Theatre Royal
Once
The multi award-winning musical Once is set to visit Bath making its South West premiere at the Theatre Royal from Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th March. Based on the muchloved Oscar-winning film, Once is an irresistibly joyous celebration of love, friendship and music.
In 2020 the musical tours the UK for the first time after previous acclaimed runs on Broadway and in the West End.
With music played live by the actors themselves, a script by awardwinning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, and music and lyrics by Academy Award-winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Falling Slowly, this extraordinary stage adaptation takes audiences right to the heart of the action in a rapturous production that dazzles with invention.
The cast is led by Daniel Healy as Guy and Emma Lucia as Girl, who reprise their roles after receiving plaudits when this production premiered in 2018.
Once was first seen as a cult Irish indie film in 2007, written and directed by John Carney. The musical premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway in 2012, where it was awarded the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Productions of Once have since opened all over the world, including a West End production in 2013 which received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
The Women Who Flew For Hitler
On Thursday 5th March the Theatre Royal welcomes award-winning biographer Clare Mulley as she talks about her fascinating new book The Women Who Flew For Hitler, the true story of Hitler’s Valkyries.
Telling the extraordinary tale of the only two female test pilots who served Nazi Germany, yet who ended up on opposite sides of history; the talk begins at 11am with an option to enjoy lunch afterwards.
Legally Blonde
From Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th March, Bath Operatic and Dramatic Society explode onto the main house stage as they present the upbeat, high energy musical Legally Blonde, directed by Steve Blackmore.
Bursting with memorable songs and dynamic dances, Legally Blonde is based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the smash hit 2001 movie; this stage version written by Heather Hach won three Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical, following its West End debut in 2011.
A social parody (in pink) Legally Blonde follows the transformation of California Girl, Elle Woods, as she tackles stereotypes, snobbery and scandal when she applies to Harvard Law School in pursuit of love. Equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, this musical is so much fun it shouldn’t be legal!
Band of Gold
A star-studded cast are bound for Bath in the world premiere stage production of Kay Mellor’s multi award-winning TV series Band of Gold from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st March.
The three iconic female lead roles will be played by Gaynor Faye (Emmerdale, Playing the Field, Calendar Girls), Laurie Brett (Eastenders, Waterloo Road, Deadwater Fell) and exciting newcomer Emma Osman. They will be joined by award-winning TV stars, Shayne Ward (Coronation Street, Rock of Ages, X Factor winner), Kieron Richardson (Hollyoaks, Heartbeat), Sacha Parkinson (Mr. Selfridge, The Mill) and Andrew Dunn (Dinnerladies, Coronation Street).
Band of Gold is the ground-breaking crime drama that captivated over 15 million viewers each week when it aired on ITV starring Geraldine James, Barbara Dickson and Cathy Tyson.
The stories revolved around a group of women – Carol, Rose, Anita and Gina. At times both heartbreaking and humorous, Band of Gold tells the story of how a young mother is drawn into the notorious red-light district. With a killer on the loose, it’s a battle to survive!
What’s In A Name?
From Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th March, Bath audiences can catch the first UK tour of the international hit comedy What’s In A Name? at the Theatre Royal, starring Joe Thomas (The Inbetweeners, Fresh Meat), Bo Poraj (Miranda, Musketeers), Louise Marwood (Emmerdale) and Alex Gaumond (Company, Matilda).
This comic masterpiece is adapted by British theatre director, writer and translator Jeremy Sams from the award-winning French film and stage show Le Prénom.
What’s In A Name? hilariously captures a particularly awkward family gathering. Father-to-be Vincent and his partner Anna are invited to dinner by his sister Elizabeth and her husband, Peter.
They are joined by childhood friend Carl for a mature and sophisticated evening. The meal is lovingly prepared, and wine carefully selected. The friends are prepared for the usual humorous exchanges they’ve come to expect.
But tonight, a startling revelation about the name chosen for Vincent’s and Anna’s expected child becomes the catalyst for a destructive argument which spirals hysterically out of control. Tonight no one is holding back! Egos, childish resentment and unspoken feelings are relentlessly and hilariously exposed.
This witty and razor-sharp production has played over thirty countries and now makes its first visit to Bath where the scene is set for a riotously funny evening that questions whether a person’s name truly reflects who they.
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story At the end of the month, the West End smash hit musical Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story makes a welcome return to the Theatre Royal for the first time in 17 years as part of its landmark 30th Anniversary Tour.
Visiting Bath from Monday 30th March to Saturday 4th April, this sensational multi award-winning show opened in 1989 and has been thrilling audiences worldwide.
Full of drama, passion and excitement, a cast of phenomenally talented actors and musicians tell Buddy Holly’s story, from his meteoric rise to fame, to his final legendary performance at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.
Featuring two terrific hours of the greatest songs ever written, including That’ll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Rave
On, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, Johnny B. Goode, Raining In My Heart, Everyday, Shout and many more, this show is Peggy Sue-perb! 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