Derby Theatre has unveiled two co-productions along with a touring programme featuring companies such as Northern Broadsides and Headlong which make up its May to July season.
The theatre’s artistic director Sarah Brigham said, “We’ve officially announced two exciting and very different co-productions: a modern classic in A Taste of Honey directed by Mark Babych who directed Cooking with Elvis for us last year; and the ever-popular April in Paris with The Booking Office and John Godber.
“I'm also delighted to announce and introduce two shows in our autumn season: new writing in the form of an adaptation of Antigone by Roy Williams produced with Theatre Royal Stratford East and Pilot Theatre; and our big Christmas production which I'll direct, A Christmas Carol which will have all the festive magic you would expect coupled with a heart-warming tale.”
A Taste of Honey, written by Shelagh Delaney in 1958, is the tale of a young girl’s journey into adulthood. The cast includes Rebecca Ryan (Shameless and Waterloo Road). It runs from Tuesday 29 April until Saturday 10 May.
Northern Broadsides visits Derby Theatre with Deborah McAndrew’s An August Bank Holiday Lark, which explores the impact of the World War I on a rural community in East Lancashire, from 20 until 24 May.
Headlong returns with Wedekind’s play about youth-caused riots, Spring Awakening, from 28 until 31 May.
London Classic Theatre also returns, this time with the 50th anniversary production of Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr Sloane, from 10 until 14 June.
Northern Stage, which is undertaking the first UK tour of Joseph Heller’s Catch 22, visits Derby Theatre from 17 until 21 June.
John Godber’s two-hander April in Paris, nominated for an Olivier Award for comedy of the year when it premièred, will be directed by Godber himself and will feature two star names. It will run from Friday 27 June until Saturday 12 July.
DEparture Lounge, “a summer festival of fantastic fringe performances”, which runs from 17 until 20 July, returns for a second year and will showcase artists from across the UK before it heads off for Edinburgh.
Looking ahead to the autumn, Antigone, a Pilot Theatre, Derby Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East production, will be staged from Friday 19 September until Saturday 4 October.
Neil Duffield’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol will play from Friday 5 December until Sunday 4 January.