The Everyman Theatre - New season preview including panto!

We've asked local blogger and theatre enthusiast, Jane, to share with us the highlights of the new autumn season performances due to take place at The Everyman Theatre.  She has helpfully categorised the performances so regardless of your theatre preferences you should find something below that will take your fancy!

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From the most magical pantomime of them all, Cinderella, to the hilarious comedy 'Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em', The Everyman Theatre once again has a show for everyone in its brand new autumn line up with a whole host of star shows and names set to be heading to our local theatre.

Unmissable Musical Performances...

If you’re a musical lover like me then you won't want to miss an all-new production of Saturday Night Fever (24^th- 28^th September) with one of the best selling soundtracks of all time and starring Richard Winsor (from Casualty).   

This is followed by the sensational multi award winning West-End show The Buddy Holly Story which will triumphantly return to the Everyman Theatre as part of its landmark 20^th anniversary tour in November.

As we move into 2020, On Your Feet comes direct from the West End and charts the love affair of Emilio and Gloria Estefan from Cuba to Miami and superstardom.  This is absolute must for fans and all music lovers as it’s hit after hit – fusing Cuban rhythms with American pop and disco and is a real blast from the past. 

There’s also the international smash hit musical, Six, where The Tudor Queens of Henry VIII remix 500 years of historical heartbreak into a celebration of 21^st century girl power!

Comedy hits

Comedy wise the side splittingly funny Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ’Em , based on the 1970s classic TV series starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice, is in town in March.  It stars Joe Pasquale as the lovable accident-prone Frank Spencer along with Sarah Earnshaw as long-suffering wife Betty and the wonderful Susie Blake (Coronation Street, The Victoria Wood Show and the Everyman’s Cider with Rosie) as his disapproving mother-in-law. 

Comedy is very much a theme of the season with star comedians Andy Parsons, Dave Gorman, Ardal O’Hanlon; David Baddiel and Chris Ramsey all taking centre stage. In February The Everyman Theatre Company is back to banish the blues with a few heartwarming laughs in the Willy Russell play, Shirley Valentine starring Claire Sweeney (Brookside, Chicago) and sponsored by Investec Wealth & Investment. 

Thrillers

For the brave at heart the nail-biting thriller Kay Mellor’s Band of Gold will be performed the 2nd - 7th March.  This was a huge TV hit in the 90s and now has its world premiere on stage is on its way to Cheltenham. Set in a notorious red-light district and starring big names including Gaynor Faye (Emmerdale, Calendar Girls); Laurie Brett (EastEnders, Les Miserables); Kieron Richardson (Hollyoaks, Heartbeat); Shayne Ward (Coronation Street, X Factor winner); Sacha Parkinson (Mr. Selfridge, The Mill) and Andrew Dunn (Dinnerladies, Coronation Street), it boasts one impressive cast.

Family Fun

Last but by no means least; you shall go to the Ball this Christmas. Polish off your pumpkins, dust off your gowns and grab those glass slippers because the new brochure is packed full of shows to appeal to all ages and the jewel in the crown is the annual family pantomime (29th Nov - 12th January), this year it’s the truly magical Cinderella featuring the return of Tweedy. 

Tweedy is also back in February with his own show, The Missing Company of Sherlock Holmes. He is staging his own production of Sherlock Holmes; he has built the set, got the props and booked the Everyman. Just one problem, he has lost the actors. Whoops!

Mark Goucher, chief executive of the Everyman Theatre said:

“This new brochure takes us through the autumn and into 2020 with a packed programme of great shows. Our pantomime - Cinderella - will be bigger than ever with a great line up of West End performers with Tweedy leading the company. The Everyman will be producing three shows next spring including Shirley Valentine by Willy Russell; Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party and the brand-new Ian Hislop play, A Bunch of Amateurs. We have just undergone a big refurbishment this summer to the café bar and restaurant so I hope that you will visit us not only to see a great show but also to enjoy our hospitality and VIP packages.”

Other 'must-see' shows

Other ‘must-see’ shows for the new season include Alan Bennett’s The Habit Of Art in March with Olivier award-winning Matthew Kelly; David Yelland and Veronica Roberts and book now for Ian Hislop and Nick Newman’s A Bunch Of Amateurs. The writers of the hugely successful The Wipers Times and Trial By Laughter are opening this brand-new show at the Everyman at the end of April.

Finally Watermill Theatre makes a welcome return with two electrifying Shakespeare productions , Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which fuse the Bard’s words with contemporary live music in October starring Billy Postlethwaite.

For further details on what is coming up and when, download the programme or check out The Everyman Theatre website. Don’t forget to check out the menu at the new look chic Café - Bar when you are at the theatre. Alternatively you can also enjoy lunch or dinner in the comfort of Matchams restaurant or add a little sparkle to your visit in the Director’s Lounge!

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Thanks for your round up Jane.  It sounds like it’s going to be another season to remember at The Everyman Theatre!