Derby Theatre has announced that four in-house productions will be the highlights of its autumn season.
The venue has already announced that Lawrence Till’s adaptation of Barry Hines’s Kes will be the first of the quartet which will run from Friday 13 September until Saturday 5 October.
A new musical, The Opinion Makers, will be presented in a co-production with Mercury Theatre, Colchester from Wednesday 13 November until Saturday 23 November.
Christmas will bring two produced festive shows: Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas, presented by Birmingham Stage Company from 6 December until 11 January and a new version of Pinocchio by Michael Rosen performed by Hiccup Theatre Company from 9 until 24 December.
Touring productions include London Classic Theatre’s production of Harold Pinter’s Betrayal from 5 until 7 September; Bill Kenwright and Agatha Christie Limited’s presentation of the queen of crime’s Go Back For Murder from 8 until 12 October; John Godber’s September in the Rain starring Claire Sweeney and John Thomson from 22 until 26 October; The Lovesong of Alfred J Hitchcock, presented by New Perspectives Theatre Company and Curve Theatre, Leicester on 8 and 9 November; and another Godber offering, Teechers, presented by the John Godber Company and Theatre Royal, Wakefield from 26 until 30 November.
Derby Theatre will also be working in association with physical dance theatre company Gecko on Missing, a “deliciously warped journey into the depths of the human psyche”, from 30 October until 2 November.
Next February Derby Theatre will produce and present Mike Kenny’s new version of Homer’s The Odyssey.
Artistic director Sarah Brigham said, “I'm delighted to be introducing my second season which includes some classic stories for audiences of all ages and some contemporary and breath-taking theatre from companies such as Gecko.
“We have a newly revitalised Studio programme, including a regular scratch night for local artists to show their work, and lots of opportunities to take part in such great events as Write Read where you can take the opportunity to talk about classic plays and even try your hand at playwriting yourself.”
Full details are available at www.derbytheatre.co.uk.