After the in-house production of new WWI drama The Fighting Bradfords (see our news story), audiences at Durham’s Gala Theatre can look forward to a season of three more plays, two operas, one contemporary dance performance and two Christmas shows, including—of course—the ever-popular pantomime.
On 7 October, Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company presents Tony’s Last Tape, based on the diaries of Tony Benn and following a successful London and Edinburgh Festival run.
On 17 and 18 October, Blackeyed Theatre returns to the venue for the third time with a new stage version of Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein.
Then on 28 October, Open Clasp’s Key Change arrives in Durham, following success at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and a run in New York. Devised by the women of HMP YOI Low Newton, the play is written by Catrina McHugh and features five North East actors, including Jessica Johnson who also appears in The Fighting Bradfords.
In November, English Touring Opera makes one of its regular visits to the Gala with Handel’s Xerxes (14), which is set in during the Battle of Britain, and Monteverdi’s Ulysses’ Homecoming (15).
On 10 and 11 November, the Gary Clarke Company make its Durham debut with contemporary dance piece Coal, marking the 30th anniversary of the end of the miners’ strike and exploring the darker underbelly of the mining industry.
And for Christmas there’ll be the usual co-production between the Gala and Durham Scenic Workshops, Elf’s Christmas Wish (5 to 24 December), an interactive introduction to theatre for under-5s, plus—of course—the panto.
Neil Armstrong and Paul Hartley return to write, direct and star in Jack and the Beanstalk (24 November 2016 to 7 January 2017). Already more than 15,000 tickets have been sold.
In addition to the theatrical programme, the theatre hosts stand-up comedy, which this season includes, among other, Miles Jupp, Andy Hamilton and Marcus Brigstock, and music. Stacey Kent (4 October) brings her jazz-classics to Durham and a brand new theatre experience You’ve Got a Friend (9 October) celebrates two of the world’s all-time greatest songwriters: James Taylor and Carole King.
Finally, with a career spanning over 40 years, Midge Ure comes to Durham on 5 November as part of his Something From Everything tour, a show that covers at least one song from every album he has released.