A “wide-ranging programme of drama, dance and family shows” is in store for audiences at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate this autumn and winter.
The first home-grown production of the autumn is the previously announced world première of Ayub Khan Din’s stage adaptation of To Sir, With Love, a co-production with the Touring Consortium Theatre Company, on the Royal stage from 6 until 28 September.
Touring drama includes a new production of Agatha Christie’s Go Back For Murder from 21 to 26 October; and a retelling of Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park from 28 October until 2 November.
Looking further ahead, Chariots Of Fire arrives in Northampton with a cast of 21 and the original Vangelis score from 18 until 22 February; and Lynda Bellingham finds herself torn between the men in her life in Kay Mellor’s comedy A Passionate Woman from 10 until 15 March.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats opens a season of musicals from 30 September until 5 October, with Thriller Live moonwalking into Derngate from 28 October until 2 November.
Another West End show, Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story returns to Northampton from 11 to 16 November.
Fiddler On The Roof visits next April in a new production directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood.
Dance legend Peter Schaufuss presents two of the world’s best-loved ballets: his own unique production of Swan Lake and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Romeo and Juliet—bequeathed to him by the choreographer himself—from 9 until 14 September.
Richard Alston revives his Arthur Rimbaud-inspired Illuminations, danced to the music of Benjamin Britten, on 8 and 9 October.
Sleeping Beauty is this year’s Derngate panto from 6 December until 5 January, with Linda Lusardi and Sam Kane.
Meanwhile on the Royal stage, Kenneth Grahame’s children’s story The Wind In The Willows is brought to life from 27 November until 5 January.
Further information is available at www.royalandderngate.co.uk.