Strictly speaking, you are in for a Derngate treat!

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 the top of his game, and by ‘eck has he got some stories to tell; from going to school with John Lennon to playing golf with Bing Crosby and obviously, his hosting of Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

He’s a great raconteur too – comfortable and classy, this will be. Catch him on October 10.

Steps lady Claire Richards will deliver the ultimate disco party in Everybody Dance! (Oct 14), and Dom Joly is back with The Conspiracy tour (Nov 3).

At The Royal, Kazuo Ishiguro’s best-selling novel comes off the page and onto the stage when Never Let Me Go enjoys an 11-day stay in the town.
The work is being co-produced by Royal & Derngate, with Bristol Old Vic and Malvern Theatres.

Memory and reality collide in this new staging – adapted by Suzanne Heathcote – that challenges us to think about what it means to be human. What it means to have hope and heart, to love and to lose.

“Never Let Me Go has been among my favourite novels since I first read it two decades ago. It is an achingly beautiful story of how we maintain hope, and continue to love in the face of a hostile world. It’s become one of the world’s best loved novels and has all of the elements of a great piece of theatre,” says Christopher Haydon, who directs the production.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Suzanne to bring this incredible story to life.”
Dr Louise Newson has been called ‘the medic who kick-started the menopause revolution’ and her advice on HRT and lifestyle factors has been invaluable to so many women.

A regular on This Morning, the pioneering GP and menopause specialist is worth the ticket fee and then some, but she’s not going alone on her visit with Hormones and Menopause – Dublin-based comedian Anne Gildea will join her at the Royal show on November 5.

She will bring humour and a unique perspective while Louise will get all educational. And fellas, this show is for you too. Learning and laughter will go hand in hand.

Music man Gareth Malone (Nov 21) returns with a captivating blend of biography and music, delivering a fusion of iconic songs from the 60s to the here and now.

He’ll have his house band with him, and you’ll partake too – so warm up your pipes and get ready to lift your voices – you’ve got a few months to get pitch perfect.

Can’t quite get it right? No bother – music is for all, so don’t let that stop you getting in on the act. We can’t all sound like Whitney!
There’s lots of festive fun to play out at the end of the year, but let’s not talk about Ch***tmas in August.

Instead we’ll take a peek into the programme of events for 2025, which is already shaping up just swell; Expect an increase in those laughter lines with upcoming dates from Jack Dee (Feb 6), Jimmy Carr (Feb 13), Henning Wehn (March 1), Katherine Ryan (March 14) and Chris McCausland (March 25).

To book tickets visit: royalandderngate.co.uk