What’s on at East Anglia’s theatres this autumn and winter. Comedy, pantomime, thrillers, musicals and more. Read our pick of the best upcoming performances and shows this season.
This autumn and winter the region’s theatres have a fantastic programme of musicals, concerts and drama. From world-wide smash hit productions and dazzling dance performances to laugh out loud comedy and music that will have you dancing in the aisles, we’ve picked a few highlights of what’s to come.
West End Productions
Tensions build at the Cambridge Arts Theatre as the West End smash hit ‘Girl on the Train’ comes to the stage from 23-28 September. The adaptation of Paula Hawkins best-selling novel, stars EastEnders’ Samantha Womack and will have you gripped until the very end. Another tension filled performance which will have you on the edge of your seat comes from ‘Blood Brothers’ at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff-on-Sea from 11-14 September.
It’s entertainment galore in Norfolk as the hugely popular ‘Kinky Boots’ comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from 17-29 September, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ fills the auditorium with classic crooners at the King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on 4 October and the unforgettable songs of ‘9 to 5 – The Musical’ comes to Gorleston Pavilion Theatre from 16-19 October.
‘Whitney – Queen of the Night’, a celebration of the life and music of Whitney Houston will be touring the region making a stop at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on 12 September, King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on 26 September, Milton Keynes Theatre on 6 October, the Dunstable Grove Theatre on 19 October, Cromer Pier on 26 October, St Albans Arena on 2 November, Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 21 November, Ipswich Regent Theatre on 27 November and Peterborough’s Cresset Theatre on 30 November.
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UK comedians 2019 tours
The biggest names on the UK comedy circuit are touring the region over the next couple of months, but you’ll need to be quick to get tickets, many of the gigs are already sold out. The highly anticipated new stand up ‘Wallop’ from comedian Rob Beckett will have audiences crying with laughter at Ipswich Regent Theatre from 30-31 October, Cambridge Corn Exchange on 13-14 November and the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend on 23-24 November and 4 and 7 December.
Jimmy Carr brings his new stand up ‘Terribly Funny’ to the Princes Theatre in Clacton on 12 September, King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on 16 November, Norwich Theatre Royal on 17 November, Brentwood Live on 24 November and 6 December, Ipswich Regent Theatre on 28 November, Colchester Charter Hall on 30 November, Watford Colosseum on 1 December and Cambridge Corn Exchange on 8 December.
There’s also performances from classic comedian Frank Skinner with the last few remaining tickets available at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 5 November and Milton Keynes Theatre on 20 October. Legendary Jack Dee will entertain crowds in October at The Apex, Chelmsford Civic Theatre and King’s Lynn Corn Exchange. There’s also hilarious stand up from Josh Widdecombe, Romesh Ranganathan, Rhod Gilbert and Russell Kane.
Musical Theatre
There’s no shortage of musical entertainment this season as some of the world’s best tributes to the biggest stars delight audiences. The Bohemians and Simply reRed belt out classic hits from Queen and Simply Red at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton in October, while you can catch a tribute to Adele in Clacton, Chelmsford and Norwich and ‘Fast Love – a Tribute to George Michael’ at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. There’s also the ELO Experience, Think Floyd, Rocket Man, Beatlemania, ABBA, Totally Tina and The Simon and Garfunkel Story, among many more.
‘Music of Motown’ will continue to tour the region, whilst fans of films can enjoy an evening by Blake with ‘Movies & Musicals’ and ‘Bowie Starman’, a tribute to Bowie at Maddermarket Theatre in Norwich.
One new production not to be missed is ‘The James Bond Concert Spectacular’ at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 22 September and West Cliff Theatre on 24 November.
Children’s Theatre
Hertford Theatre is a great location for entertaining younger audiences with their regular family films and this season productions including ‘Tabby McTat’ in September, ‘Horrible Histories’ throughout October and ‘Dear Zoo’ in November.
Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds is also geared up to entertain young theatre-goers over the coming months with shows including ‘Dear Zoo’ from 23-24 October and ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ from 25-27 October, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from 18-20 November and its pantomime ‘Peter Pan’ which will span the entire Christmas season and into the New Year until 19 January.
Broadway Theatre Letchworth has a brilliant new line up of family theatre arriving this Autumn. Little ones (and adults!) can enjoy music, mischief and magic as their favourite children’s tales are brought to life on the big stage!
From The Very Hungry Caterpillar making its way off the page and onto the stage to the much-loved red-headed Monstersaurus, to The Scarecrows Wedding bought to you from the creators of Stick Man to the live on-stage Christmas production of The Wind in the Willows, there is something to excite all young families!
Christmas Shows and pantomimes
It’s not just pantomime at Christmas. If you’d prefer to avoid slapstick, cheering and booing, but want to get into the festive spirit then book your tickets to the classic Christmas fairy tale of The Nutcracker at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on 6 November and Peterborough’s Key Theatre on 7 November.
There’s magical musical entertainment with ‘That’ll Be The Day Christmas Show’ at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre on 23 November as well as ‘Nativity – The Musical’ from 6-10 November, ‘Christmas Memories’ on 12 November at the Princes Theatre in Clacton and Marina Theatre on 21 November.
Haverhill Arts Centre will have a performance of ‘Holly at Christmas’ on 24 November and the ‘Cromer Pier Christmas Show’ will once again thrill audiences with laugh-out-loud comedy, amazing dance routines and glitzy costumes from 23 November to 30 December.
If you fancy a Christmas chuckle book your seat at Adam Kay’s ‘Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas’, at Watford Colosseum on 9 December. A follow up to Adam’s ‘This Is Going To Hurt’, this is a hilarious insight into the life of a doctor at Christmas time.
This is just a taster of what’s to come this season. Keep up to date with all theatre performances, shows and concerts at www.eastlife.co.uk/events
