Sheffield Theatres' Autumn Season to Include EAST IS EAST, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS & More

Sheffield Theatres today announces an exciting autumn season of productions in the Lyceum Theatre, alongside star casting news for its Christmas pantomime Aladdin, and details of an open weekend planned at the theatre in October.

Audiences will have the opportunity to see a selection of West End plays at the Lyceum Theatre this autumn. Modern comedy classic East Is East (Monday 7 - Saturday 12 September) is an hilarious account of British Asian life in 1970s Salford and stars Father Ted's Pauline McLynn (Eastenders, Happy Days Studio Theatre). Later in the month, the National Theatre's Tony Award-winning production of Mark Haddon's iconic novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a thrilling stage play currently wowing audiences nationwide, and following the huge success of their recent production of To Kill A Mockingbird, Regent's Park Theatre return in November with their gripping adaptation of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The highly acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre then bring their spellbinding production of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca - A Study in Jealousy to the Lyceum from Monday 23 - Saturday 28 November, conjuring a touch of Cornish romance and theatrical magic.

Dance fans can enjoy a variety of productions this season of all different types. Strictly Come Dancing professionals Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone dance The Last Tango (Monday 28 September - Saturday 3 October) their final theatre tour together; Northern Ballet and Barnsley born choreographer Jonathan Watkins (Kes) bring George Orwell's masterpiece 1984 to life in a thrilling new ballet and in January, St Petersburg Classic Ballet's magical production of The Nutcracker will delight theatregoers.

Show-stopping musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tue 25 - Sat 29 August) will star Mark Benton (Waterloo Road, Strictly Come Dancing,), Michael Praed (Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty), Carley Stenson (Hollyoaks) and Noel Sullivan (Rock of Ages, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) and joins Jersey Boys (Tuesday 6 - Saturday 17 October) and The Bodyguard (Tue 27 Oct - Sat 7 Nov) as part of the musical line-up this autumn.

Younger theatregoers will enjoy fun and frolics in the Lyceum Theatre with The Cat in the Hat (Tue 1 - Thu 3 September) and Mister Maker and The Shapes Live! (Fri 30 - Sat 31 Oct).

The Studio Theatre welcomes some exciting productions across the season. From the return of Sean Hughes (Fri 4 September), to performances from Chris Goode & Company (Men In The Cities, Sat 28 November), Rash Dash (We Want You To Watch, Tue 22 - Wed 23 September) and Eclipse Theatre Company (Dark & Lovely, Wed 18 - Fri 20 November), there's something to challenge, entertain and amuse audiences.

At Christmas, Chris Gascoyne (Coronation Street's Peter Barlow), children's favourite Alex Winters (CBeebies) and the brilliant Hilary O'Neill join Sheffield's favourite Dame, Damian Williams, in Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Pantomime's production of Aladdin (Friday 4 December - Sunday 3 January 2016) to take everyone on a magical carpet ride this festive season. In the Crucible, Slung Low will lead intrepid adventurers aged 5 - 10 years around the theatre, in their interactive show 59 Minutes To Save Christmas (Fri 4 - Thu 24 December) whilst Emergency Story Penguin (Sat 12 December - Sat 2 January) invites young audiences to jump aboard a submarine powered by song in a bid to save a very special penguin.

This season, Sheffield Theatres will also open its doors and invite audiences to experience the venue in a different way as part of Fun Palaces, a national celebration of creating and making, art and science, fun and learning. The Open Days will take place on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October and are for all ages.

Looking ahead to 2016, audiences can also now book for the theatrical classic An Inspector Calls (Tue 12 - Sat 16 January), award-winning musical Hairspray (Mon 8 - Sat 13 February), a brand new stage adaptation of David Walliams' hugely popular Gangsta Granny (Tue 8 - Sat 12 March) and musical family favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Wed 29 June - Sat 17 July).

The new season of shows go on sale to Sheffield Theatres' Centre Stage Members on Saturday 13 June, and will be on general sale to the public from Saturday 20 June at 10.00am. Visit sheffieldtheatres.co.uk or call 0114 249 6000 for more details.

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