biggest case of her life, her godson Ethan is on the other side of the world finishing up his summer exams at the University of Bath.
After a wild year of new experiences and adventures, he can’t wait to go back home! However, when Andi’s case takes an unexpected turn, home might not be as Ethan imagined...
Tickets at £8 (£35 group ticket - 5 tickets) are available from www.thesubath.com/bamsa. Treasure
Forged Line Dance Company presents Treasure directed by Emily Brown from Monday to Tuesday, March 11 to 12, at 7.30pm - plus a dance workshop from 3 to 5pm on Tuesday 12th.
This fearless and physical contemporary dance work delves deep into our past, exploring our innate and powerful relationship with the sea. Marine fossils transport us to a distant world of prehistoric sea creatures, fighting for survival in a strange and volatile environment.
Human curiosity leads us to collect these ancient and fragile fossils, keeping their stories safe for the future. But are they keepsakes, reflections of our own memories, or a warning for what lies ahead?
On March 12th join Forged Line Dance Company for a creative dance workshop based on Treasure (16+, recommended for intermediate/advanced dancers).
Tickets, at £10 (£8 concs), are available at Bath Box Office - 01225 463362, www.bathboxoffice.org.uk 2019 Mid-somerset Speech and Drama Festival Events Enjoy outstanding performances celebrating the very best of young talent in the region from Wednesday to Friday, March 13 to 15.
Now in its 118th year, the Midsomerset Festival has given generations of young performers the opportunity to build confidence and to develop their skills in the creative arts in competitive events.
Further information and a detailed timetable will be available in the official MSDF programme.
Tickets at £3 will be available on the door (school-age children free). Masters of puppetry
Award winning puppeteers and actors Box Tale Soup return to The Mission on Saturday, March 16, at 2pm and 7.30pm, presenting Henry James’ chilling The Turn of the Screw.
At an isolated estate, a young governess arrives. Before long she fears there is something darker in the depths of Bly House, and battles to save the children in her charge from the mysterious figures who seek to corrupt them.
This new adaptation of James’ disturbing story features a haunting original soundtrack.
Tickets at £12.50 (£10.50 concs) are available from Next Stage Box Office: 01225 428600, www.missiontheatre/co.uk/tickets.
The egg
How To Catch A Star
Oliver Jeffers’ beloved children’s book, How To Catch A Star, is brought to life in a gorgeous puppet production.
Based on the story of a boy who dreams of having a star for a friend, this non-verbal adaptation combines beautiful puppetry and a magical original score, creating a show that reminds us all to follow our dreams. (Saturday to Sunday, March 16 to 24, ages 4+). Muckers
This funny, magical production tells the story of Paloma and Pijon, who run wild, dress up like tigers, flamenco dancers, queens, kings, rabbits and Lady Gaga.
All of a sudden, Paloma comes face to face with a blinding light named Big Luce, and Paloma and Pijon are catapulted into a strange new world.
Created by award-winning theatre maker Caroline Horton, Muckers is a mischievous show, filled with original songs and tapas-sized portions of Spanish. (Thursday, February 28 to Sunday March 3, ages 5+). Little Gift egg favourites M6 Theatre return to Bath with Little Gift, combining exquisite puppetry, original music and lots of heart to send a gentle message about the power of kindness.
An old soul is happy living alone, it’s quiet and safe. One day, a surprise visitor plants a little seed of hope and turns this lonely life upside down. (Friday to Monday, March 8 to 11, ages 3 - 7). Kaleidescope
There’s theatre for babies and toddlers at the end of March, when Filskit Theatre presents Kaleidescope.
A unique blend of gentle, playful performance, sound and lighting
helps babies and grown-ups to discover the magic of a multi-coloured world. (Thursday to Sunday, March 28 to 31, ages 6 to 18 months). Tickets for all productions are on sale from the egg reception on 01225 823409, the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk.
The Ustinov
Blue Door
This is a widely acclaimed and powerful drama about an African American professor of mathematics confronted with three generations of his ancestors in a visitation one night. Running until Saturday, March 9, it features staggering performances from Ray Fearon (Fleabag, Silent Witness, Othello) and Fehinti Balogun (Informer).
The Daily Mail describes it as “moving, thoughtful, humorous and spellbinding”, while the Bath Chronicle called it “blistering, superb, full of passion and energy”. The Omission Of The Family Coleman
In the UK premiere of this absurd comedy by Argentinian writer Claudio Tolcachir, three generations of the dysfunctional Coleman family are living under one roof on the verge of chaos, held in check by their matriarchal grandmother.
But how will the family cope when their lynchpin is removed? The comedy has been a huge global hit, winning a number of prestigious international awards.
This new version by award-winning writer Stella Feehily and directed by Laurence Boswell has a cast of eight which includes Evanna Lynch, who starred as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, and Rowan Polonski, known for Kingsman and Doctor Who, and who was last in Bath in Shakespeare in Love.
Runs from Thursday, March 28 to Saturday, April 27. Unmythable
An anarchic story of legendary heroes, psychotic dragons and randy gods going head-to-head in a hilarious and unforgettable journey.
This hilarious blend of comedy, cross-dressing, stories and songs returns to the UK after a sell-out European tour and an award-winning Edinburgh Fringe run. (Wednesday, March 13, limited availability)
Tickets for all productions are on sale now from the Box Office on 01225 448844 or online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov.
Main House
Rebus: Long Shadows
Written exclusively for the stage by the author of the original novels, Ian Rankin, and award-winning playwright Rona Munro, this production runs from Monday to Saturday, March 4 to 9.
The Rebus novels have dominated the detective fiction market with the ensuing television series ensuring the detective’s legendary status. Now, Ian Rankin’s beloved creation is brought to the stage for the first time.
Detective Inspector Rebus is retired but the shadows of his former life still follow him through the streets of Edinburgh.
Whisky helped, but now he’s denying himself that pleasure. When the daughter of a murder victim appears outside his flat, he’s back on the case and off the wagon.
Ron Donachie, who stars as John Rebus, created the title role in all the BBC Radio dramatisations of the Rebus novels. Amongst his many television credits, he played Deputy Chief Inspector Gunner in the Rebus TV series and Ser Rodrik Cassel in Game of Thrones.
The cast also features Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated actress Cathy Tyson (Mona Lisa, Band Of Gold, Gold ), John Stahl (Game of Thrones, Victoria and Abdul), Neil Mckinven (Strathblair, The Vet, Silent Witness) with Dani Heron and Eleanor House, directed by Robin Lefevre. Stones in his Pockets
Marie Jones’s wonderful comedy has won numerous awards as well as three Tony nominations on Broadway.
It ran for four years in the West End and has delighted audiences around the world. Now it returns to the Theatre Royal for the first time in 10 years when it runs from Monday to Saturday, March 11 to 16. One of the UK’S greatest directors of comedy Lindsay Posner directs this thought-provoking and witty drama about the making of a historical blockbuster by a major Hollywood film studio in a small village in rural Ireland, as seen through the eyes of local extras Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn - played by Owen Sharpe and Kevin Trainor, who also play all the other characters. Glengarry Glen Ross
After its sell-out run in the West End, where it wowed critics and audiences alike, the first major revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross in over a decade tours to the Theatre Royal from Monday to Saturday, March 18 to 23, starring Mark Benton (Shakespeare & Hathaway, Waterloo Road, Land Girls, Early Doors, Barbara, Hairspray) and Nigel Harman (Eastenders, Downton Abbey, Hotel Babylon, Shrek The Musical) as salesmen Shelley ‘The Machine’ Levene and the ruthless Ricky Roma.
Lies. Greed. Corruption. It’s business as usual. An office of cut-throat Chicago salesmen are pitched in a high stakes competition against each other.
Four increasingly desperate employees will do anything, legal or otherwise, to sell the most real estate. As time and luck start to run out, the mantra is simple: close the deal and you’ve won a Cadillac; blow the lead and you’re fired. Ian Mckellen On Stage
Sir Ian Mckellen (inset below) is celebrating his 80th birthday this year by touring the UK with a new solo show. Ian Mckellen On Stage visits the Theatre Royal for one night only on Sunday, March 24.
All advance tickets have sold out. A limited number of standing places will go on sale from 6pm on the day of the performance from the Box Office counter. Caroline’s Kitchen
Direct from its hit London run, Caroline’s Kitchen runs from Monday to Saturday, March 25 to 30 starring Caroline Langrishe (Lovejoy, Judge John Deed, Sharpe, Casualty), Aden Gillett (The House of Eliott, Holby City, Ivanhoe), James Sutton (Hollyoaks, Emmerdale), Jasmyn Banks (Eastenders), Elizabeth Boag (Invincible) and Tom England (Death Trap).
Caroline Mortimer is the nation’s favourite TV cook. But when the camera turns off the truth comes out and when an unexpected guest disrupts a night of celebration there is more to spill than the wine…
This searing, sharp, state of the nation comedy is directed by Alastair Whatley (The Importance of Being Earnest, Birdsong). Tickets for all productions at the Theatre Royal Bath can be purchased from the Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.