Curtain-raisers for new season
A spring and early summer season of events has been announced by Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre.
As well as five Stephen Joseph Theatre productions between June and October, the theatre will host a packed programme of comedies, dramas, music and magic from visiting companies from April to late May, plus its own line-up of supporting events through the main summer season. They include:
Mr Darcy Loses the Plot: a celebration of Jane Austen from the award-winning comedy duo LipService Theatre, Thursday April 13 to Saturday April 15.
Noel and Gertie: Matthew Townshend Productions’ adaptation of Sheridan Morley’s play about the friendship between Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence, Wednesday April 19 and Thursday April 20.
Morgan and West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids (and Childish Grown-ups) and Morgan and West Parlour Tricks: two shows from the time-travelling magicians, Friday April 21.
Ensemble 360: a Music in the Round event featuring the music of Glazunov, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, Thursday April 27.
Village Records Showcase with Tom Townsend: a concert by Village Records artists headed by the popular local musician, Friday May 5.
Home: Frozen Light’s magical show immerses audiences with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities in a multi-sensory story of discover, Friday May 12.
Second Stage: professional and emerging talent bring six new plays performed as script-in-hand readings in three performance spaces all in one day, Tuesday May 16.
Yorkshire Silent Film Festival: Alfred Hitchcock’s 1929 Blackmail, Wednesday May 17; Buster Keaton’s 1924 Sherlock Jr, Thursday May 18 and Frank Urson’s 1927 Chicago, Thursday May 18.
Stand Up Stand Up: Theatre Royal Wakefield and the Jim Cartwright Company bring Jim’s new play to the Round, Thursday May 18 to Saturday, May 20.
Tiny Time Music Gigs: favourite bands perform in the morning so the smallest members of the family can come along, Saturday May 20, Saturday June 24.
Exploring Digital Futures: a two-day event of inspiring and informative talks, discussions and networking around Augmented and Virtual Reality, Friday May 26 and Saturday May 27.
Stuff: playful, funny, sad and familiar – a physical absurdist show about love, performed by Sean Kempton, lead clown for Cirque du Soleil, Wednesday May 31.
Grimm’s Tales: Our youth theatre groups Rounders United perform Carol Ann Duffy and Tim Supple’s scary campfire tales, Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3.
Play readings: works by up-and-coming playwrights read by actors from the summer season shows – Caterpillar by Alison Carr, Monday July 3; Build a Rocket by Christopher York and The Space Between by Jackie Daly (double bill, Wednesday July 19 ; False Flag by Rex Obano, Wednesday July 26 and Revival by Anthony Frew, Thursday September 21.
The Tales of Tipsy Willow Tree: the usual Saturday morning Tiny Time Tales fun and nonsense, with plenty of joining-in, Saturday July 22 and Saturday July 29; Saturday August 5, 12, 19 and 26.
Young People’s Summer School: something different challenging and exciting for the summer holidays – two classes for nien to 12-yearolds and 13 to 19-year-olds, Monday July 31 to Saturday August 12.
The five Stephen Joseph Theatre productions in repertory this summer are:
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, written by Jim Cartwright, directed by Paul Robinson – Thursday June 15 to Saturday August 19.
Taking Steps, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn - Thursday July 13 to Thursday October 5
Di and Viv and Rose, written by Amelia Bullmore, directed by Lotte Wakeham – Thursday August 3 to Saturday August 26.
A Brief History of Women, written and directed by Alan Ayckbourn – Friday September 1 to Saturday October 7.
Goth Weekend, by Ali Taylor, directed by Paul Robinson – Thursday September 14 to Saturday October 7.