Theatre

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..

Twice the impact, twice the magic… theatre shares the joy of Christmas with children, young people and families across Northamptonshire As Royal & Derngate launches its annual Unforgettable Gift campaign, the theatre has set itself the ambitious target of giving 1000 tickets for Christmas shows in 2024 and for further productions into 2025, to children, young people and families in Northamptonshire that face challenging circumstances this year. Royal & Derngate is pleased to be working once again with the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Sir Gyles Isham Bursary on behalf of Lamport Hall Preservation Trust on this year’s Unforgettable Gift appeal. With their support and with the generosity of the theatre’s audience members and many of its Business Club Members, this yearly collaboration enables the theatre to gift hundreds of free tickets for its Christmas shows to children and young people who live in, or are at risk of, child poverty...

All is quiet at Northampton Royal & Derngate in August, but that’s a welcome opportunity to save a few pounds for the future – there are some cracking shows booked in for the coming months. Sammy Jones gives you the heads up on some of those ‘must-see’ moments ahead... Strictly Come Dancing fans are used to the professionals dancing through town on their respective tours, but Legends of the Dancefloor is reuniting five of the fellas for a nostalgic celebration of Latin, Ballroom, Tango, Rumba and more. It’s a show fit to burst with Strictly highlights, and it’s one that will take you on a journey through each of the dancers’ illustrious careers. Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite will see you on October 7, and they’ll be joined by a suitably sleek and sensational supporting cast. Jimmy Tarbuck OBE has spent 60 years at..

LOL this summer... The Comedy Crate has been stacked over the past few weeks with a veritable feast of cracking nights, and the funny times keep on rolling through to the end of July with much still to enjoy. Scott Bennett and Sara Barron visit The Lamplighter (July 8) and Scott’s turn in the spotlight, Blood Sugar Baby, tells the amazing true story of how his infant daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition. It mightn’t sound very funny, but Scott has managed to make it so – and it comes with a happy ending. The blurb goes like this: ‘Two soul mates are taken from the idyllic world of NCT classes and plunged into months of treatment, genetics, bizarre side effects, private jets, and celebrity encounters.’ Jon Pearson asks What Have You Been Up To? (July 17) when he rocks up at VandB as part of his first..

Pigs and lions and tiger feet - there’s an animal thread running through this month’s theatre happenings. Together with some funnies and things that go bump in the night! Pulse’s Sammy Jones brings you more... Well done if you were quick enough to secure a ticket to see national treasure, Miriam Margolyes at the Derngate (July 1), because her loose tongue and life well lived makes her a compelling, hilarious and sometimes poignant speaker. The Vogue cover star and famous trumper (nope, that’s not an affectionate term for a fan of Donald!) has been sold out for yonks. Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out (Derngate, July 3 & 4) will entertain the kids and might even make you snort too, when you follow Peppa on a special journey to the beach for a party. Trot-ter along for a right squeal! Marvellous magic man Ali Cook is bringing his Principles of Deception..

Local fine jewellers Michael Jones Jeweller have renewed their sponsorship agreement with Northampton’s Royal & Derngate, increasing their support for the theatre’s programme of home-produced and co-produced drama. Michael Jones Jeweller have a longstanding relationship with the theatre, having been the primary sponsor of Royal & Derngate’s Made in Northampton productions for the last seven years, as well as being an established Business Club partner. These Made in Northampton shows have brought the theatre national recognition, with recent productions such as The Pope premiering at Royal & Derngate in 2019, then subsequently going on to inspire a major film. It returned once again in 2022 as part of a national tour under the new title The Two Popes. Other recent successes include The Worst Witchwhich transferred to the West End, winning Best Family Show in the 2020 Olivier Awards, and their production of Michael Rosen’s Unexpected Twist which toured extensively..

Bluey’s Big Play for little kids, and big blue entertainment for big kids! Murder mysteries, more giggle bringers and a pantomime to turn you red with its rude stuff. Here’s June’s juicy bits in theatre-land... An Evening with Harry Redknapp (June 2) will keep your attention with engaging stories from his fruitful career in footie and TV - and there are plenty of tales to tell! Settle in for a great night. Renowned British designer and judge on The Great Pottery Throw Down, Keith Brymer Jones will be throwing down stories in place of clay with his visit to the Derngate (June 3) when he shares stories of life in front of – and behind – the potter’s wheel. There will be an on-stage demo at his wheel too, and he’ll be sharing his advice and tips for those budding creators among you. Bluey’s Big Play (June 6-9) will enchant..

Doppelgingers, Pink Ladies, a Fresh Prince favourite, a magical night out, a sharp dressed man, Six Chick Flicks and Rapunzel. Just some of the variety coming to a stage near you this May. Sammy Jones digs deep... The last time he was in these parts, Ray Bradshaw (May 1, Royal) delivered the goods with Deaf Com One, about growing up with deaf parents. Now, the multi award-winning comedian is back with Doppelginger. Ray is always being told, ‘You look just like my mate...’ and so now he’s on a quest to find the person who looks most like him. This latest show is a heartwarming comedy about a silly search for a man with an orange beard who is follicly challenged. Do you have a bald, ginger bearded pal in their 30s? Take them along. They could be The One. This show will have a BSL Interpreter too. Six Chick..

Get a Pi-ece of the action! New versions of classic shows, a special anniversary for Northampton’s G&S Society and one gag after another with funny folks showing out all over. Sammy Jones leads you through April’s theatre business... Universally acclaimed in theatreland, Life of Pi comes to the Derngate stage (April 2-6) with amazing visuals and world-class puppetry for your eyes to devour. After an epic storm in the Pacific Ocean, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with four other survivors – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger. The story of a true journey of endurance and hope. There is more drama on the high seas with Moby Dick (April 5-13) at The Royal ready to make a splash. In search of fortune and adventure, a humble schoolmaster boards a whaling ship due to sail East off Cape Cod, only to find a Captain hell-bent..

Coleen Nolan will be getting Naked in Northampton this March, in a manner of speaking. She told Pulse’s Sammy Jones what’s on the musical menu... She’s the Loose Woman with the quick wit and the empathetic nature, and she’s super confident. Or so we thought, but talking to Coleen Nolan she assures us that she struggles with confidence. “I am scared of everything. I have been doing Loose Women for something like 23 or 24 years, and before every show I get nervous,” she admits, “Even the Loose Women are like ‘I can’t believe you still get nervous.’ But I don’t necessarily think nerves are a bad thing and it’s because whatever I set my mind to, I want to do it well.” Right now, Coleen is out on the road starring in her own theatre show, Naked, and those nerves are bristling. Incredibly, this is the first time she..

The Derngate has so many comedy nights ahead this month that Sammy Jones has had to write her own one-liners to give them all a plug! It’s not all comedy though; death and disease in the Middle Ages gets a mention, and The Old Savoy is bringing smart lady Coleen Nolan to the stage. Here’s the lowdown... The giggles start with Stewart Lee (Derngate, March 1) who returns for another outing of Basic Lee. The man who is known for his groundbreaking high concept shows involving overarched interlinked narratives, massive sets and enormous comedy props, is doing an about turn with this delivery; just one man and his mic. Al Murray is back as The Pub Landlord in Guv Island (March 2), Axel Blake, 2022’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent will be In Style (March 3, Royal), and Miles Jupp (March 5, Royal) presents On I Bang, ‘a tale about..

February promises shows that are funny, fruity and fabulous. Strictly speaking, Giovanni Pernice’s return to the Derngate stage (Feb 4) will be an unforgettable experience for fans of delectable dance – and the show title promises as much; it’s called Let Me Entertain You. Giovanni will be joined by a cast of West End players. They won’t put a foot wrong! At The Royal, the Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast will be recorded live (Feb 10) with friends Richard Coles, Cat Jarman and Charles Spencer pooling passions and knowledge to investigate the strange and curious pockets of history, and they’ll be answering the questions you wouldn’t even think to ask. Whether you are a history buff yourself, or just chronically curious you can expect a wonderful evening of forensically researched, beautifully observed explorations of history with a hearty serving of personal anecdotes and giggle-inducing tangents. Simply, this will be ace! The..

Hoppy talkin’, talking, hoppy talk! A show produced by Royal & Derngate plays on the Royal stage and helps get the new year off to a flying start. Read all about it and then stop pond-ering and go book tickets, says Pulse’s Sammy Jones as she casts an eye over January’s stage shows in the town... Already a celebrated West End hit, 2:22 A Ghost Story will bring chills to the Derngate (Jan 5-13), with a cast of class including The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness, Emmerdale actress Emma Wade, Call the Midwife’s George Rainford and Vera Chok from Hollyoaks. This supernatural thriller bagged the gong for Best New Play at the Whatsonstage Awards and is funny and adrenaline-fuelled in equal measure. Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben...