Theatre Royal Bath
Main House
Animal Farm
From Tuesday 1st to Saturday 5th March, a powerful new staging of George Orwell’s classic satirical fable Animal Farm tours to the Theatre Royal, adapted and directed by Robert Icke (The Doctor, Hamlet, Mary Stuart, Oresteia), whose version of 1984 (co-adapted and directed with Duncan Macmillan) was a smash-hit in the West End and on Broadway.
Performed by a 14-strong ensemble cast, the production features 30 life-sized puppets designed and directed by Toby Olié, whose credits include War Horse, The Grinning Man and Goodnight Mister Tom. Design for the production is by fourtime Olivier Award-winner Bunny Christie.
The animals of Manor Farm drive out the farmer and run the farm themselves. A revolution. And then what? Then freedom. Every animal will be free. Then Old Major, the prize boar, calls the animals of Manor Farm together. He has had a strange dream of a better future…
Alan Titchmarsh
On Friday 4th March at noon, popular TV presenter and best-selling novelist Alan Titchmarsh visits Bath to talk about his new novel, The Gift.
For the setting of his new novel Alan returns to his native Yorkshire, bringing it to life with his personal memories.
The gentle, heart-warming and uplifting story about love and family life is full of beautiful nature writing about the majestic Yorkshire Dales.
Blood Brothers
Bill Kenwright’s legendary production of international smash hit musical Blood Brothers is set to visit the Theatre Royal from Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th March as it returns to the stage for a nationwide tour.
The much-loved musical stars Niki Evans, who returns to the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone, after first joining the show in London’s West End, and Sean Jones, who reprises the role of Mickey Johnstone, a part which he has previously made his own to critical acclaim.
Blood Brothers tells the captivating tale of twins separated at birth, who grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with tragic consequences.
The superb score includes the songs A Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.
Written by celebrated playwright Willy Russell (Educating Rita, Shirley Valentine), Blood Brothers has surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone.
Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
From Thursday 17th to Saturday 26th March, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical tours to the Theatre
Royal directed by Nikolai Foster, whose recent credits include acclaimed five-star productions of A Chorus Line and West Side Story.
Based on the story of Carole King’s remarkable rise from singer/songwriter to chart-topping music legend, this production will take audiences back to the heart of her landmark 1971 album Tapestry.
Featuring countless classics including You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman, Take Good Care of my Baby, You’ve Got a Friend, Up on the Roof, Locomotion and You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical is written by Douglas Mcgrath, with songs by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
The 19 strong company of actormusicians includes Molly-grace Cutler (The Worst Witch, Girls Don’t Play Guitars) as Carole King, Tom Milner (Holby City, Waterloo Road) as Gerry Goffin, and Seren Sandham-davies and Jos Slovick as husband and wife song-writing duo Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann.
The Homecoming
From Wednesday 30th March to Saturday 9th April, a new staging of Harold Pinter’s masterpiece The Homecoming starring Mathew Horne, Keith Allen and Geoffrey Lumb will be directed by Jamie Glover.
A modern classic, this bleakly funny exploration of family and relationships is widely regarded as Pinter’s finest work.
The Homecoming won four Tony Awards on Broadway in 1967 including Best Play. Produced by Theatre Royal Bath Productions, the new UK tour opens in Bath.
Teddy, a professor in an American university, returns to his childhood home accompanied by his wife, Ruth, to find his father, uncle and brothers still living there.
In the subsequent series of encounters, life becomes a barely camouflaged battle for power and sexual supremacy fought out with taut verbal brutality. Who will emerge victorious – the poised and elegant Ruth or her husband’s dysfunctional family?
Star of BBC’S Gavin & Stacey, Mathew Horne (Death in Paradise, Bad Education) plays the role of Lenny, Teddy’s enigmatic brother.
Versatile actor, comedian and musician Keith Allen (The Pembrokeshire Murders, Pinter 3 in the West End, Shallow Grave, The Comic Strip Presents…) plays the role of patriarch, Max, and RSC regular Geoffrey Lumb appears as Joey. Tickets for all performances are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk.
Ustinov Studio
Shoot/get Treasure/repeat Bath Spa Productions is set to stage Mark Ravenhill’s Shoot/get Treasure/repeat from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th March. Recommended for audiences over the age
of 14, this epic cycle of short plays explores the personal and political effect of war on modern life, questioning who or what is good, and challenging our humanity.
Each episode is inspired by iconic stories from across history giving a new perspective for our modern times as Ravenhill explores how the few have power over the many, and highlights the intensity of individual pain against a glimpsed vast narrative of conflict.
RICE
From Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th March, Actors Touring Company make a welcome visit to the Ustinov to perform RICE, a funny and thought-provoking play about a powerful - if unlikely – bond between two women as they navigate the complexities of their lives and the world at large.
Nisha is a young hotshot executive working for Golden Fields, Australia’s largest producer of rice, and determined to become the first female Indian CEO in Australia. Yvette, an older Chinese migrant, is the cleaner who sees to Nisha’s desk and has her own entrepreneurial ambitions.
Directed by ATC Artistic Director Matthew Xia, RICE explores migrants of different generations and the complex relationships they forge with their new home.
Black Is The Color Of My Voice Florence Odumosu (inset) stars in
Black Is The Color Of My Voice from Wednesday 30th March to Friday 1st April.
Described by The Times as a “moving portrayal of determination and survival”, the production is inspired by the life of Nina Simone and features many of her most iconic songs performed live by Florence.
Directed by Apphia Campbell, this internationally acclaimed show follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father.
She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
Tickets for all performances at the Ustinov Studio are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 and online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov.
The Egg
The Dark
From the book by Lemony Snicket, Peut-être Theatre merges vibrant physicality with live music to create
a captivating performance for the whole family in The Dark, on Saturday 5th March.
Ages 5 and over can join Laszlo on his journey to meet the dark living in the basement and find out why it will never bother him again.
The Dark is accessible for blind and visually impaired children, with integrated audio description and touch tours.
The Super Greedy Caterpillar
The Super Greedy Caterpillar promises a treat for ages 5 and over with toe tapping tunes to dance to, participation galore and lots of silly business.
Storywriter and teller Michael Loader, complete with fairy wings, presents a new Wild Words adventure for the little ecowarriors of tomorrow on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March.
Also packed with puppets and a 6 foot caterpillar that wants to eat the entire supermarket, expect glorious family theatre.
Underwater
The deep blue is calling in Underwater, the magical dance theatre show for little ones aged 0 to 2 years. Floating to The Egg from Thursday 17th to Saturday 19th March, this
gorgeous multi-sensory show is sure to engage your baby’s imagination.
A beautiful friendship is made when a ballerina meets an octopus beneath the waves, together they dance to a twinkling soundtrack.
Josephine
On Saturday 26th March, audiences are invited to meet the little girl from Missouri who broke the mould.
In this co-production by Holm and The Egg, Josephine follows the incredible story of Josephine Baker, performer, icon, campaigner and spy, who travels all the way from St Louis straight into the hearts of the world.
Set to a fabulous Harlem Renaissance-inspired score with Charleston dancing, this “toe-tapping show wise to the adage that you cannot enjoy the rhythm and ignore the blues” (The Guardian) is perfect for ages 8 and over.
How To Save The Planet Boundless Theatre introduce us to Lavisha, who has 99 problems but climate change ain’t one!
Join her on her journey as she asks, will posh people save the planet or can anyone join the fight?
Packed with fun, music and raw emotion, How To Save The Planet welcomes those aged 13 and over to The Egg on Tuesday 29th March to discover, what do you do when you can’t afford solar panels on your house?
Squidge
From Thursday 31st March to Saturday 2nd April, Squidge is a fun, immersive and interactive experience for children aged 3 to 8 years and their grown-ups.
Taking a light-hearted look at our sense of touch and how it influences our lives, this tale of friendship shows us how every one of us needs touch to make us feel alive!
Many delights and maybe even tickles are waiting to be discovered. Tickets for performances at The Egg are on sale at the Theatre Royal Box Office on 01225 448844, The Egg on 01225 823 409 and online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk/whats-on/
The Mission
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Next Stage Theatre Company are delighted to bring this 1962 modern classic by Edward Albee to The Mission Theatre with an in-the-round staging under the direction of the company’s artistic director Ann Ellison BEM.
George, a middle-aged professor in a small New-england college, and his wife, Martha, stumble home, drunk from a faculty party.
Martha announces, amidst general profanity, that she has invited a young couple - opportunistic new professor, Nick, and his shatteringly naïve bride, Honey - to stop by for a nightcap. As the drinks flow and inhibitions melt, it becomes clear that Martha is determined to seduce the young professor, but her husband couldn’t care less.
As the young couple are drawn into a traumatic night of dangerous fun and games it becomes apparent that underneath the edgy banter, which is crossfired between both couples, there lurks an undercurrent of tragedy and despair in the personal Hell that is George and Martha’s marriage.
Finally, the root of the couple’s inhuman bitterness towards one another is revealed, providing a stunning, almost unbearable climax that has shocked audiences for years.
Do not miss the chance to see this searing black comedy with Jane Lawson and Dominic O’connor taking the iconic roles of Martha and George and Georgi Bassil and Dan Darragh as Honey and Nick.. Monday 28th March - Saturday 2nd April. Tickets £15 (£13 concs). First 25 student tickets £5 Next Stage Box Office online www.missiontheatre. co.uk/tickets; email nextstagebath@ aol.com; phone 01225 428600.
Cult Figure: Kenneth Williams Kenneth Williams was one of the most unique and beloved figures in British comedy history.
From show-stealing performances on the radio in Hancock’s Half Hour and Round the Horne and over 20 years of starring in the Carry On films, to becoming the darling of the chat shows, Williams was a rare talent who could turn from broad slapstick to erudite wit in a split second.
Celebrated actor and impressionist Colin Elmer, who played Kenneth Williams in the UK tours of Round the Horne and Hancock’s Half Hour, reprises his role in this new production, telling the great man’s story in his own words, using anecdotes, writings and some of the material for which the comedy legend was so well-known.
Apollo Theatre Company presents the show directed by Tim Astley.
Wednesday March 2nd 7.30pm Tickets £14. www.seaty.co.uk/cultfigure.
Blood Wedding
A bride promised. A blood vow broken. The vengeance of a village unleashed.
Passions and traditions collide with unstoppable consequences as the mysteries of love and hate are explored against the backdrop of a community gearing up to unleash these elemental forces upon itself. What’s done cannot be undone.
Written by by Federico García Lorca in the summer of 1932, his original Blood Wedding foreshadows the violence that would soon both tear his beloved country apart, and lead to his own tragic end.
Bath University Student Theatre presents with the show translation by Richard O’connell and James Graham-lujan. Recommended for audiences of 12+
Thursday 10th - Saturday 12th March 7.30pm. Tickets £8 (£5 concs) at www. thesubath.com/bust.
Burdall’s Yard
Four Minutes Twelve Seconds Yes this is an edgy play. Yes it contains strong language. Yes it deals with adult themes. Yes it is uncomfortable and challenging. And YES everyone should see it.
Why? Because this play by James Fritz is a deeply provocative and topical drama.
At 17 years old, and about to sit the exams that will hopefully send him off to a good university, Jack seems to have it made.
But all that is set to change when he comes home one day with his shirt covered in blood. We soon find out who is responsible and why they’ve done this – a suggestive video of Jack and his girlfriend Cara has appeared online.
Only she’s not his girlfriend any more, and it looks like Jack has been trying to get even with her, so her family are after him.
Of course, it is nowhere near that simple, as Jack’s parents, Di and David, discover when they battle through general disbelief, parental protectiveness and liberal do-goodism. As one shocking revelation follows another, certainty evaporates and audiences are left reeling.
Whether a teenager, a student, a parent or a grandparent, you should see Four Minutes Twelve Seconds a play in which there are no winners and no simple answers, but questions that will have you talking and thinking long after you have left the theatre.
This play presented by Next Stage Theatre Company contains strong language and adult themes. Recommended audience age 16+. Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th March, 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (£13 concs). www. missiontheatre.co.uk/burdalls-yard.
The Clones
Imagine the best pub jukebox - your favourite song, then that song you forgot you love, banger after banger. That’s The Clones - a 4 piece band from Corsham.
With a strong following across Wiltshire, they’re bringing the party to Bath. They stitch a line from indie rock through classics to some proper outliers and always with as much life and fire as the original artists. Experience real music in a real live venue - it’s been a long wait, and Matt, Matt, Steve and Steve promise a night to remember! Profits from ticket sales donated to Bath Mind. Fully licensed bar.
Saturday 19th March, 8pm-10.30pm. Tickets £5. www.brownpapertickets. com/event/5366255.
Stand Up Judge and Jury
Are you looking for a new comedy night? Fast, Fresh and Dirty Comedy presents Stand Up Judge and Jury, the South West’s newest stand up competition.
Emerging comedians from all over the region compete head-tohead in front of a live audience. The winner will be crowned by the audience. Who wins? You decide!
So if you want to see some fresh talent before they hit it big then this is the place for you. The evening will be headlined by popular sing-a long comedienne Wobbie Wobbit (inset above)!
So come along to Burdall’s Yard on Thursday 31st March, and support your local comics as well as discover some great new acts.
Thursday 31st March, 8pm. Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm show. www. burdallsyard.co.uk/whatson/standup-judge-and-jury.
Making Ideas Visible
An art exhibition by Brian Elwell, a professional painter based in Bath and the recently appointed gallery director at Burdall’s Yard. The exhibition features a selection of paintings (inset) based on Brian’s interests in psychology, religion and regeneration. For viewing times visit www.burdallsyard.co.uk. Throughout March. Free entry. www. burdallsyard.co.uk/whatson/makingideas-visible.