Durham’s Gala Theatre has announced its spring 2019 season which contains the usual mixture of theatre for adults and children, opera, music and stand-up comedy, along with shows from local amateur groups.
Theatrical highlights are:
1 & 2 February
The Bobby Thompson Story in which local actor Pete Peverley presents his ever-popular story of Bobby Thompson’s Woodbine-smoking “Little Waster” alter ego who became a comic folk hero across the North East, yet underneath was a man troubled by drink, gambling debts and the taxman.
14 – 16 February
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, presented by HangFire Theatre. The story of Nora Helmer who is forced to confront the reality of what her husband is and of her relationship with him.
26 & 27 February
Crimes On The Nile presented by New Old Friends, in which a cast of just four perform multiple outrageous character as Belgian detective extraordinaire, Artemis Arinae, is enjoying a cruise along the Nile when tragedy strikes again. The passengers and staff are suspects; the murder count is growing; will Arinae’s little grey cells identify the murderer in time?
28 February
No Miracles Here presented by The Letter Room. A tale of resilience, strength and the need to just stay on your feet in the face of mental health problems, presenting a sweat-soaked marathon with a Northern Soul. Packed with live music and wall-to-wall dancing, the show is "an anthem to feeling alive and keeping the faith".
3 March at 1:30 and 4:00
Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain (Children’s show.) The history of Britain with the nasty bits left in.
22 March
Crooners A comedy musical, full of satirical energy, one-liners and silliness, tells the story of three very British gentlemen who defend the role of a crooner in our modern world.
23 March
Miss Julie by August Strindberg, translated by Michael Meyer and presented by Durham’s Elysium Theatre Company. Strindberg’s classic play about the illicit affair between the mistress of the house and the Head Butler.
29 & 30 March (various times)
Zog Children’s show, based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. Zog tries so very hard, perhaps too hard, and he bumps, burns and roars his way through years one, two and three.
14 & 15 April at 2:00 and 4:00
Chicken Licken: A TaleJam (Children’s show) A Gala Theatre co-production with Ruth Mary Johnson. The storytelling antics of a musical band trying to tell the tale of a young chick who can’t decide what to do.
25 April at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00
Puss in Boots Presented by Northern Ballet. (Children’s show) Puss in Boots is no ordinary cat. Clever and charming, he takes life in his stride and befriends everyone he meets. The only thing is, he always seems to bring his master, Jack, bad luck.
6 – 11 May
Teechers by John Godber. A Gala Theatre production. Three school leavers, Salty, Hobby and Gail, decide to perform an end of term play about their time in secondary school. Telling the story of an idealistic new teacher in his perilous first days inside a local comprehensive school, their play is based on their own drama teacher who ignites their passion for the stage with his idealism and belief.
13 & 14 May
English Touring Opera presents Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi (13) and Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (14).
14 May
Next Up… Scratch night of new work by North East artists. This event in The Studio is free.
15 & 16 May (Various times)
Dear Zoo (Children’s show) Rod Campbell’s best-selling lift-the-flap book has delighted generations of young readers since it was first published in 1982 and has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide.