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There’s never a dull month when it comes to theatre in the Midlands. Check out our selection of shows coming to venues across the region during the next few weeks...
HAMILTON
Hamilton barely needs an introduction. The smash-hit musical celebrating one of America’s founding fathers was first performed nearly 10 years ago. Since then, it has become an international sensation, with its style, soundtrack and storytelling changing the landscape of musical theatre.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s lyrics and music are nothing short of genius. Driving the story forward with barely a moment’s break, they still allow for changes of pace and intensity throughout the show - and where else can you see political debate via rap battle?!
The soundtrack is well known to fans, and the cast members are pitch perfect, subtly making the touring version their own. They really do breathe new life into this musical phenomenon.
Almost a decade after its first performance, Hamilton is still riding the wave of success - and for very good reason.
Whether you’ve never seen the show before or you know it inside out, be in The Room Where It Happens...
Birmingham Hippodrome, until Saturday 31 August
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
Mistresses Page and Ford believe it’s high time the fat knight Sir John Falstaff was taught a lesson. After all, the big fella’s been courting them both, claiming that each is his one and only true love and caring not a jot that they’re both married!
A tale of buckbaskets, frolicsome fairies and men dressed as women, this is Shakespeare at his comic best. Expect your sides to be as near to splitting as they’re ever likely to be when engaging with the works of Stratford’s most famous son.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday 7 September
THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL
When Sir Peter Teazle marries a young country girl, he assumes that her innocence and naivety will ensure she’s of little bother to him. But he’s reckoned without his new wife’s decision to take up with three of the most outrageous scandalmongers in town...
Sheridan’s 18th-century comedy here receives the RSC treatment, with the Company promising ‘an exuberant feast of big wigs and even bigger laughs’ in a show that’s ‘styled to the nines with period flair’.
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Friday 6 September
CIRQUE: THE GREATEST SHOW
Musical theatre and jaw-dropping circus combine in this intriguing touring show. The production sees stars of the West End performing alongside ‘amazing aerialists, incredible contortionists and fabulous fire jugglers’ as they undertake ‘thrilling feats of agility and flair’...
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Thursday 27 July; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Friday 13 September
CLUEDO 2
Inspired by the success of the original Cluedo play, this brand-new comedy whodunnit is based on the famous detective boardgame of the same name.
Heartbeat and Casualty star Jason Durr and Strictly champion Ellie Leach top-bill in a Swinging 60s-set show that features a new house, new suspects, and plenty of dead bodies...
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 July
SAUNA BOY
Award-winning writer & performer Dan Ireland-Reeves takes a semi-autobiographical look behind one of the world’s most secretive and seductive industries: the gay sauna.
“I tell the stories really candidly,” Dan recently explained to festmag.com, “without getting bogged down in the disgusting minutia of it all. I try to do it no-holds-barred. That’s how I like to tell all stories, really - from a place of truth, not just pornographic titillation.”
Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Thursday 25 - Sunday 27 July
MY MOTHER'S FUNERAL: THE SHOW
A new play by Kelly Jones, My Mother’s Funeral: The Show not only tackles the inequalities around death but also looks at the cost of turning a loved one into art...
The production is a collaborative venture, with one of the partners being Paines Plough, a London-based company whose 50th anniversary has coincided with them announcing a move to the Coventry Belgrade.
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Thursday 25 - Saturday 27 July
FIREMAN SAM
Now an impressive 37 years into his firefighting career, Fireman Sam is still putting out blazes in Pontypandy and lighting up children’s eyes with delight.
In this brand-new adventure, perpetual troublemaker Norman Price follows two famous animal explorers into the mountains and ends up stranded in a cave. As ever, it falls to Fireman Sam to come to the rescue and save the day...
Stafford Gatehouse Theatre, Thursday 25 July; William Aston Hall, Wrexham, Saturday 3 August; Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, Saturday 24 August
PERICLES
A rarely performed Shakespeare play - perhaps in part because of questions over its authorship - Pericles sees the title character fleeing for his life after learning of an incestuous relationship between King Antiochus and his daughter...
This new Royal Shakespeare Company production is helmed by Tamara Harvey, who recently became the RSC’s co-artistic director.
Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Friday 26 July - Saturday 21 September
BLUEY'S BIG PLAY
Blue Heeler puppy Bluey has certainly had plenty to bark about since making her television debut six years ago. The Australian animated pre-school series in which she stars has not only developed a huge international fanbase but also picked up a prestigious Emmy award.
On the back of such global success, it was only a matter of time before the popular pup’s adventures made it onto the stage... This 50-minute show finds Bluey and younger sister Bingo determined to thwart their dad’s plan to enjoy a quiet Sunday afternoon...
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 July
THE WIZARD OF OZ
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne stars as the Wicked Witch of the West in this classic story from the imagination of L Frank Baum.
A marvellous mix of magic, mayhem and munchkins, the terrific tale tells the story of Kansas resident Dorothy Gale and her unexpected trip over the rainbow to the colourful land of Oz.
Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film - including Follow The Yellow Brick Road, We’re Off To See The Wizard and (of course) Over The Rainbow - this hit show visits the Midlands direct from the London Palladium and includes additional songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 30 July - Sunday 4 August
PEPPA PIG'S FUN DAY OUT
If you’ve taken your little ones to any of the previous Peppa Pig stage shows - and enjoyed the experience of watching them having a fantastic time - you’ll be in no doubt that this latest production is well worth catching.
The show sees Peppa, along with her family and friends, enjoying a fun-packed day at the zoo and the beach.
Parents are advised to prepare their children for all manner of cracking capers, including singing and dancing with colourful scarecrows, feeding penguins, building big sandcastles, and swimming in the sea!
Looks like an oinktastic time is going to be had by all!
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Wednesday 31 July & Thursday 1 August; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 August; Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent, Wednesday 18 & Thursday 19 September; Palace Theatre, Redditch, Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 September; Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 16 - Thursday 17th October
JEEVES AND WOOSTER
The delightful world of PG Wodehouse is here brought to the stage in Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves. Featuring ill-fated romances, comical escapades and an engaging cast of quirky characters, the production is presented by Tethered Wits, whose other outdoor summer shows, The Railway Children and The Importance Of Being Earnest, are previewed elsewhere in this section.
Live jazz music, performed by an ensemble of talented actor-musicians, further adds to the show’s appeal...
Billesley Manor, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tuesday 6 August; Greyfriars, Worcester, Thursday 8 August; Hill Close Gardens, Warwick, Saturday 10 August; Tamworth Castle, Sunday 18 August
FIRST DATE
This award-winning Broadway musical about the pitfalls of romantic fix-ups is here receiving its UK premiere.
When blind-date newbie Aaron is set up with serial dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into an unexpectedly high-stakes dinner. With other patrons in the eatery transforming into supportive best friends, manipulative exes and protective parents, the unlucky-in-love dining companions find themselves teetering on the brink of a dating disaster... Michali Dante, Royaka, Lowri Hamer, Tom Kiteley and Joey Warne star.
Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham, Wednesday 7 - Sunday 25 August
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
The critically acclaimed Pantaloons bring silly slapstick, abundant anachronisms and memorable music to the picnic table as they put their own innovative and interactive spin on this classic comedy from the quill of the Bard. The production is being presented as part of Shrewsbury Castle’s open-air theatre season.
Shrewsbury Castle, Thursday 8 August
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
Edith Nesbitt’s famous tale, which remains best known from the 1971 film version, tells the gentle story of an Edwardian family whose life is unexpectedly turned upside-down.
Days stretch endlessly for Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis in their new home of Three Chimneys, a house near a railway in a Yorkshire village. Mysteriously separated from their father, the children set about the business of carving out a new way of living for themselves, passing their time watching trains on the nearby line, waving to the passengers and enjoying the company of Albert Perks, the station porter. They also get to know an old gentleman who regularly takes the 9.15 train; a man who, if the youngsters did but know it, is set to have a remarkable impact on their future happiness...
Tewkesbury Abbey, Friday 9 August; Hill Close Gardens, Warwick, Saturday 10 August; Tamworth Castle, Sunday 18 August
ANGELICA SPROCKET'S POCKETS
Angelica Sprocket’s overcoat has pockets galore, and here’s your chance to find out exactly what’s in them...
A combination of live music, puppetry, audience interaction and ‘madness’ is Folksy Theatre’s recipe for success as they present Quentin Blake’s classic children’s tale.
Brueton Park, Solihull, Saturday 10 August; The Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton, Saturday 17 August
ODDSOCKS: JULIUS CAESAR
When Roman emperor Caesar is assassinated by a group of prominent senators, one of his staunchest supporters, Mark Antony, manages not only to turn the crowd against the conspirators but also to defeat them in battle...
But let’s avoid getting too bogged down in the whys and wherefores of Shakespeare’s extremely serious tale of conspiracy and bloody murder - given that it’s here being presented by zany funsters Oddsocks!
The ever-entertaining band of theatricals are promising their audiences thrills and spills aplenty, including the tearing of togas, the swishing of swords, some splendidly preposterous puppetry and the biggest battle scene ever created by five actors.
In short, it’s time to brace yourself for the kind of laughs you have no right to expect in a production of Julius Caesar...
Brueton Park, Solihull, Tuesday 13 August
THE ADVENTURES OF DOCTOR DOLITTLE
Doctor Dolittle is a friend to all manner of furry, four-legged creatures. And what’s more, he can even speak to them in their very own languages...
This latest stage adaptation of the ever-popular Hugh Lofting story is performed by Illyria, who have a long and impressive history of presenting highly engaging theatre ‘under the stars’.
Moseley Old Hall, Wolverhampton, Tuesday 13 August; Hartshill Park, Telford, Tuesday 20 August
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Wonderful comic characters abound in Jane Austen’s famous romantic story. The foolish and marriage-obsessed Mrs Bennet is relentless in her pursuit of suitable men for her five daughters to marry, her increasingly desperate quest generating all manner of muddle and mayhem in the process...
This much-loved and oft-performed story is here presented by the well-established Chapterhouse, a company with an admirable reputation when it comes to producing high-quality theatrical fare for performance in the great outdoors.
Tewkesbury Abbey, Wednesday 14 August; Tamworth Castle, Monday 26 August
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST
Oscar Wilde’s famous work is a rightly adored slice of farce that sits in the upper echelons of British comic theatre.
The story revolves around the attempts of Jack to marry his true love, Gwendolen, in spite of the fact that Algernon is masquerading as Jack’s wayward brother Ernest in order to see his exquisite ward, Cecily. Add the ingredient of the redoubtable Lady Bracknell and there’s little wonder that disaster looms large on Jack’s horizon... Presented by Tethered Wits.
Tewkesbury Abbey, Wednesday 14 August; Greyfriars, Worcester, Friday 16 August
PETER PAN
Second star to the right and straight on till morning - that’s the way to Neverland...
This new theatrical production offers young audiences the chance to fly away with the boy who wouldn’t grow up to a magical island filled with adventure...
An Immersion Theatre production, the show comes complete with ‘catchy music, heaps of audience interaction, and a laugh-a-minute script’.
Shrewsbury Castle, Thursday 15 August; Dudmaston Hall, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, Sunday 18 August
101 DALMATIANS THE MUSICAL
If you’re dotty about dogs, then this is a show you’d be absolutely barking mad to miss.
Based on the same-named 1956 novel by Dodie Smith, 101 Dalmatians tells the story of delightful dog duo Pongo and Perdi, a loving couple whose life with their 15 puppies is pretty much perfect. Until, that is, the little ones are stolen to order for the ever-so-wicked Cruella De Vil, who wants to make herself a spotty coat out of their fur.
Faye Tozer steps in for Kym Marsh - who’s away filming the next series of television’s Waterloo Road - as this new touring production makes a welcome return to the Midlands.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Tuesday 20 - Saturday 24 August
PRETTY WOMAN THE MUSICAL
Based on the still-adored 1990 movie that turned Julia Roberts into a superstar, the musical stage version of Pretty Woman has become quite a phenomenon in its own right, with record-breaking runs on Broadway and in the West End.
Co-written by the film’s director, the late Garry Marshall - best known as the man behind 1970s TV hits Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy - the show comes complete with original music & lyrics by pop superstar Bryan Adams (and his long-term collaborator, Jim Vallance).
Two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell both choreographs and directs the production. Amber Davies, Oliver Savile, Ore Oduba and Natalie Paris take the lead roles.
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tuesday 20 - Saturday 24 August
THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
One of Shakespeare’s very earliest comedies, The Two Gentlemen Of Verona is little known but lots of fun. The plot centres on male friendship and betrayal, as Proteus and Valentine, two lifelong friends, fall out over the Duke of Milan’s daughter...
This open-air production is created and performed by the RSC Next Generation Act young company, which features 24 people aged between 13 and 18 and drawn from across the country.
Holloway Garden Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 August
AS YOU LIIKE IT
Banished by her usurping uncle to the Forest of Arden and revelling in the naturalness of her surroundings, Rosalind - accompanied by cousin Celia and Touchstone the fool - finds a happiness she didn’t know existed...
Expect ‘live music, bold characters, audience interaction and plenty of laughs’ in Folksy Theatre’s new production of Shakespeare’s timeless and highly likable comedy.
Biddulph Grange Gardens, Staffs, Friday 23 August; The Dorothy Clive Garden, Market Drayton, Saturday 24 August; Whittington Castle, Shropshire, Sunday 25 August
DIAL M FOR MAYHEM
A shepherd and his TV-watching sheepdog, a twinkle-eyed AA man, a missing child’s pet black rat and an ageing and flatulent soap star: all play their part in this brand-new farce from Middle Ground Theatre Company.
Set in 1991, the show follows a group of travelling actors as they battle against the odds to present classic 1950s thriller Dial M For Murder to the remote communities of the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Malvern Theatres, Wednesday 28 - Saturday 31 August
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is not only his final play but also arguably his greatest - although The Seagull, Three Sisters and Uncle Vanya certainly provide some stiff competition with regard to that particular accolade.
An extraordinary mixture of tragedy and comedy, the play is set in a fast-changing world during the early years of the 20th century and the dying days of the Russian aristocracy.
The story finds Madame Lubov - a landowner fallen on hard times - returning to the family estate (which includes an expansive and famous cherry orchard) just as it’s about to go under the auctioneer’s hammer...
The play is being presented by Here To There Productions, a Shropshire company dedicated to bringing ‘challenging and entertaining’ shows to rural theatres across the West Midlands.
Swan Theatre, Worcester, Wednesday 28 - Saturday 31 August; Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Tuesday 10 - Saturday 14 September
I WISH MY LIFE WERE LIKE A MUSICAL
With multiple five-star reviews to recommend it, this comedic musical revue has headed out on tour having previously enjoyed four Edinburgh Fringe seasons and two London runs. Promising to reveal everything you could ever want to know about musical theatre, the show lifts the lid on awful auditions, debilitating dance routines, mid-performance mishaps and backstage backstabbing - ‘plus those magical moments that make it all worthwhile’...
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Friday 30 August
MASTERS OF DECEPTION
Lance Corporal Richard Jones has followed up 12 years of service in the British Army with a hugely successful career as a magician.
The only prestidigitator ever to win Britain’s Got Talent, Richard has also headlined a sell-out show in the London West End and will no doubt be packing out theatres across the country with this latest offering.
He’s joined for the occasion by fellow Britain’s Got Talent contestants Matricks Illusion, who reached the show’s semi-final two years ago.
Lichfield Garrick, Saturday 31 August
IN THE NIGHT GARDEN LIVE!
If your little ones are big fans of the much-loved CBeebies television series, they’re certain to adore this live version as well. And it’s not only the kids who’re in love with the stage shows; according to audience surveys and parents’ reviews, nine out of 10 adults consider In The Night Garden Live to be a five-star theatrical experience.
The show lasts for 55 interval-free minutes, sees Igglepiggle looking for his friends in the Night Garden (by following their funny sounds), and features a very special visit from ‘the amazing flying Pinky Ponk’.
Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury, Wednesday 4 & Friday 5 September
HERE YOU COME AGAIN: THE DOLLY PARTON MUSICAL
‘Rollicking and joyous new musical’ Here You Come Again features the music of Dolly Parton and centres around the character of diehard Dolly fan Kevin, who finds solace in his own imagined version of the woman herself.
“The show is very funny,” says Steven Webb, who plays Kevin. “It’s a really touching journey of self-discovery and self-healing, and comes with the awesome back-catalogue of Dolly Parton’s songs. It’s not a ‘jukebox musical’; it’s just me and Dolly Parton in an attic, listening to her music.”
The Alexandra, Birmingham, Tueday 10 - Saturday 14 September
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN THE MUSICAL
If you’re a nostalgia buff with a soft spot for the 1980s, this is a night out at the theatre not to be missed.
Based on the same-named Academy Award-winning film starring Richard Gere and Debra Winger, Leicester Curve’s well-reviewed show tracks the heady romance that develops between Zack Mayo - a United States Navy Aviation Officer Candidate - and a young, captivating and seriously fiery woman named Paula Pokrifki.
The story unfolds against a backdrop of classic 1980s pop songs from the likes of Blondie, Bon Jovi, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna. It also features the Oscar-bagging hit, Up Where We Belong, which was recorded by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.
Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Monday 23 - Saturday 28 September
THE GURFFALO
Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s delightful children’s book is once again brought vividly to life, this time to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its publication. The Gruffalo is presented by award-winning theatre company Tall Stories, who’ve garnered an excellent reputation in terms of performing Donaldson & Scheffler’s work. Their imaginative retelling of the much-loved story comes complete with talented cast, catchy songs and magical characters.
Lichfield Garrick, Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 September
CHARLIE COOKE'S FAVOURITE BOOK
Given the success of so many other stage adaptations of Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s hugely popular stories (see, for example, Zog And The Flying Doctors elsewhere on this page), it’s a real no-brainer to mount a live version of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book.
Presented via the ever-popular combination of clever puppetry and enchanting songs, the show follows Charlie’s attempts to get his sister to read.
Charlie himself loves reading. For him, there’s nothing better than settling down to enjoy a favourite book about a pirate... who also has a favourite book... about Goldilocks... who also has a favourite book... about a knight... who also has a favourite book... You get the idea?...
Created for children aged between three and eight, the show has a running time of one hour.
Theatre Severn, Shrewbury, Friday 27 - Sunday 29 September
DEAR ZOO
First published in 1982, Dear Zoo - a lift-the-flap book by Rod Campbell - has delighted generations of children and accumulated millions of sales worldwide.
This hugely popular stage version of the story features music, child-friendly puppets and lots of audience participation.
Worcester Swan Theatre, Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 September
SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE
This brand-new family-friendly stage production - touring to Shrewsbury courtesy of London’s world-renowned Science Museum - aims to ‘ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you in new and exciting ways’.
Albany Theatre, Coventry, Saturday 12 October
THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO SWALLOWED A FLY
The People’s Theatre Company - highly rated creators of the fabulous Don’t Dribble On The Dragon - here bring one of the world’s best-loved nursery rhymes to life.
Their show comes complete with colourful animal characters and numerous singalong songs, including If You’re Happy And You Know It and Incy Wincy Spider...
Festival Drayton, Market Drayton, North Shropshire, Saturday 12 October; Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton, Friday 18 & Sat 19 October