West-End Transfers, Comedians, Circus Set for Spring 2016 Season at Sutton Theatres
By: BWW News Desk Nov. 24, 2015
After an exciting first season, Sutton Theatres is proud to announce its spring 2016 season of West End transfers, high profile comedians and new circus work alongside local community pieces.
Beri Juraic, Executive Director of Sutton Theatres, says: "When selecting the programme for our second season, we wanted to bring some of the excitement of experiencing 'liveness'." This is clearly echoed in Sutton Theatres' first production to transfer from the West End -- Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, where the audience make suggestions to the cast who create a live musical on the spot. We are also bringing you some classic Shakespearean magic in Pocket Dream by Propeller, and we welcome the Reduced Shakespeare Company with their complete (abridged) version of all Shakespeare's plays in just 97 minutes. In March, we also welcome the West End adaptation of Michael Rosen's award-winning book We're Going On A Bear Hunt. We're also proud to play host to some of the biggest stars in comedy, with new tours from Rob Beckett, Lee Nelson, Steve Hall, Richard Herring, Mark Steel, Iain Sterling and more coming to our stages!SUTTON THEATRES' SPRING 2016 LINEUP:
The Secombe
Sweeney Entertainments proudly presents
'I Love To Boogie' with T-Rextasy
Saturday 16th January, 7:30pm Tickets: £20
In 1973 a record was released which would bridge the generation gap and become a rock anthem to both young and old - 20th Century Boy was written and composed by Marc Bolan who, with his band T-Rex, was one of the most flamboyant and charismatic of the original glam rock era. With Bolan's special ingredient of Rock-a-Boogie and songs throughout the 1970s including Telegram Sam and Jeepster, he was able to obtain what would be yet another Top 20 record later in 1976 that has since become one of the most memorable and everlasting signature tunes; I Love To Boogie.
T-Rextasy have now been performing for over 20 years, a career that ironically outlives Marc's very own T-Rex. The band is now accepted as the world's only official live tribute band dedicated to Marc Bolan and T-Rex, and the only band endorsed and approved by Marc Bolan's family, estate, original ex-members of T-Rex and Bolan's catalogue management. The band has been described by many as 'beyond the boundaries of tribute'.
Truly a rock n' roll concert for all ages - if you'd like to know exactly what a Marc Bolan concert was like in the 1970s, this show is for you!
The Cryer
Wallington Operatic & Dramatic Society presents
Last of the Summer Wine
Wednesday 20th - Saturday 23rd January, 7:30pm, Saturday matinee 2:30pm
Tickets: All seats £12.50 Wednesday & Thursday performances / £14 Friday and Saturday performances
* Community Theatre
In this stage adaptation of the timeless television series written by Roy Clarke, Foggy, Clegg and Compo are reunited for one last adventure.
Foggy has designs on winning the affections of Constance, Nora Batty's niece and the long-suffering fiance? of the hapless Gifford Bewmont. With the help of Clegg, Foggy invites the ladies around for an evening's entertainment, but the duo are unaware that a mysterious flasher is stalking the local community.
Gifford has pledged to apprehend the flasher and has mounted all-night patrols in the village. While awaiting the arrival of the ladies, Foggy is dismayed when Compo turns up unannounced and who then proceeds to wreak havoc on Foggy's careful preparations as Gifford's efforts to capture the flasher lead to mistaken identities and even more chaos.
When the flasher is eventually unmasked it turns out his intentions are benign, but not before our heroes are nearly undone by the enveloping madness.
The Secombe
Tees Events proudly present
The Definitive Elvis Experience
Saturday 23rd January, 7:30pm Tickets: £21.50
Still, 38 years after his untimely passing, the legend of Elvis Presley continues to grow. Everyone has their own special Memories of Elvis, whether it's the Aloha from Hawaii via satellite, the NBC '68 Comeback Special, or the unforgettable experience of having seen a live concert by the "King of Rock 'n' Roll".
The Definitive Elvis Experience is the most authentic live stage show produced to honour Elvis Presley's legacy. For those who missed the opportunity to see Elvis Live on stage you will have Such a Night...
The show encapsulates all of Elvis' eras, from the '56 explosion that sky rocketed his dynamic career, through to his gospel roots, Hollywood years and '68 comeback all the way through to the later iconic concert years.
Ben Thompson is one of few tributes that can replicate every era of Elvis, with the exhilarating pinpoint movement of the '50s as well as the overwhelming charisma of the '60s and '68 NBC special, through to the phenomenal stage presence of the '70s, with his superb vocal range emulating the greatest entertainer of all time.
This show will leave you... All Shook Up!
The Secombe
Sweeney Entertainments proudly present
Jackson - Live in Concert
Saturday 30th January, 7:30pm Tickets: £20
Michael Jackson is not only remembered as one of the most influential artists of all time, but many of today's artists have been inspired by his iconic style. His career spanned nearly five decades of music, and he was continually at the forefront of popular music. Jackson - Live in Concert sees long- time fan and hugely talented Ben recreate the Michael Jackson experience with his stunning rendition of all his favourite songs.
Ben's portrayal of Jackson has to be the most accurate and exciting tribute to the King of Pop to have ever toured UK theatres. Ben is joined on-stage by his incredible band and dancers who work their way through all the hits. He's got the look, the moonwalk and the voice! His renditions of Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean are truly sensational.
Jackson - Live in Concert features all live vocals, superb musicians and dancers, fabulous costumes and, of course, all of the signature dance moves associated so fondly with the undisputed King of Pop. Pure MJ!
Back Door @ The Secombe
Ross Noble: Warm-Up (SOLD OUT!)
Tuesday 2nd February, 8:00pm
The Secombe
Makin Projects present
Comedy Club 4 Kids
Saturday 6th February & Saturday 2nd April, 2:00pm Tickets: £8.50 adults / £7.50 Members / £6.50 children Recommended for those aged 6+
Cracking entertainment for everyone over six years old and under 400 years old (no vampires). We have the best comedians from the UK and world circuit doing what they do best... but without the rude bits!
Since 2005, the Comedy Club 4 Kids has been getting the best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit to do their thing for an audience of children and their families... but without the rude bits! It's just like a normal comedy club, but it's on in the day, kids are allowed in, and thus there is a higher than usual chance of heckles like "why is that your face!?"
The Secombe
Propeller presents
A Midsummer Night's Dream for Young Audiences. Directed by Edward Hall
Pocket Dream
Thursday 11th - Friday 12th February, 7:30pm
Tickets: £15 / £12.50 concessions & Members / £12.50 schools & groups of 20+ which includes 2 free tickets / £10 groups of 50+ which includes 5 free tickets
If you like your Shakespeare fast-moving, easily understood and visually stunning then Propeller's sixty-minute version of A Midsummer Night's Dream is for you.
Under Edward Hall's direction, this all-male Shakespeare company combines a rigorous approach to the text with a physical aesthetic creating a production full of clarity, poetry, humour and imagination, with a little bit of magic thrown in. Pocket Dream is an inspiring introduction not only to Shakespeare, but also to the very best of English theatre.
After a gripping hour, you are invited into the performance space to question the actors about the play, acting, Shakespeare, in fact, anything that comes to mind!
A pocket-sized dream come true.
The Secombe
Off the Kerb presents
Rob Beckett: Mouth of the South
Saturday 13th February, 8:00pm
Tickets: £16.50 / £14.50 concessions (prices inclusive of a £1 booking fee and £1.50 Restoration Levy per ticket)
Recommended for those aged 14+
The Cryer
Avalon Promotions present
Steve Hall: Zebra
Saturday 13th February, 8:00pm Tickets: £10
Recommended for those aged 16+
The best-educated third of beloved Fringe losers We Are Klang, and one of the main writers on Russell Howard's Good News, Steve has opened for Russell Howard and Lee Mack on tour, and was the first ever stand-up guest on Good News. He is a regular on Frank Skinner's Absolute Radio show where he is usually quite good!
The Secombe
The South West London Gang Show presents
Souwest 2016
Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th February, 7:30pm Saturday matinee 2:00pm Tickets: £12.50 / Buy 10 and get 1 free!
*Community Theatre
The Souwest Gang are back in their new February slot for another jam-packed variety show full of popular songs, dances and some hilarious sketches! With a full stage of cast, hundreds of costumes and plenty of scene changes, there is something for everyone and never a dull moment! So don't let your February half term go by without a trip to see the Souwest Gang Show! A guaranteed good time for all the family!
The Cryer
Maskara Dance Company presents
La Dolce Vita
Saturday 20th February, 7:30pm Tickets: £12.50
* Community Theatre
Leaving her broken home, Deleila, aged 16 decides to run away to London, for she knows deep inside that only one thing will help to make her life message heard: pure creation via choreography. Maskara Dance is known to use a contemporary visual style with a unique combination of "around the world and times" dance styles.
These styles, with an element of theatrical expression, are perfectly depicted in "La Dolce Vita", which with a wonderful cast of 28, takes the audience through a beautiful dance journey; the story of Deleila's life and her passion for dance.
The show delivers a real message of hope for it tells you that no matter how hard life can be, you must find a way to deliver your own message and try to "be the change you wish to see in the world" (Ghandi) for yourself and others.
The Cryer
Untied Artists present
The Boy Who Bit Picasso
Wednesday 24th February, 4:00pm
Tickets: £10 / £8 concessions & Members / Family £30
Originally co-produced with Oxford Playhouse; this tour is presented by house
"My name is Tony and I have the most extraordinary friend... Pablo Picasso!"
Come and play down on the farm with Tony and Picasso. We'll have loads of fun, make crazy pictures and tell the true story of how a young boy became friends with one of the greatest artists who ever lived.
Untied Artists present The Boy Who Bit Picasso, an interactive theatre show for everyone aged four and up. With storytelling, music and lots of chances to make your own art, this hands-on family show introduces one of the 20th century's most influential artists through the eyes of a young boy.
Be sure to wear some play-clothes because it could get messy!
The Secombe
Avalon Promotions present
Lee Nelson: Suited and Booted
Thursday 25th February, 7:30pm
Tickets: £22.50 (prices inclusive of a £1 booking fee and £1.50 Restoration Levy per ticket) Recommended for those aged 16+
He headlined Glastonbury with Kanye West and bribed Sepp Blatter at FIFA's headquarters. Now he's extending his sell-out tour into 2016 and now in Sutton for one night only. Catch Lee Nelson at his absolute best... live and unleashed.
The Cryer
Paddleboat Theatre Company presents
According to Arthur
Saturday 27th February, 1:30pm & 4:30pm Tickets: £10 adults / £8 children & Members Suitable for those aged 4+
Meet Arthur - an odd old man who lives all alone in his attic unleashing his imagination through pen and paper. He never ventures into the outside world; instead he spends his time sharing stories with his friend the moon.
But now, Arthur needs your help! The clouds have covered the sky and the moon is nowhere to be seen, and without it Arthur can't finish his stories.
According to Arthur... is an inspirational and heart-warming tale of an old man who re-engages with the outside world and the adventurous life he once led.
The Secombe
Newbury Productions Ltd presents
Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]
Tuesday 8th March
Tickets: £17.50 / £15.50 concessions / £14.50 Members / Group rates available; please call the Box Office for more information
Written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield Directed by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor
All 37 Plays in 97 Minutes!
An irreverent, fast--?paced romp through the Bard's plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was London's longest--?running comedy having clocked a very palpable nine years in London's West End at the Criterion Theatre!
Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.
The Secombe
Crying Out Loud on behalf of Circus Evolution presents Circa Tsuica's
Opus 7
Wednesday 9th March, 7:30pm
Tickets: £12 / £10 concessions & Members (Book for These Books Are Made For Walking and Opus 7 at the same time to receive £10 tickets on each show / £7.50 each show for Members)
Welcome to the mischievous and playful world of Circa Tsuica. A company of cracking musicians and daredevil acrobats, they serve a cocktail of funky brass beats and awe-inspiring physical feats. As the performers play a joyous blend of ripping rhythms they show off their outrageous circus skills without dropping a note - or each other!
Through a potent blend of risk-taking acrobatics and foot-stomping live music, Circa Tsuica create a vibrant spectacle. Looking for a rip-roaring good time? Join them as they shake the party in this fun and uproarious show.
Circa Tsuica is the creation of Cheptel Alei?koum, a collective of unique French entertainers who tour the world performing their feel-good shows. This is the Company's first visit to the UK.
The Secombe
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Thursday 10th March, 7:30pm
Tickets: £17.50 / £16 concessions / £15 Members Recommended for those aged 14+
Spontaneous musical comedy at its finest!
A brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance of this award-winning show. Audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into an all-singing, all-dancing production with unpredictable and hilarious results.
This incredible comedy troupe never fail to impress as they create shows packed with drama, dazzling dance routines and catchy melodies, leaving delighted audiences singing all the way home.
With eight years as an Edinburgh Fringe must-see phenomenon, a BBC Radio 4 Series and a recent critically acclaimed West End run at Shaftesbury Avenue's Apollo Theatre to their name, plus performances at The Olivier Awards and West End Live, The Showstoppers have delighted audiences across the globe with their ingenious blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity.
So whether you fancy Sondheim on a ski lift or Cole Porter in Poundland - you suggest it and the Showstoppers will sing it!
The Secombe
We're Going On A Bear Hunt
Saturday 12th March, 1:30pm & 4:30pm & Sunday 13th March, 10:30am & 1:30pm
Tickets: £13 all seats / £48 Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children)
Direct from a smash-hit WEST END and international tour.
Michael Rosen's award-winning book We're Going On A Bear Hunt is brought vividly and noisily to the stage in director Sally Cookson's fun-filled adaptation set to Benji Bower's versatile lively score.
Join our intrepid adventurers on their quest to find a bear; as they wade through the gigantic swishy swashy grass, the splishy splashy river and the thick oozy, squelchy mud! Expect catchy songs, interactive scenes and plenty of hands-on adventure - plus a few special surprises!
Adapted for the stage from the modern classic written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
WE'RE GOING TO THE SECOMBE WE'RE GOING TO SEE A BEAR HUNT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLAY!
WE'RE NOT SCARED!
The Secombe
Crying Out Loud presents Bikes and Rabbits'
These Books Are Made For Walking
Thursday 24th - Friday 25th March, 7:30pm
Tickets: £12 / £10 Members (Book for These Books Are Made For Walking and Opus 7 at the same time to receive £10 tickets on each show / £7.50 each show for Members)
Recommended for those aged 6+
In a deserted and old-fashioned library two people with an unusual fondness for books meet and embark upon a playful journey.
Plunging themselves deep into the richness and depth of books, the two characters play with fiction. Books are reconstructed to become headdresses and slippers, paper planes fly through the air, books are consumed, and piled high to become a precarious landscape.
These Books Are Made For Walking is a delightfully inventive piece of theatre created by Bikes and Rabbits, who mix circus skills and theatre to create daring and highly original work.
The Cryer
Avalon Promotions present
Iain Stirling: Touchy Feely
Friday 25th March, 8:00pm Tickets: £10
Recommended for those aged 16+
Double BAFTA nominated Iain Stirling is back following 4 successive sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. A show about post-referendum Scotland and that time he annoyed the armed forces!
Credits include; Love Island (ITV), Drunk History (Comedy Central) The Now Show, Dilemma (Radio 4), Russell Howard's Good News (BBC3),The Josh Widdicombe Show (XFM), Russell Howard's Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC).
The Cryer
Moon On A Stick presents
King Arthur and the Inglewood
Wednesday 30th March 3:30pm & Thursday 31st March, 10:30am & 1:30pm Tickets: £10 adults / £8 children & Members / £30 Family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) Suitable for those aged 5+
Deep in the enchanted forest, where supernatural beings abound and the realm of the dead crosses that of the living, King Arthur is set the ultimate challenge, to uncover what it is that women most desire.
Known for their modern take on traditional folk stories, and the beautiful production of The Little Match Girl at The Cryer in December, Moon On A Stick return and bring us their unique fusion of puppetry and live action to reinvent this ancient tale. Taking us on a medieval quest where unlikely relationships lead to unexpected discoveries, they combine engaging story-telling with exciting visuals and music, to present this unforgettable fable.
The Cryer
CODA presents
All That Fosse
Wednesday 6th April - Saturday 9th April, 7:30pm Tickets: £18 / £16 concessions
* Community Theatre
CODA is proud to present All That Fosse, a musical review. All That Fosse is an energetic and loving tribute to the endless talent and brilliance of the ground breaking and iconic dance / choreography made famous by the theatrical legend Bob Fosse.
The show will include dance and musical numbers from some of "Fosse's greatest hits" such as Cabaret, The Pajama Game, Sweet Charity, Chicago, Pippin, Damn Yankees, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying...and many more, including numbers choreographed to swing / jazz classics and numbers written by the highly successful and long standing song writing team that brought us Chicago, Cabaret, Curtains and Liza with a Z, Kander and Ebb. All That Fosse will showcase and pay tribute to the Fosse signature style in an all singing, all dancing musical review that is sure to get your toes tapping and have you dancing in the aisles.
The Secombe
Coombe Monthly presents
South West London Question Time
Monday 11th April, 7:15pm Tickets: £7.50
Do you feel strongly about an issue that you want to raise with your mayoral candidates? Are you undecided about whom to vote for in May's mayoral election?
As pundits predict no clear winner, don't delay in booking your tickets for South West London Question Time to grill and quiz the London mayoral candidates who want your vote on May 5th. Conservative Zac Goldsmith will hope to fend off Labour challenger Sadiq Khan and Respect hopeful George Galloway. Sian Berry of the Greens, Caroline Pidgeon of the Liberal Democrats, and Peter Whittle of UKIP will also be making their cases for South West London.
All profits from this event are donated to Love Kingston, supporting five local projects on 'Pathways out of Poverty'.
Question your candidates. Engage in discussion. Learn about local issues. Don't miss this very special charity event.
The Cryer
Lyric Players present
Urinetown - The Musical
Tuesday 26th - Saturday 30th April, 7:30pm, Saturday matinee 2:30pm Tickets: £16
* Community Theatre
This satirical comedy musical features a city of the future afflicted by a terrible 20 year drought where public amenity tycoon Caldwell B. Caldwell has made his fortune by bribery, monopolisation, and the implementation of a brutal police force maintaining the laws against private toilets and public urination.
Amid the people, an unlikely hero, bolstered by the love of a woman decides he's had enough, and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! Winner of three Tony Awards this musical will be sure to have you laughing in the aisles.
The Secombe
Vienna Festival Ballet presents
Swan Lake
Wednesday 27th April, 7:30pm
Tickets: £22.50 / £21.50 seniors & Members / £17.50 children Music by Tchaikovsky
One of the best known love stories, performed by the ever popular Vienna Festival Ballet. Lavish costumes, stunning scenery, international stars, and the glorious music from Tchaikovsky make this a night not to be missed.
Swan Lake is the most popular ballet in the world. It's the ballet that captures, like no other, the full range of human emotions - from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy.
An evening not to be missed!
Back Door @ The Secombe
Stuart Goldsmith: An Hour
Wednesday 27th April, 8:00pm Tickets: £8 / £7 Members
All spit no polish, all show no pony. Goldsmith goes back to the source. Amused Moose Comedy Award 2015 Nominee. Multiple award-bridesmaid, and host of the "Comedian's Comedian" podcast, with over 3.5 million downloads. Now, here in Sutton for one night only!
The Secombe
Avalon Promotions present
Richard Herring - Happy Now?
Friday 29th April, 8:00pm
Tickets: £17.50
Recommended for those aged 16+
After years of drifting aimlessly and alone, Richard Herring is now settled down with a wife and a tiny baby. Is he finally happy now? Or does responsibility for the lives of others come with its own terrors?
In his twelfth solo stand up show, Richard examines whether we are can ever hope to be or are meant to be truly content. If we were never unhappy would happiness have any meaning? Why do our brains force us to envision the worst possible outcomes even on a day when everything seems fine. How likely is it that Richard's baby will be skewered by a stalactite of frozen urine falling from a plane and is it really worth him wasting his time thinking about it?
Does being happy mean a comedian loses his edge and true belly laughs only come from depression? How much pressure was there on Happy the dwarf to live up to his name? Is there any system that will guarantee us eternal bliss or should we just embrace the fact that life is a vale of tears and our only option is to laugh in its face?
The Secombe
James Seabright presents Superbolt Theatre's production
Dinosaur Park
Friday 13th May, 7:30pm
Tickets: £15 / £12.50 Concessions & Members
Created and written by: Maria Askew, Simon Maeder, Frode Gjerløw and Tid Performed by: Maria Askew, Simon Maeder and Frode Gjerløw
Associate Director & Dramaturg: Tid
This award-winning, laugh-out-loud spin on Spielberg's classic is a theatrical celebration of cinematic nostalgia and a powerful reminder of the ones we love. The perfect parody for those waiting anxiously for the next film!
Welcome to the unlikely setting of Lyme Regis Community Centre, where the Park Family embark on a journey to a misty past. When things go wrong, family feuds are faced with the rapturous roar of DIY dinosaurs.
Superbolt Theatre's five-star production is an epic adventure of show-stopping, spine-tingling theatrics and megalithic mayhem. Just like the film that inspired it, the show is suitable for the whole family.
The Secombe
Off The Kerb presents
Mark Steel: Who Do I Think I Am?
Saturday 14th May, 8:00pm
Tickets: £17.50 (Prices inclusive of a £1 booking fee and £1.50 Restoration Levy per ticket)
It never really bothered me that I'd never met my mum.
It never occurred to me I needed to meet her to 'find out who I was', as it didn't seem likely I'd discover I was someone different to who I thought I was. Could it turn out I was three stone lighter than I thought, or I spoke Italian or supported Arsenal or had a fear of Liquorice Allsorts?
But after the birth of my own son, I realised it's quite an event to have a child, and she may well remember giving birth to me, and maybe even the adoption.
See Mark Steel in his newest stand up show, a surprising and enthralling story told with aplomb. Previously, Mark has written and presented Mark Steel's In Town on BBC Radio 4 and toured it live around the UK. Mark has presented the BAFTA nominated Mark Steel Lectures for BBC2, is a regular on BBC One's Have I Got News For You and Radio 4's Newsquiz. He's also appeared on BBC2's QI and Room 101. Mark has also written several, acclaimed books, including: Reasons To Be Cheerful and What's Going On and he writes a weekly column for The Independent for which he won Columnist of the Year at the Press Awards in 2015.
The Secombe
Sutton Theatres present
Edward Bond's Dea - World Premiere
Directed by Edward Bond
Dates: Previews Tuesday 24th - Wednesday 25th May, 7:30pm
Thursday 26th May - Saturday 11th June, 7:30pm (excluding Sunday - Tuesday) Tickets: £16 / £14 concessions / £12 Members
Strictly for those aged 18+
"To be sane or not to be sane, that is the question. If not, everything that follows."
Drawing inspiration from Greek mythology and Jacobean tragedies, the new play by Edward Bond pictures vividly the collapse of our society.
Edward Bond is widely regarded as the UK's greatest and most influential playwright. He is the author of some fifty plays, among them Saved (1965), the production of which was instrumental in the abolition of theatre censorship in the UK.
His other plays include The Pope's Wedding (Royal Court Theatre, 1962), Early Morning (Royal Court, 1968), Lear (Royal Court, 1971), The Sea (Royal Court, 1973), The Fool (Royal Court, 1975), The Woman (National Theatre, 1978), Restoration (Royal Court, 1981) and The War Plays (RSC at the Barbican Pit, 1985). To this date, his plays have been produced in more than 60 countries. He has formed particular relationships with French theatre (which led to THE PARIS PENTAD) and the Birmingham Theatre Company, Big Brum, for whom he has written ten plays.
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