Cambridge Arts Theatre Autumn 2023 Season Brochure

welcome

Welcome to our Autumn 23/Spring 24 season brochure. I’m delighted that we are once again able to present a season that offers something for everyone, for all of you who make up our wonderful and loyal audience. The whole team working here are aware that we are looking after our Theatre for current and future generations of Cambridgeshire theatregoers, and we try hard to cater for all tastes.

Lovers of serious plays will enjoy the new production of Macbeth, from the ever-brilliant English Touring Theatre; Farm Hall revisits the true story of a group of German physicists, detained in the Cambridgeshire countryside in 1945, speculating on the development of the ultimate weapon; Rupert Everett stars in A Voyage Round My Father, an autobiographical tale of John Mortimer’s eccentric relationship with his father; Brian Friel’s brilliant and unsettling tale of an Irish travelling faith healer and Somerset Maughan’s bittersweet The Circle, tracing relationship dilemmas repeating themselves across the generations.

I know there are many of you who love a good murder mystery, and you are in for a treat with an undoubtedly West End bound production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None; a new and gripping tale Murder in the Dark starring the ever popular Susie Blake, and Cluedo 2 will once again transport us all into the onstage whodunnit board game.

Who will be able to resist the final chapter of the Yes, Prime Minister tales with Jim Hacker, now in disgraceful retirement as Master of Hacker College Oxford, needing his old friend Sir Humphrey to get him out of one last scrape in I’m Sorry, Prime Minister or the incredible theatrical sensation, the West End long-runner The 39 Steps. The hit TV comedy Drop the Dead Donkey is on stage for the

first time, complete with its entire original cast and the West End smash hit 2:22 A Ghost Story is a brilliant supernatural thriller that should not be missed.

9 to 5 the Musical, by the ever-popular Cambridge Operatic Society, will be one of the feel good nights out of the year and those who pride themselves on their love of musicals will adore the improvisational romp that is Showstopper! The Improvised Musical. Our younger audience members will cherish the evergreen tale of The Snail and the Whale and I’m sure it will bring a tear to the eye of many bedtime reading parents. Barmy Britain will be the ultimate half term treat, mixing hilarity and history with a generous dollop of theatrical fun, whilst the stage adaptation of Onjali Q. Raúf’s heartwarming book The Boy at the Back of the Class will teach us the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense.

Finally, I can't believe it's here but it's panto time again. I am delighted, and not a little relieved, to announce Mother Goose starring Cambridge legend Matt Crosby as Gertie Goose. Will Gertie give into temptation? Will she lose her little cottage in the grounds of Cambridge’s Eiderdowning College or will the love of her friends and family mean that she will triumph and make her dream of a little Cambridge bakery a reality? Come along and join the fun.

Thank you, as ever, for your steadfast support and I look forward to seeing you again very soon at Cambridge Arts Theatre.

Dave Murphy Chief Executive

Cambridge Arts Theatre

6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ

Administration: 01223 578933

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR DONORS, FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS

SUPPORTERS’ CIRCLE MEMBERS

PRODUCER

DIRECTOR

PRINCIPAL

Lily Bacon & Andy Harter; Baroness Cohen & Mr Jim Cohen; Adam Glinsman; John & Jenny Robson; William & Wendy Topham

Phil & Ruth Blundell; Mark Bush; Ian & Anne Carter; Tom Howat & Tom Amraoui; Jeff Iliffe & Keren Williams; David J H Jones; Darren Jones-Molyneux; Dave & Adrienne Murphy; Menelas & Kelly Pangalos; Gregory & Rachel Sinfield; Andy Swarbrick; Paul Taylor; Anonymous

Matti Aijala; Simon & Jennifer Aldridge; Lord Archer & Dame Mary Archer; Sir Geoffrey & Lady Olwen Cass; Charles & Angela Chadwyck-Healey; John & Charlotte Chambers; David Charters & Penny Morris; Michael Colantuono; John & Jennifer Crompton; Sir Richard Dearlove; Stuart & Brenda Evans; Shaun & Pauline Grady; Margaret Grass; Anthony Harris; Gavin & Lucinda Howard; Tim Jones; Roger & Susan May; Rory Morrison-Smith; Councillor Keith and Mrs Linda Prentice; Matthew & Sally Punshon; David & Susan Rapley; Mary Rayner; Alan & Barbara Richardson; Colin & Cora Roberts; Brian Shaffer; Audrey Thomas; Anthony Upshall & Lisa Gibson; Anonymous

ACTOR

Marie Allan; Steve Alsop; Ann Austen; Trevor Babbs; Peter Baker; Mr & Mrs Ballisat; Mr & Mrs Bates; Martin Bedwell; Penny Belcher; Paul & Amanda Brooker; Francis & Jo Burkitt; Gordon & Julie Campbell; Christine Carpenter; Adrian & Siobhan Cassidy; Ursula Cheyne; Isabel Clare; Timothy Clarke; Geoffrey Cook; Fiona Cornish; Richard & Caroline Crane; David & Jane Dandy; Peter & Viv Dee; Maria Dod; Shirley Ellis; Ilaria Falciatori; Mr J & Mrs S Farmer; Amanda Farnsworth; Bernard Farrant; Glen & Julie Gadsby; Keith Gentle; Emma Giddings; Gyles Glover; Victoria Goodbody; Martin Harmer & Wendy Lamb; Pamela Harris; Fran Hester; Katherine Hlalat; Alice Hodkinson; Joanna Hulme; Leisa Hunt; John and Maureen Hunter; C Jenkins; David & Michelle King; Lauren Kisser; Christiane Krueger; Francesca & Gareth Lane; Patrick Lavelle; Brandi Leach; Hester Lees-Jeffries; Mr S & Mrs J Leslie; Ian & Annette Lines; Gillian Littlewood; Janet Luck; Caleb & Anna Marchent; Michael McConville; Julia Money; Joanna Morgan; Lorna Morgan; Mark Newstead; Carolyn Parsons; John Pell; Helen Pemberton; Chris Potter; John Prestage; Susan Richards; Anthony Roberts; Anne Sam; Christopher Schwick; John Shields; John Short; Pippa Simou; Ian Sims; Christopher & Cherrill Skey; Brian Sloan; Robert Tansley; Martin Taylor; Steve Thompson; Michael Topham & Iris Chang; Paul & Eileen Treadwell; Gerry Tucker; Jo Tunmer; Mariana Vaschetto; Amanda Wharrier; Astrid Whiskin; Eva Whitton; David & Jennifer Wilby; Tim Wingfield; Anonymous

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE TRUST LTD IS A REGISTERED CHARITY, NO.1069912

To

THE IRVING MEMORIAL TRUST

The Public Interest Foundation

The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust

ANN D FOUNDATION

The Atkin Foundation

David Solomons Charitable Trust

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE PRESENTS THIS YEAR’S TRADITIONAL FAMILY PANTOMIME

STARRING CAMBRIDGE FAVOURITE MATT CROSBY

Directed by Michael Gattrell

Written by Al Lockhart-Morley

Get ready for the Mother Of All Pantos to fly into Cambridge as the Arts Theatre proudly presents MOTHER GOOSE. Starring Cambridge’s #1 pantomime dame, Matt Crosby.

Gertie Goose lives a simple life in her little Cambridge cottage with family and best friend Priscilla… who just happens to be a talking Goose! A cook in the kitchens of Eiderdowning College, Mother Goose longs to open her own bakery… but with the lovesick Squire Purchase raising rents and a cost-of-living crisis looming, money is tight and her dreams remain unfulfilled.

Caught between the forces of good and evil, Mother Goose is headed for an eggs-istential crisis of epic proportions! Will beauty, fame and fortune change her? You’ll have to book to find out!

Cambridge’s #1 pantomime dame Matt Crosby (Dick Whittington, Aladdin, ITV’s Nolly) returns to the Arts Theatre as Gertie Goose. Further casting to be announced! Full of cracking jokes, songs, magic and a few surprises, the traditional rags-to-riches pantomime story is given a fun, modern, Cambridge twist by the same creative team that brought you last year’s ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ production of Dick Whittington. Eggs-pect the uneggs-pected with this must-see family pantomime for all ages!

OF ENERGY,

CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT on Dick Whittington, 2022

CAMBRIDGE 105 on Dick Whittington, 2022

‘THE HEARTWARMING ESCAPISM YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE’

‘FULL

FULL OF COLOUR AND SPARKLE’

PREVIEW:

£17

Discounts: Only one discount applies; discount applies to base ticket price, no discounts on children's tickets, lower priced seats or the preview.

For One Night Only

THE RONNIE SCOTT’S SOHO SONGBOOK

FEATURING THE RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club return to Cambridge with a stunning new collection of music and projected archive images and footage, celebrating Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook

Since its humble beginnings as a basement music bar where musicians would jam, through to the internationally acclaimed music venue it is today, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club has showcased the music of some of the world’s greatest and most influential artists. Hosting landmark performances from the likes of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Michael Bublé – and not forgetting surprise appearances by the likes of Jamie Cullum, Stevie Wonder and Prince!

Featuring classic music from the jazz greats – and in particular the legendary vocalists who have performed at Ronnie Scott’s - alongside projected archive images and footage from the club, The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook is a glimpse into this unique world and its incredible history. Hosted and performed by the award-winning Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, this is a unique evening celebrating the music and history of Ronnie Scott’s and is a must for any music fan.

‘Outstanding players. For poise, balance and swing they’re a joy to listen to’

THE OBSERVER

‘Full-on brilliance’

THE GUARDIAN

7.30PM: £25/£30

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB PRESENTS

AN AUDIENCE WITH JULIET STEVENSON

IN CONVERSATION WITH MATT STADLEN

One of our best loved actresses, Juliet Stevenson lets us into the secrets of her craft and tells the story of her glittering career.

Famous for her BAFTA nominated role in Truly, Madly, Deeply and her appearances in Bend It Like Beckham, Emma and Mona Lisa Smile, she won an Olivier Award for Death and the Maiden and is celebrated as much for her time on stage as for her success on screen.

A veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre, Juliet studied at RADA. Along with her late friend Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Kenneth Branagh and Imelda Staunton, she was part of the 'new wave' of actors to emerge from the Academy. She has received multiple BAFTA and Olivier nominations and continues to bestride the stage and screen. Recent credits include Happy Days and The Doctor, the latter moving to America this summer, which have secured Juliet’s status as one of Britain’s finest actresses.

2.30PM: £25/£30

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

A play with music inspired by the book

by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler

WhatsOnStage

Join

humpback whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, brought vividly to life through live music, storytelling and lots of laughs – but when the whale gets beached, how will the snail save him?

A heart-warming adventure for everyone aged four and up, from Tall Stories, the Olivier Award-nominated company that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.

Age guidance 4+

THURSDAY: 4.30PM

FRIDAY: 10.30AM & 1.30PM

SATURDAY: 10.30AM, 1.30PM & 4.30PM

SUNDAY: 10.30AM & 1.30PM

ALL TICKETS: £16

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

RELAXED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

‘Faultless family fare’

‘There’s real charm in this production’

The Scotsman

The Snail and the Whale © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler 2003 – Macmillan Children’s Books

Farm Hall

WRITTEN BY KATHERINE MOAR

DIRECTOR

STEPHEN UNWIN

‘A RIVETING WARTIME THRILLER’

The Guardian

“It was never about the Reich or the war. It was about physics.”

Based on a remarkable true story. Summer 1945, Hitler is dead, but the war in the Pacific rages on.

When six of Germany’s top nuclear scientists – including three Nobel Prize winners – are detained by the Allied forces at Farm Hall, a country house in the Cambridge countryside, they find themselves shut off from the outside world. Their entertainment? Some redacted newspaper, a broken piano and a copy of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. But as the months go by, their attention turns to the ongoing war and thoughts of their broken homeland.

The scientists’ tranquil summer is shattered by the inconceivable news that the Americans have succeeded where the Germans have failed, that the United States has not only built an atomic bomb, but has used one against Japan…

Unbeknownst to the scientists, during their stay, every inch of Farm Hall was bugged and their every action recorded. This play is inspired by the true events that took place at Farm Hall between July 1945 and January 1946.

Director Stephen Unwin was previously Artistic Director of English Touring Theatre and the Rose Theatre, Kingston. This production comes from London’s award-winning Jermyn Street Theatre.

access

The Arts Theatre aims to care for every patron as an individual, on a one-to-one

TUESDAY 12 – SATURDAY 23, 7.30PM AND THURSDAY 14, SATURDAY 16, THURSDAY 21 & SATURDAY 23, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£35/£40

SUNDAY 17 SEPTEMBER: NO PERFORMANCES

There are parking spaces for customers with disabilities in four locations near Peas Hill; two on Wheeler Street; seven on King’s Parade and thirty six in the park. If you have mobility requirements, please advise the Box Office when are able to allocate you the correct space. Mobility scooters cannot be accommodated building. We have four house wheelchairs (including one electric) available formances, subject to availability.

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

We have a Sennheiser infra-red hearing enhancement system, designed to OF HEARING patrons both without hearing aids, and for those who have hearing setting. We are also able to provide headsets and personal induction loops. used one before, we recommendww arriving at the Theatre early so that our can explain how they work.

BSL INTERPRETED AND AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

PRE-SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

Some of our performances are BSL INTERPRETED. The British Sign Language to the right of the stage, where they will interpret dialogue, as it is spoken. CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES; words will appear, as they are spoken or whenever on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage. For patrons who are BLIND OR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED, we can provide large print request. Guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium, please inform the Box booking, so that they can allocate the relevant ticket. We programme a number AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES throughout the year; the describer will happening, visually, on stage throughout the performance and this is relayed A pre-show touch tour of the set is often available.

We also offer RELAXED PERFORMANCES, specifically designed to welcome spectrum condition, learning disability and sensory or communication disorders, with very young children.

Spontaneous musical comedy at its absolute finest – direct from the West End and now heading back to Cambridge!

With fourteen years as an Edinburgh Fringe must-see phenomenon, a BBC Radio 4 series, a critically acclaimed West End run and an Olivier Award to their name, The Showstoppers have delighted audiences across the globe with their ingenious blend of comedy, musical theatre and spontaneity.

A brand new musical comedy is created from scratch at each performance of this award-winning show as audience suggestions are transformed on the spot into all-singing, all dancing productions with hilarious results. These incredible performers are guaranteed to impress as they create shows packed with drama, dazzling dance routines and catchy melodies – it’s just all made up on the spot!

So, whether you fancy Hamilton in a hospital or Sondheim in the Sahara, you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!

Age guidance 12+

THURSDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM: £20/£25/£30

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

‘ACHINGLY FUNNY… WORTH SEEING AGAIN AND AGAIN’ ‘INCREDIBLE… DEFIES BELIEF’ TIME OUT THE TELEGRAPH

BY SÉAN AYDON

BASED ON THE NOVEL

BY MARY SHELLEY

1943. Whilst Europe tears itself apart, two women hide from their past at what feels like the very end of the world. And one of them has a terrifying story to tell…

“I created life. You don’t believe me but it’s true. I didn’t start from scratch of course but out of portions and odd ends, I made something –alive. But what I created... it wasn’t superhuman. It was a monster.”

This new thriller inspired by the classic gothic novel and complete with a stunning original score explores the very fabric of what makes us human and the ultimate cost of chasing “perfection”.

Frankenstein is an electrifying reimagining of the world’s favourite horror story that will set minds and spines tingling.

Age guidance 12+

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£30/£35

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

PRE-SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

‘A CLEVER, COMIC EVOCATION OF ANOTHER ERA’ GUARDIAN

‘FUNNY AND MOVING’ THE STAGE

‘THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING’ THE TIMES

ROBERT FOX, JONATHAN CHURCH THEATRE PRODUCTIONS AND THEATRE ROYAL BATH PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

RUPERT EVERETT

JACK BARDOE, ELEANOR DAVID, ALLEGRA MARLAND and JULIAN WADHAM in

By John Mortimer

Directed by Richard Eyre

BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Rupert Everett stars in John Mortimer’s celebrated autobiographical play, A Voyage Round My Father.

Growing up in the shadow of a brilliant and eccentric barrister, a man whose tea-time conversation could take in music hall, adultery, evolution, the ridiculous inconvenience of sex, Shakespeare, and the importance of avoiding anything heroic in wartime, the son continually yearns for his father’s love and respect.

A Voyage Round My Father shines a light on this delicate relationship between a young man and his father who adored his garden and hated visitors, and whose blindness was never mentioned, and introduces us to a world of hilarious eccentrics, bumbling headteachers and exasperated relatives.

Rupert Everett’s leading roles have included the multi-award-winning film My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, Dance With A Stranger and The Happy Prince. His stage roles have included Blithe Spirit on Broadway, Pygmalion and The Judas Kiss in the West End and Uncle Vanya in the Theatre Royal Bath Summer Season.

Julian Wadham starred with Rupert Everett and Kenneth Branagh in the original West End production of Another Country. His extensive screen career has included roles in The Madness of King George, The English Patient, Victoria & Abdul and Downton Abbey, with numerous stage appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Court.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£30/£40/£50

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

RUPERT EVERETT

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead!

So Barmy Britain is back with the hit West End show, full of crazy new characters and rude new rulers from Britain's barmy past!

Will you be conquered by William? Will you sink or swim with King Henry I? Go house hunting with Henry VIII! Join the gorgeous Georgians as they take over England! Break into Buckingham Palace and hide from the Queen Victoria! Britain's favourite history show is back!

It’s history with the nasty bits left in!

Age guidance 5+

HALF-TERM FUN!

WEDNESDAY: 2PM & 7PM

THURSDAY: 2PM & 7PM

FRIDAY: 2PM & 7PM

SATURDAY: 2PM & 7PM

SUNDAY: 11AM & 2PM

ADULTS: £23

CHILDREN: £18

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

RELAXED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

Frank Hardy has a gift. A gift of healing. A frayed banner hangs outside a desolate village hall. The sick, the suffering and the desperate arrive from out of the wind and the rain. They come in search of restoration, a cure. They are promised 'a performance’, an opportunity to spend an intimate moment with a mercurial showman, who offers hope and salvation to the afflicted.

Through the 1950s and 1960s, Hardy and his wife, Grace, travel to remote corners of Scotland and Wales, before eventually returning to Frank’s native Ireland. Accompanied by his manager Teddy, they move from village to village, bringing with them an unpredictable mix of theatricality and the spiritual.

Using four enthralling monologues to interweave the stories of these three intriguing characters, Brian Friel takes us on an extraordinary journey of shifting perspectives and uncertain memories.

Brian Friel (1929-2015) was an award-winning Irish playwright and author. He is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest dramatists, having written over thirty plays across six decades. His major works include Translations, Dancing at Lughnasa, Molly Sweeney and Philadelphia, Here I Come!

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£30/£35

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

WEDNESDAY 8 – SATURDAY 11 NOVEMBER

ETT, SHAKESPEARE NORTH PLAYHOUSE, NORTHERN STAGE AND THÉÂTRES DE LA VILLE DE LUXEMBOURG PRESENT

Directed

by Richard Twyman

A struggling and divided nation, tearing itself apart. So, when the Macbeths see their chance at the crown, why shouldn't they take it?

But things don’t go according to plan. Dreams quickly turn to nightmares, humanity erodes, nature stirs. As society strives to make sense of the darkness that sits inside it, how long will it take for people to fight back against the endless cycle of violence and corruption?

A visceral and contemporary new production that speaks to a world we find ourselves living in now, and asks why has Macbeth haunted our fears and nightmares for centuries. What lesson is this cautionary tale still urgently trying to communicate to us?

Age guidance 12+

WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

WEDNESDAY, 3PM AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£30/£35

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

PRE-SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

‘GRIPPING

ENTERTAINMENT’

THE TIMES (ON LUCY BAILEY'S LOVE FROM A STRANGER)

‘BAILEY

TURNS THE

SCREW

WITH

EVERY SCENE’ WHATSONSTAGE (ON LUCY BAILEY'S GASLIGHT)

Ten strangers are lured to a solitary mansion off the coast of Devon. When a storm cuts them off from the mainland, the true reason for their presence on the island becomes horribly clear.

“None of us will ever leave this island.”

Directed by Lucy Bailey (Witness for the Prosecution, now in its 6th year in London), the full cast for this gripping thriller are Bob Barrett (Holby City, Propeller West End and UK Tour), Joseph Beattie (Hex, Silent Witness), Oliver Clayton (National Youth Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong), Jeffery Kissoon (National Theatre, Complicite, Allelujah!), Andrew Lancel (National tours, West End, Coronation Street), Nicola May-Taylor (Rutherford And Son), Louise McNulty (Emmerdale), Katy Stephens (RSC, Shakespeare’s Globe and London’s Burning), Lucy Tregear (The Country Wife), Sophie Walter (The Girl On The Train), Matt Weyland (Witness for the Prosecution) and David Yelland (Poirot, Foyle’s War, The Crown) as Judge Wargrave.

Don’t miss this brand-new production of the bestselling crime novel of all time, guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat...

Age guidance 12+

MONDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

A Built By Barn production in association with Bob and Marianne Benton and Mark Goucher Productions

MARTIN JARVIS & CLIVE FRANCIS

The Final Chapter

Written and directed by JONATHAN LYNN

Award-winning Jonathan Lynn, one of the original writers of the hit series, has penned a brand-new stage production, I’m Sorry Prime Minister I Can’t Quite Remember.

Former Prime Minister, Jim Hacker, longs to see out his days from his Grand Master’s Lodge at Hacker College, Oxford. The College Fellowship and students have very different ideas and eviction looms large.

Holed up in his new home, Jim finds himself, as ever, in the midst of a set of problems mainly of his own making. Unsure of how to cope, he calls on his old and not so loyal Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby. What ensues carries all the hallmark comedy of this classic partnership as well as being a touching portrait of two old sparring partners trying desperately to figure out the modern world and work out what their place is in it. In doing so they discover friendship and empathy as well as learning a few hard lessons about life.

Can Sir Humphrey Appleby, the PM’s former Cabinet Secretary, save the day one last time? Will it be Yes, Prime Minister or I’m Sorry, Prime Minister?

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£30/£35/£40

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

What a Way to Make a Livin,!

Inspired by the ‘Queen of Country’ Dolly Parton’s 1980 award-winning film, amateur dramatics group Cambridge Operatic Society are back after the sell-out success of Legally Blonde with 9 to 5 the Musical.

Three female colleagues are sick and tired of their egotistical boss and sexist workplace, finding themselves fantasising about sweet revenge. Fantastic friendships soon form as they devise a cunning strategy to turn the tables, but plans soon turn awry… with hilarious results! Will Violet, Judy and Doralee succeed in obliterating the misogyny so established in their careers? Or will they remain stuck in their dead end 9 to 5s? What a way to make a livin’!

Featuring a sensational soundtrack including Dolly’s smash hit 9 to 5, this laugh-out-loud musical comedy about standing up to the patriarchy will have you dancing all the way home (blonde wig optional!)

WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£30/£35

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

JANE ASHER, CLIVE FRANCIS & NICHOLAS LE PREVOST IN

THE CIRCLE

BY SOMERSET MAUGHAM

̒An exceptional cast. Thrilling to watch. A comic treat

WhatsOnStage

Will history come full circle? Or can one generation learn from their parents’ mistakes?

Jane Asher (Alfie, Deep End) plays Lady Kitty, a society beauty who notoriously abandoned her stuffy husband Clive (Clive Francis, The Crown), and eloped with the handsome Lord Porteous (Nicholas Le Prevost, Shakespeare in Love, Testament of Youth).

Thirty years later, love’s young dream has descended into non-stop squabbling... Meanwhile Clive and Lady Kitty’s son Arnold faces the same marital fate, as his wife Elizabeth threatens to elope with the dashing Teddie Luton.

Somerset Maugham’s sparky comedy of manners was first staged in 1921 and has remained a firm favourite with audiences ever since. Maugham was among the most successful novelists and playwrights of the inter-war years. Many of his novels, including The Painted Veil, Theatre, Up At The Villa and Of Human Bondage have been adapted for the screen.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

A spine-chilling ghost story, turned psychological thriller starring TV and stage favourites Tom Chambers (Holby City, Casualty, Waterloo Road, Father Brown and Strictly Come Dancing champion) and Susie Blake (Victoria Wood’s As Seen on TV).

What happens when the lights go out? It’s New Year’s Eve, when a car crash on a deserted road brings famous but troubled singer Danny Sierra and his dysfunctional family to an isolated holiday cottage in rural England.

From the moment they arrive, a sequence of inexplicable events begin to occur... and then the lights go out... As the tension rises and deeply buried secrets come to light, you’ll find nothing is quite as it seems.

From the mind of acclaimed writer Torben Betts and produced by the award-winning Original Theatre, who brought you the smash hit production of The Mirror Crack’d by Agatha Christie, Murder in the Dark will have you on the edge of your seats until the final chilling twist.

Are you brave enough to uncover the truth? Book your tickets and join us for a theatrical experience like no other. Cast includes Rebecca Charles (The Dresser), Jonny Green (It’s a Sin), Owen Oakeshott (Witness for the Prosecution) and Laura White (Doctors).

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £20/£25/£35/£40

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

POST SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

BREAKING NEWS: 30 years since the launch of the trailblazing, smash-hit TV series, the Globelink News team are back, and now live on stage for the very first time.

Starring the original cast members Susannah Doyle, Robert Duncan, Ingrid Lacey, Neil Pearson, Jeff Rawle, Stephen Tompkinson and Victoria Wicks, the iconic BAFTA and EMMY award-winning comedy is reimagined in this brand-new topical commentary on the cutthroat world of 24 hours news.

Bursting with razor-sharp wit and classic British humour, this hot off the press production will leave you in stitches. Written by the same award-winning writing team Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin (Outnumbered), Drop the Dead Donkey: The Reawakening! exposes the underside of the broadcasting industry in all its riotous glory.

Whether you’re one of the legions of die-hard fans of the TV sitcom that was watched by millions at its peak, or a British comedy fanatic, come and experience this hilarious revival of an all-time comedy classic.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£30/£40/£50

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

POST-SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

DIRECT FROM LONDON’S WEST END

A GHOST STORY

Directed by

MATTHEW DUNSTER & ISABEL MARR

Winner of Best New Play at the Whatsonstage Awards, this edge-ofyour-seat, supernatural thriller is written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist, and comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at five West End theatres with a host of acclaimed star performances (including among others Lily Allen, Cheryl, Stephanie Beatriz, Tom Felton, Jake Wood, James Buckley and Frankie Bridge). It’s a brilliantly funny and adrenalinefilled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear... What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth?

“There’s something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time."

Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up... until 2:22... and then they’ll know.

Casting to be announced.

Age guidance 12+

‘A MODERN CLASSIC’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘A SENSATIONAL EVENT’ EVENING STANDARD

‘SHEER NERVE-SHREDDING ESCAPISM! I JUMPED OUT OF MY SKIN SEVERAL TIMES’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£30/£40/£49

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

The Hit Play by DANNY ROBINS

Directed by Christopher Haydon

There used to be an empty chair at the back of the class, but now a new boy called Ahmet is sitting in it. He’s nine years old (just like me), but he’s very strange. He never talks and never smiles and doesn’t like sweets –not even lemon sherbets, which are my favourite!

After learning that he has fled his own war-torn country, Ahmet’s classmates have ‘The Greatest Idea in the World’ – a magnificent plan to reunite Ahmet with his family. An unexpected and often hilarious adventure follows, all topped off with a terrific twist.

Told from a child’s perspective, balancing heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class highlights the power of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn’t always make sense and reminds us that everyone needs a place to call home.

Age guidance 7+

TUESDAY: 7PM

WEDNESDAY: 10.30AM & 2PM

THURSDAY: 10.30AM & 2PM

FRIDAY: 7PM

SATURDAY: 2PM & 7PM

ADULT: £25

CHILD: £20

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Adapted by Nick Ahad

‘A lovely, warm-hearted celebration of courage and friendship' THE GUARDIAN

Based on the novel by ONJALI Q. RAÚF

YOU'LL LAUGH

TIL THEY DIE

Was it Miss Scarlett with the revolver in the dining room, or was it Professor Plum with the lead pipe in the library?…

Cluedo the hilarious whodunnit is back on stage with a brand new mystery, a new house, new suspects, and lot of new bodies!

As the bodies pile up, our colourful characters dart from room to room as they uncover secrets and try to escape the murderer and survive the night.

With an all-new story, written by BAFTA Award winners Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, (Birds of a Feather) and directed by Mark Bell – director of the original hit UK production of Cluedo and the global phenomenon, The Play That Goes Wrong, Cluedo 2: The Next Chapter, is a rollocking spoof of a comedy that will keep you guessing right up to the final twist and invites budding detectives of all ages, from 8 to 80 and beyond, to watch for the clues and unravel the secrets, as we all try to work out whodunnit….with what ...and where!

MONDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£30/£40/£49

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

'A JOYOUS VERSION OF THE HITCHCOCK CLASSIC’

THE SUNDAY TIMES

EXPRESS

‘DIZZYINGLY ENTERTAINING’

THE TELEGRAPH

Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller The 39 Steps is back on tour after nearly 10 years in the West End. Delighting over 3 million people worldwide with its quintessentially plucky spirit and dashing sense of fun, the Olivier and Tony Award-winning comedy has taken Broadway by storm and has played in 39 countries across the globe.

Follow the incredible adventures of our handsome hero Richard Hannay, complete with stiff-upper-lip, British gung-ho and pencil moustache as he encounters dastardly murders, double-crossing secret agents, and, of course, devastatingly beautiful women.

This wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller features four fearless actors, playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action.

access

The Arts Theatre aims to care for every patron as an individual, on a one-to-one

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM

AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

There are parking spaces for customers with disabilities in four locations near Peas Hill;two on Wheeler Street; seven on King’s Parade and thirty six in the park. If you have mobility requirements, please advise the Box Office when are able to allocate you the correct space. Mobility scooters cannot be accommodated building.We have four house wheelchairs (including one electric) available formances, subjectto availability.

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

We have a Sennheiser infra-red hearing enhancement system, designed to OF HEARING patrons both without hearing aids, and for those who have hearing setting.We are also able to provide headsets and personal induction loops. used one before, we recommendww arriving atthe Theatre early so that our can explain how they work.

BSL PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

Some of our performances are BSL INTERPRETED.The British Sign Language to the right of the stage, where they will interpret dialogue, as it is spoken.We CAPTIONEDPERFORMANCES; words will appear, as they are spoken or whenever on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage. For patrons who are BLIND OR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED, we can provide large print request. Guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium, please inform the Box booking, so thatthey can allocate the relevantticket.We programme a number AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES throughoutthe year;the describer will happening, visually, on stage throughoutthe performance and this is relayed

A pre-show touch tour of the set is often available.

‘HILARIOUS’ SUNDAY

Photography by Tristram Kenton/Dan Tsantilis

assisted performances

THE SNAIL AND THE WHALE

Relaxed Performance Sunday 3 September, 10.30am

FARM HALL

BSL Interpreted Thursday 14 September, 7.30pm

Audio Described Saturday 23 September, 2.30pm (Touch Tour available)

FRANKENSTEIN

Audio Described Saturday 7 October, 2.30pm (Touch Tour available)

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN

Relaxed Performance Sunday 29 October, 11am

MACBETH

Audio Described Saturday 11 November, 2.30pm (Touch Tour available)

MOTHER GOOSE

BSL Interpreted Sunday 3 December, 1pm

Captioned Friday 8 December, 6pm

Relaxed Performance Saturday 9 December, 10am & Wednesday 20 December, 2pm

Audio Described Saturday 6 January, 5pm (Touch Tour available)

2:22 A GHOST STORY

Audio Described Saturday 9 March, 2.30pm (Touch Tour available)

THE 39 STEPS

BSL Interpreted Wednesday 8 May, 7.30pm

pre-show talkspost-show talks

FARM HALL

Tuesday 12 September, 6.30pm

FRANKENSTEIN

Wednesday 4 October, 6.30pm

MACBETH

Wednesday 8 November, 6.30pm

MURDER IN THE DARK

Wednesday 7 February, 7.30pm

DROP THE DEAD DONKEY

Wednesday 28 February, 7.30pm

education

Cambridge Arts Theatre programmes a diverse range of shows supplement and support all stages of the national curriculum. We offer a variety of activities and materials designed to complement performances and provide classroom resources so that your students’ educational experience doesn’t end with the final curtain.

MOTHER GOOSE

Thursday 30 November 2023 – Sunday 7 January 2024

We welcome thousands of pupils and teachers every year for our dedicated school pantomime performances. A cracking rags-to-riches story with a modern, Cambridge twist, Mother Goose is the perfect introduction to live theatre, and performances are filling up fast. Education packs available upon request.

Suitable for ages 1-101!

FARM HALL

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 23 September

Farm Hall is based on the remarkable true story following six German nuclear scientists detained by the Allied Forces at a country house in the Cambridgeshire countryside. Unbeknownst to the scientists, every inch of Farm Hall was bugged and their every action recorded. Katherine Moar’s new play will provide fascinating insight to this local story, perfect for any student studying WWII.

Age guidance 12+

FRANKENSTEIN

Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 October

Tilted Wig present an electrifying reimagining of Mary Shelley’s iconic gothic novel Frankenstein. Complete with a stunning original score, this modern adaptation explores the very fabric of what makes us human, ideal for KS4 students and above studying the world’s favourite horror story.

Age guidance 12+

MACBETH

Wednesday 8 – Saturday 11 November

English and drama students studying Shakespeare’s epic tragedy will love English Touring Theatre’s visceral and contemporary new adaptation. Speaking to a world we find ourselves living in now, this production asks why Macbeth has haunted our fears and nightmares for centuries.

Age guidance 12+

THE BOY IN THE BACK OF THE CLASS

Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 March

Onjali Q. Raúf’s heartwarming story of friendship, hope and kindness is brought to life on stage. When schoolchildren learn that their new classmate Ahmet has fled his war-torn country to join them at school, a magnificent plan is hatched to reunite him with his family.

Age guidance 7+

how to book

The Arts Theatre Box Office can be found at our entrance on St Edward’s Passage. Please visit us during opening hours to pick up tickets, book for future performances or talk to us about the season.

ONLINE

IN PERSON

BY TELEPHONE

BOOKING FEE

Book online at www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Monday - Saturday, 12noon - 8pm

Monday - Saturday, 12noon - 8pm on 01223 503333

All tickets for the Arts Theatre include a £3 per-ticket booking fee. The booking fee is essential direct income for the Theatre. Because ticket revenue is divided between many different parties, an increase in ticket prices would not necessarily benefit the Theatre. By charging a booking fee, we can ensure that every penny goes directly to the Theatre to help us protect its growth and longevity.

REFUNDS Tickets are not refundable unless a performance is cancelled. & EXCHANGES Other exchanges may be made under certain conditions, with at least 48 hours prior notice; please contact the Box Office for details as policy is subject to change.

DISCOUNTS

Discounts for customers with disabilities apply to most performances. We also offer discounts on certain performances for students, groups and schools. Please note there are no discounts on the lowest price seats and only one discount applies and all discounts are subject to availability. Please check with the Box Office at time of booking for available discounts.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOUR VISIT

BAG AND CLOAKROOM POLICY

In the interest of customer safety the following items cannot be taken into the auditorium: Rucksacks or backpacks in any form and of any size (including children’s rucksacks, handbags that can be worn as backpacks), bags larger than 25cm x 35cm, shopping bags, larger items such as holdalls / suitcases and umbrellas longer than 25cm.

We strongly urge you to leave all bags at home or in your car, where it is practical. If you bring them to the Theatre you will be asked to check them in to the cloakroom which is situated on the first floor past the Stalls Bar (Peas Hill entrance).

Please allow sufficient time to travel to the Theatre and to allow for the additional delays this may cause. We recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the performance.

There are parking spaces for customers with disabilities in four locations near the Theatre:four on Peas Hill; two on Wheeler Street;seven on King’s Parade and thirty six in the Grand Arcade car park. If you have mobility requirements,please advise the Box Office when booking tickets so we are able to allocate you the correct space. Mobility scooters cannot be accommodated inside the building.We have four house wheelchairs (including one electric) available for use during all performances,subject to availability.

We have a Sennheiser infra-red hearing enhancement system,designed to help DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING patrons both without hearing aids,and for those who have hearing aids with a‘T’ setting. We are also able to provide headsets and personal induction loops. If you have never used one before,we recommend arriving at the Theatre early so that our Front of House staff can explain how they work.

Some of our performances are BSL INTERPRETED.The British Sign Language interpreter will stand to the right of the stage,where they will interpret dialogue,as it is spoken.We also programme CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES;words will appear,as they are spoken or whenever a sound is made, on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage.

For patrons who are BLIND OR VISUALLY-IMPAIRED, we can provide large print cast lists on request. Guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium,please inform the Box Office at time of booking,so that they can allocate the relevant ticket.We programme a number of AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCES throughout the year; the describer will explain what is happening,visually,on stage throughout the performance and this is relayed through a headset. A pre-show touch tour of the set is often available.

We also offer RELAXED PERFORMANCES,specifically designed to welcome people with an autism spectrum condition,learning disability and sensory or communication disorders,and families with very young children.

Details of accessible performances are highlighted on Page 32 and on the relevant show pages. Further information on access provision is available online at www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

The Management reserves the right of admission and the right to offer alternative seating. Cambridge Arts Theatre cannot be held responsible for changes to programmes and casting made by touring companies. Latecomers will only be allowed into the auditorium at the absolute discretion of the Theatre, in consultation with the touring company. All prices correct at time of going to print. For full terms and conditions of sale visit www.cambridgeartstheatre.com/terms-and-conditions.

The Arts Theatre aims to care for every patron as an individual, on a one-to-one basis.