Like several other theatres around the region, the Dukes in Lancaster is lucky enough to host one of the 80 shows being performed throughout the country by Sir Ian McKellen to celebrate his 80th birthday year and to support and reward those venues that played a part in his career.
McKellen headlines The Dukes new season which also features a homegrown world première, touring drama, comedy, music, dance and cabaret.
The Dukes will again produce homegrown dramas in 2019, starting with the première of Nick Ahad’s latest play Glory, set in the larger than life world of wrestling.
And as Britain’s exit from the European Union approaches, The Dukes Young Company presents Empire To Exit on March 27 and 28, marking 200 years of British theatre between Queen Victoria’s birth in 1819 and Brexit.
From May 1 to 4, audiences are invited to join a whistle-stop tour of Lancashire without leaving their seats courtesy of Lancastrians, a new play based on interviews with 500 people from across the county.
Among the highlights of the visiting drama season will be Northern Broadsides' return with Much Ado About Nothing (March 5 to 9) featuring Reece Dinsdale as Benedick and imitating the dog’s retelling of Heart of Darkness (March 19 to 23) fusing live performance with digital technology.