What’s On

Monday 27th May at 1:00pm & 4:00pm Immersion Theatre is thrilled to present a brand new, larger-than-life musical adaptation of the much-loved classic, Pinocchio! This talented company performed Robin Hood, last year’s panto at the Kenton to widespread acclaim, and this year’s production of Dick Whittington promises to be just as enjoyable. Based on the fantastical children’s book, this magical story leaps off the page and onto the stage in this high energy re-telling of Pinocchio’s extraordinary adventures. Packed with comedy, audience interaction, and a host of new songs guaranteed to have you singing along from start to finish, this high energy musical promises to be the perfect treat for the whole family, no strings attached!  

Tuesday 28th May 2019 showing at 2:30pm

Plot Summary	Trailer
Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac's Pack cannot resist going along. But once they leave port, romance arises when Dracula meets the mysterious ship Captain, Ericka. Now it's Mavis' turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his "too good to be true" love interest is actually a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, ancient nemesis to Dracula and all other monsters.
Age Rating and Advisories
Contains mild scary scenes, slapstick violence, rude humour

Wednesday 29th May 2019 showing at 7:30pm

Plot Summary	Trailer
IRENE'S GHOST is a British documentary in which the film-maker attempts to find out about the mother who gave birth to him but died when he was very young.
Age Rating and Advisories
mild bad language, references to mental illness

Tuesday 4th June to Saturday 8th June at 7:30pm

Masqueraders present the Musical telling the story of Elle Woods, who has it all. She's the president of her sorority, a Hawaiian Tropic girl, Miss June in her campus calendar, and, above all, a natural blonde.

She dates the cutest fraternity boy on campus and wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But, there's just one thing stopping Warner from popping the question: Elle is too blonde. Growing up across the street from Aaron Spelling might mean something in LA, but nothing to Warner's East-Coast blue blood family. So, when Warner packs up for Harvard Law and reunites with an old sweetheart from prep school, Elle rallies all her resources and gets into Harvard, determined to win him back.

But law school is a far cry from the comforts of her poolside and the mall.

Elle must wage the battle of her life, for her guy, for herself and for all the blondes who suffer endless indignities everyday.

Friday 14th June to Saturday 15th June at 7:30pm

The Abbey Players have been entertaining audiences throughout the Midlands for over thirty years with their pantomimes, variety shows, and award winning one-act plays. Fresh from competing in national drama competitions, the Players return to the Abbey to stage their ever popular variety show. With an evening packed full of song, dance, and irreverent comedy, this is a feel-good show that is suitable for all the family.

Sunday 16th June 2019 showing at 7:30pm

Plot Summary	Trailer
In 1930's Austria, a young woman named Maria is failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun. When the Navy captain Georg Von Trapp writes to the convent asking for a governess that can handle his seven mischievous children, Maria is given the job. The Captain's wife is dead, and he is often away, and runs the household as strictly as he does the ships he sails on. The children are unhappy and resentful of the governesses that their father keeps hiring, and have managed to run each of them off one by one. When Maria arrives, she is initially met with the same hostility, but her kindness, understanding, and sense of fun soon draws them to her and brings some much-needed joy into all their lives -- including the Captain's. Eventually he and Maria find themselves falling in love, even though Georg is already engaged to a Baroness and Maria is still a postulant. The romance makes them both start questioning the decisions they have made. Their personal conflicts soon become ...
Age Rating and Advisories

Monday 17th June 2019 showing at 7:30pm

Plot Summary	Trailer
West Side Story is the award-winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, "Romeo and Juliet". The feuding families become two warring New York City gangs- the white Jets led by Riff and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. Their hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of understanding. But when Riff's best friend (and former Jet) Tony and Bernardo's younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love. Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away. Then the Sharks and Jets plan a rumble under the highway - whoever wins gains control of the streets. Maria sends Tony to stop it, hoping it can end the violence. It goes terribly wrong, and before the lovers know what's happened, tragedy strikes and doesn't stop until the climactic and heartbreaking ending.
Age Rating and Advisories
Contains mild violence and racist terms

CANCELLED EVENT

The very first adventure of the world's greatest detective comes to life in Cloud8 Theatre Company's production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Study in Scarlet'! Discover how it all began with Dr John Watson returning to England from a savage war in the East to find himself thrown in with the brilliant and eccentric Sherlock Holmes as their first case emerges in the form of a mysterious and bloody murder. Join Cloud8 at 221B Baker Street for this dramatic, comical and bittersweet tale as the legend begins.

Saturday 29th June at 2:00pm & 7:00pm

The Drama Academy presents it's annual Musical Theatre & Dance showcase, 'Showstoppers'. Over 100 young people age 3-20 take to the stage to perform some of Musical Theatre's Biggest and Most Loved show tunes. Join us to enjoy songs from Musicals past and present. If you enjoy rousing melodies with a sprinkling of Sparkle and Pizazz this is the show for you!

Sunday 30th June at 1:00pm and 5:00pm

Dance Show

Friday 5th July at 7:00pm and Saturday 6th July at 1:00pm & 7:00pm

Rise Dance Academy presents its annual show Just Dance 2019 show casing our students hard work over the last year from our 2 year olds through to our adults.

Saturday 13th July at 7:30pm & Sunday 14th July at 2:00pm

Haddon School of Performing Arts School in Partnership with Outreach and Community Action Project present their showcase event.

All Acts are subject to change.  

Funhouse Comedy Club Line Up  - Doors Open at 7:30pm, Show Starts at 8:15pm
Compere
Barry Dodds This charming Geordie motor-mouth has audiences in the palm of his hand, even when discussing the most near the knuckle subjects. With material ranging from the supernatural to euthanasia, everything is delivered with a cheeky smile that wins over even the most stony faced of the audience. A finalist in various high profile competitions such as Jimmy Carr’s Comedy Idol and Jongleurs Last Laugh Comedy Search, his twinkly eyed, playful demeanour disarms judging panels, industry experts and audiences alike, allowing him flirt coquettishly with topics that are traditionally a little more unusual. 'Hugely enjoyable... a ton of great stories... one to watch' (The Guardian) 'Razor sharp humour' (Metro) '... the appealing and perceptive Barry Dodds... captivates his audiences with his energy, spirit and tantalizing wit. His mix of surprisingly uncanny and irrepressibly cheeky material leaves them wanting for more' (Funhouse Comedy).
Headliner
Tez Ilyas A mischievous and engaging comic, he tackles a variety of topics with an intelligent mind and a flair for deconstructing modern society while subverting audience's expectations. His playful style and cheeky personality, along with a wry wit led him to win the coveted London Comedy Store's King Gong on his first attempt, as well as reaching the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards. Star of BBC Radio 4’s TEZ Talks, BBC Two’s 'Live from the BBC' and BBC Three’s ‘Man Like Mobeen’. 'Sartorially stylish and winningly cheeky' (Chortle) “Blackburn-born Ilyas has a slickness more reminiscent of US comics, and the gags to back it up, though his most prized asset could yet be his bold, subversive streak” (The Guardian). Tez Ilyas featured in Ents24's 20 Hardest Working Comedians of 2018 list.
Supporting Acts
Leo Kearse Scottish stand up comedian based in London, Leo Kearse started his comedy career in 2009. He is one of a new wave of British acts who draw on the heritage of US acts such as Chris Rock, Sam Kinison and Bill Burr to deliver powerful, rhetorical, personal comedy taking in big issues. In 2015 he won the UK Pun Championships but he is best known on the circuit for his hilarious stories about being Scottish, dating, buying a train ticket and Thai toilets! 'Kearse is seriously good. Quick, funny, smart and to the point... hilarious' (The Scotsman).
Tom Wrigglesworth Tom Wrigglesworth is an established Stand-Up comedian, Radio and TV presenter and voice-over artist from Sheffield, England. He is best known for his live storytelling shows and BBC Radio comedy programmes which take a comical and emotional look at family relationships. Alongside his comedy work, he’s used his engineering background to become a natural and engaging presenter for BBC Television and The Discovery Channel. He is also known for his uncanny resemblance to record breaking Quarter-Back Aaron Rodgers. Tom visited Green Bay to meet his doppleganger and a short movie by NFL Films covering his trip became a viral Youtube hit.

Saturday 20th July at 7:30pm

Impro-ducing an evening of comedy improv games in the style of 'Whose Line is it Anyway?'

The Improlectuals are an improv "super-group" made up of some of the finest improvisers from around the Midlands. They create completely new comedy sketches on the spot, based entirely on audience suggestions. After a run of successful shows in Birmingham, they're now touring the Midlands - with nothing pre-scripted, every show's a World Premiere!

Featuring Rich Baldwin (WOW Impro, Abbey Players), Robert Lane (Foghorn Unscripted, Birmingham Rep), Matthew Dibbens (Coventry Improv, WOW Impro) and Nathan Blyth (Fred Theatre, Birmingham Rep)

"Slick comedy sketches," "A great blend of performers who worked together well to create a great night of comedy." - Midlands Improv, May 2018

Wednesday 11th September to Saturday 14th September at 7:30pm

Wednesday 25th September to Saturday 28th September at 7:30pm

Saturday 05th October at 7:00pm and Sunday 06th October at 4:00pm

Friday 18th October at 7:00pm

An evening of dance and aerial performances from the Children, Instructors and adult students of Bliss Pole and Aerial.

Wednesday 23rd October to Saturday 26th October at 7:30pm

Chicago is the thrilling tale of 1920's nightclub performers turned murderess'. Dancing for their lives to stay off of Death Row, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly enlist the help of the smooth-talking Billy Flynn to help them clear their names.

Featuring a sizzling score by Kander and Ebb, the musical includes numbers such as "All That Jazz", "Hot Honey Rag" and "Razzle Dazzle", amongst many more well-known show-stoppers.

One of the greatest musicals around, this is simply not to be missed!

Saturday 26th October at 2:30pm

Join NAODS as we venture into a screen and stage extravaganza, with musicals numbers from your favorite shows, old and new.

An exceptionally talented cast will take you on an adventure not to be missed.

Tuesday 5th November to Saturday 9th November at 7:30pm

Wednesday 20th November to Saturday 23rd November at 7:30pm

Friday 29th November at 7:30pm

Kick start your Christmas celebrations with a night of song, dance, comedy and laughter as The Merry Midwives perform their 'Winter Wonderland' show. Enjoy a wonderful, fun night whilst raising valuable funds for your local Air Ambulance.

Thursday 5th December to Friday 6th December at 7:30pm and Saturday 7th December at 2:30pm

Rabble Youth Theatre are proud to present the fabulous Gershwin Musical Comedy; CRAZY FOR YOU.

CRAZY FOR YOU charts the troubled love story of Bobby, son of a wealthy New York banking family and frustrated Broadway hoofer, and Polly, daughter of the proprietor of a failing theatre in Deadrock, Nevada. Sent to close the theatre down, Bobby falls for Polly and, in the guise of a Hungarian impresario, decides to save the theatre by putting on a show.

Mistaken identities, heartbreak, happiness and a wealth of memorable tunes, including I Got Rhythm, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Embraceable You all feature in this exhilarating celebration of the great Broadway musicals.

The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family. GERSHWIN is a registered trademark and service mark of Gershwin Enterprises.

CRAZY FOR YOU is a registered trademark and service mark of CRAZY FOR YOU Enterprises.

Wednesday 11th December to Saturday 14th December at 7:30pm and Saturday 14th to Sunday 15th December at 2:30pm

The Abbey Players bring their ever popular family pantomime live to the stage. Little Red Riding Hood is about to take a basket of goodies to her Granny, who lives deep in the woods. But first she must avoid The Big Bad Wolf, who has been freed from prison by greedy property tycoon Gordon Gazumper, in order to terrorise the locals into selling their homes to him for a pittance. Red reaches her Gran’s cottage only to discover that the Wolf has got there before her. Packed full of song, dance and slapstick comedy this is the perfect start to the festive season.

Thursday 19th December to Friday 20th December at 7:30pm