Theatre

Mark Edel-Hunt delivers a poignant performance as Alan Turing in Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking the Code. Credit: Manuel Harlan. Hugh Whitemore’s Breaking the Code returns in a new production at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, directed by Artistic Director Jesse Jones, as part of the theatre’s Made in Northampton season. Based on Andrew Hodges’s Alan Turing: The Enigma, the play has always balanced triumph with tragedy, charting the extraordinary life of one of the twentieth century’s most brilliant minds. This revival, however, gains fresh resonance through Neil Bartlett’s newly written epilogue, which reflects on Turing’s royal pardon in 2013 and the subsequent passing of Turing’s Law. Mark Edel-Hunt leads the cast as Alan Turing, his performance a careful balance of intellectual intensity and human fragility. Around him, the ensemble bring clarity and depth: Niall Costigan, Joseph Edwards, Peter Hamilton Dyer, Carla Harrison-Hodge, Susie Trayling, and Joe Usher all inhabiting roles that sketch..

The cast of BAT OUT OF HELL, credit Chris Davis Studio There are few shows as joyously unapologetic as Bat Out of Hell. This rock musical, built around the iconic partnership of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf, doesn’t so much arrive on stage as explode across it. At Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, the current tour is a glorious spectacle: big voices, dazzling staging, and a score that still thrills almost 50 years on. The storyline — part Peter Pan, part dystopian fairytale — is more an atmospheric backdrop than a narrative spine. Strat (Glenn Adamson), leader of the tribe of forever-young rebels, falls in love with Raven (Katie Tonkinson), the daughter of controlling Falco (Joshua Dever) and the spirited Sloane (Sharon Sexton). What matters most is the passion with which the cast throw themselves into every song, and here they excel. Adamson is magnetic, his voice full of rock-star power...

Image: Katie Tonkinson as Raven & Glenn Adamson as Strat in BAT OUT OF HELL, credit Chris Davis Studio If you’ve ever belted out I Would Do Anything for Love in the shower (no shame here), or played Bat Out of Hell at full blast while pretending your hairbrush was a microphone, then September is about to get a whole lot louder for you. From Monday 15 to Saturday 20 September, Royal & Derngate will transform into a high-octane, rock ’n’ roll dreamscape as Bat Out of Hell – The Musical screeches into town for the final stop of its UK tour. And trust us — you’ll want to be there when the engines roar. This isn’t just any jukebox musical. Oh no. This is the award-winning, critics-and-fans-can’t-stop-talking-about-it, Jim Steinman-and-Meat Loaf-powered spectacle that’s already wowed Manchester, the London Coliseum, Dominion Theatre, and international crowds. We’re talking Radio 2 Audience Award..

A notorious gangster. A suitcase full of cash. A clown in the kitchen. What could possibly go wrong? Let’s set the scene. It’s New Year’s Eve in a sleepy corner of Kent, and while the rest of the country is popping prosecco and dancing to dodgy playlists, one house is bracing for something a little more… explosive. Welcome to Murder at Midnight, the darkly hilarious new play from Torben Betts (yep, the mastermind behind Murder in the Dark), which hits the Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 16–21 February 2026. Mark your diary. This one’s juicy. You’ve got gangsters. You’ve got glamour. You’ve got a jittery carer, a dodgy vicar, and a burglar in full clown costume. Oh, and just one small thing — someone’s going to end up dead. No spoilers here, but let’s just say it’s not who you expect. A Cast That’s Absolutely to Die For This world..

If you heard peals of laughter echoing through the streets of Northampton recently, don’t worry – you weren’t imagining things. The town has just wrapped up what organisers are calling its “best-ever” Comedy Festival, and honestly? It’s hard to argue with them. Over 50 comedians – yes, fifty – rocked stages across the town centre, from cosy coffee spots to club venues, drawing crowds so big, some gigs sold out before you could say “two drink minimum.” Big hitters like Rosie Jones, Paul Sinha, and Josh Pugh all made appearances, many treating the town as their warm-up playground ahead of the mighty Edinburgh Fringe. So, who’s behind all the belly laughs? Local legends The Comedy Crate, with backing from Northampton Town Centre BID. Their mission: to turn Northampton into a full-blown comedy hotspot. And judging by the buzz, they’re nailing it. “It’s been amazing to see the buzz around town,”..

Last year’s mammoth session was a bit of a blinder, and so it’s of no surprise that the fine folks behind the Comedy Crate Weekender have been busy assembling another fantastic line-up to tickle the funny bones and turn frowns upside down for the return of the mammoth session this July 12 and 13. In all, 25 acts will be taking mics and holding attention across a trio of the town’s most loved venues; The Black Prince, The Charles Bradlaugh and The Lamplighter. This special weekend, heavy in talent, is a chance for comedy fans to check out Edinburgh Fringe Previews and Work in Progress shows. Snag a weekend ticket and the price works out at a ridiculously smart £4 per session. Performances will last for an hour with half-hour intervals (presumably to relax aching facial muscles) and an hour-long break for food. Performers? Big names waiting to stand up..

Dance your way into July, before letting the laughs loose and stepping into an extinct world with the dino giants. Pulse’s Sammy Jones has the details... Two Strictly stars who have led their celebs to victory have paired up to bring you Red Hot and Ready (July 2, Derngate) and dream team Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola have an added ace in their pack for this show - it has been created by world-renowned choreographer Jason Gilkison. Dianne and Vito will be joined by a cast of Burn the Floor dancers from around the world and collectively, that’s exactly what they will be doing in the ‘fampton. Tony Blackburn’s Sounds of The 60s Live sessions might not be new, but they are hugely popular – hence this return (July 9, Derngate) which will fill your ears from the decade that flower power discovered. Tony’s Radio 2 show attracts more than..

A Lovely Jubbly time is ahead for June in theatre-land, with the arrival of the Trotter family, but that’s not all - there are visits from some of our best-loved comedians, and the chance to take a role in a reimagining of an Oscar Wilde classic. Pulse’s Sammy Jones guides you through the upcoming treats... It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the wait is almost over - the Reliant Regal is ready to splutter its way onto the Derngate stage (June 2-7) signalling the arrival of the stage version of the nation’s finest ever sitcom, Only Fools and Horses. This is pedigree, and then some – with a script delivered by John Sullivan’s son and comedy maestro Paul Whitehouse, music by Chas & Dave, and a cast of class, unlike Del Boy’s many scams, this show could never fail. The yuppie invasion of London is in full swing,..

The countdown is officially on! Rehearsals have begun for Strictly SENsational, the inspiring, Strictly Come Dancing-style showcase celebrating adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The event will take place on Sunday 29th June 2025 at The Deco Theatre, and promises to be a night of electric atmosphere, show-stopping routines, and a whole lot of sparkle. Organised by SENsational Care Provisions in partnership with The Joanne Banham Dance Company, this feel-good production will see the SENsational team take to the stage with their pro-partners and a show-stopping dance routine. Under the expert guidance of choreographers, participants are already stepping into the spotlight, working hard to bring their best moves to the stage. The event aims not only to entertain, but to champion inclusion and community spirit, while raising money for Northampton’s own The Tor Rox Foundation - a charity supporting cancer patients through physical activity during treatment. “We’ve officially..

Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes us through marvellous May’s stage attractions in the ‘fampton... Sometimes less is more, and a case in point is the upcoming production of Treasure Island at the Royal (May 2 & 3) which delivers Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale with just a cast of four. The show is a version the likes of which you won’t have seen before; laced with a host of contemporary comedic twists, including an unusual motley crew of pirates, a parrot called Alexa and a mermaid you will never forget. You have leading physical comedy company La Navet Bete (aka The Daft Turnip) to thank for this, and thank the Devon-based crew you will. It’s a family friendly show – suitable for ages seven years and up. Sir Tim Rice has enjoyed an illustrious career and the man seated at the heart of musical theatre visits the Derngate with My Life in..

There is so much in theatre-land for April – from sea shanty sessions to historic stories about decay, a smidgen of Christie-inspired fun, Sinatra songs forming a backdrop on an emotive drama and some truly stalwart comedians. And much more. Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes you through the best of the bunch... Strictly star turned judge, and all round nice fella Anton Du Beke visits the Derngate with his new show At The Musicals (April 1), which brings together an exemplary band, guest singer and dancers. We’ve seen a few of Anton’s solo shows, and they are akin to a cosy cuddle with a glass of fizz on the side. It’ll be great. Dara O Briain’s Re:Creation (April 3) will see the funnies cut loose, before more Strictly business, this time courtesy of Karen & Gorka, in Speakeasy (April 4). Rhod Gilbert (April 9) and the Giant Grapefruit is ‘hilariously dark,..

The GamesWorld interactive video gaming extravaganza comes to Royal & Derngate’s Underground Studio for three days during the Easter holidays. From Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April family and friends will be able to immerse themselves in the world of gaming, getting hands-on with the very best video games and consoles spanning over five decades. With 100 consoles available, GamesWorld is a nostalgia-fuelled event where people can revisit all the classics from Atari to Sega, Playstation to Xbox, from Nintendo to Wii. It’s the ideal opportunity to challenge friends to a Mario Kart showdown, go head -to-head in multi-player battles, or experience the latest in Virtual Reality. With something for everyone, whatever their age or level of experience, players can revel in nostalgia as they rediscover their childhood favourites and arcade classics, or get right up to date testing out some of the very latest VR adventures. There are 90-minute..

New shows, funny shows, and cheeky shows - whatever takes your fancy, Northampton stage will probably be hosting it this month, says Pulse’s Sammy Jones... If you are in the mood to sample a new comedy drama you are in luck, with the arrival of Dial M For Mayhem which will take over The Royal (Feb 3-8). New work it may be, but the pen from which it came is well worn – the author and director behind courtroom phenomenon The Verdict is responsible for this, too. ‘Set in 1991, it follows a group of travelling actors from south of the Scottish border as they conquer the beautiful unforgiving landscape of the Highlands and Islands village hall circuit to perform Frederick Knott’s classic 1950’s thriller Dial M For Murder. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of mountains and lochs, complete with unpredictable Scottish weather and internal company squabbling, Act 1’s gentle..

Dazzling Diamonds, funny folks and a West End phenomenon... Fed up with pine needles in the carpet and the post Crimbo comedown? You need a night at the theatre! Escape the new year drear with some sun-drenched reggae cheer at the Derngate with Legend – the Music of Bob Marley (Jan 11). When it comes to a set list of solid sounds, Marley delivered, and so this celebration will do the same: Could You Be Loved, Is This Love, One Love, No Woman No Cry, Three Little Birds, Jammin’, Buffalo Soldier, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up, Exodus, Waiting in Vain, Satisfy, My Soul, Iron Lion Zion... Over at The Royal on the same night, The Opera Boys return with four-part harmony driven musical medleys delivering music from modern day musicals including Wicked, Mamma Mia and Frozen, while also revisiting classics from Porter, Gershwin and Rodgers & Hammerstein. You..

Actors behaving badly, smart health advice, a poignant war exploration, a peek into Crimbo and more – Sammy Jones walks you through the month ahead in theatre-land... Super smart and funny in equal measure, Dom Joly gifted us with the smash-hit prankster show Trigger Happy TV. What a joy that was. He’s also cheered up our screens and stages appearing on everything from I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and Celebrity Hunted, through to The Rocky Horror Show. Then there’s his work as a director, producer and celebrated author. Oh, and he’s made videos for artists including Blur and Ian Brown, and is a columnist who has penned for nigh on all the major national titles. For his most recent book, Dom travelled the globe looking into some of the strangest conspiracy theories out there, and now he’s coming to the ‘fampton (Nov 3, Royal) as part of..