Autumn 2024 Season Brochure by Cambridge Arts Theatre

welcome

Welcome to our final brochure of 2024. We have a fabulous range of new and exciting shows to share with you.

Don’t miss our co-production of Rebus: A Game Called Malice, opening on our stage in August ahead of a UK tour. Original Theatre returns in September with Sebastian Faulks’ moving First World War tale, Birdsong. In October we welcome a thrilling new adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 and in November, star of stage and screen, Felicity Kendal stars in Filumena.

You may have heard that, following a hugely generous gift from Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury through the The Gatsby Foundation, we are able to realise our long-held ambition to refurbish the auditorium. This renovation will preserve the much-loved character and charm of our Theatre whilst enabling us to offer you better sightlines, more comfortable seating as well as improved acoustics and accessibility. Technically it will bring our Theatre into the digital age. You may not notice the cutting-edge stage equipment behind the scenes but our visiting companies and artists will!

We will be building a space where creativity can flourish, and audiences and artists can come together for generations to come.

Dave Murphy, who has been CEO of our Theatre for over 21 years has decided that the time is right for him to step away. Fortunately for us he hasn’t gone far and will be producing this year’s pantomime, Cinderella. We can’t wait to see familiar faces and new friends in our audience, sharing the cherished tradition that brings our community together.

Cinderella will be the last show before the theatre closes in January ’25 for the refurbishment, re-opening again in time for Panto 2025. So mark your calendars and prepare for an unforgettable experience, as we welcome you back to our newly renovated auditorium!

Meanwhile there is lots to see this autumn, experiences to be had and memories to be made. Your continued support and enthusiasm is vital as we undertake this exciting journey.

Thank you for being a part of our story.

Rachel Tackley Creative Director

Victoria Beechey Executive Director

Interim Co-Chief Executives

Cambridge Arts Theatre

6 St Edward’s Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ Administration: 01223 578933

SOMETHING DRAMATIC IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

We are embarking on the most ambitious transformation of our theatre in its 90-year history.

Thanks to an extraordinary gift from Lord David and Dame Susie Sainsbury via the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, we will start the first phase of a major building redevelopment. We will completely overhaul our auditorium and technical infrastructure, retaining the innate character of the space loved by those who know the theatre. We will:

• Improve sightlines and acoustic quality

• Enhance seat comfort and legroom

• Enable physical accessibility

• Bring our technical infrastructure up to industry standards

These works will enable us to deliver an exceptional audience experience, and give us greater scope for creating new in-house work ensuring we can continue to attract the very best touring productions to Cambridge. They also lay the foundations for our ambitious plans to build a new 200-seat studio theatre on our building’s roof, a versatile new space for smaller-scale productions, community events and activities. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to programme exciting and ambitious new work, support emerging theatre-makers, and to invest in the cultural life of our city for generations to come.

The Theatre will close for the building works in early 2025 and we will welcome audiences back in the late autumn. We will miss you while we are closed but we look forward to telling you more about our plans and how you can support them.

SUPPORTERS’ CIRCLE MEMBERS

PRODUCER

DIRECTOR

PRINCIPAL

ACTOR

Baroness Cohen & Mr Jim Cohen; Adam Glinsman; John & Jenny Robson

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; and those who wish to remain anonymous

Matti Aijala; 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; Tim Jones; Roger & Susan May; Peter & Irena Milloy; Rory Morrison-Smith; Matthew & Sally Punshon; David & Susan Rapley; Mary Rayner; Alan & Barbara Richardson; Colin & Cora Roberts; Brian Shaffer; John Shields Audrey Thomas; Anthony Upshall & Lisa Gibson; Mariana Vaschetto; and those who wish to remain anonymous

Marie Allan; Steve Alsop; Ann Austen; Trevor Babbs; Peter Baker; Mr & Mrs Ballisat; Mr & Mrs Bates; Martin Bedwell; John & Hazel Belchamber; Penny Belcher; Simon & Sue Boniface; Paul & Amanda Brooker; Francis & Jo Burkitt; Mrs Dorothy Calder; Christine Carpenter; Ursula Cheyne; Isabel Clare & Philippe Harari; 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; James & Katie Fountaine; Glen & Julie Gadsby; Gyles Glover; Victoria Goodbody; Martin Harmer & Wendy Lamb; Pamela Harris; Linda Hawksworth; Fran Hester; Katherine Hlalat; Joanna Hulme; John & Maureen Hunter; Ceri Jenkins; David & Michelle King; Christiane Krueger; Francesca & Gareth Lane; Patrick Lavelle; Brandi Leach; Hester Lees-Jeffries; Ian & Annette Lines; Gillian Littlewood; Janet Luck; Caleb & Anna Marchent; Farbod Mirfakhrai; Lord Colin Moffat; Julia Money; Lorna Morgan; Mark Newstead; Carolyn Parsons; John Pell; Helen Pemberton; Chris Potter; John Prestage; Abi Reddy; Susan Richards; Anthony Roberts; Anne Sam; Christine Schwick; John Short; Pippa Simou; Ian Sims; Christopher & Cherrill Skey; Brian Sloan; Martin Taylor; Steve Thompson; Michael Topham & Iris Chang; Paul & Eileen Treadwell; Gerry Tucker; Astrid Whiskin; Eva Whitton; David & Jennifer Wilby; Tim Wingfield; and those who wish to remain anonymous

Waitrose Fitzroy Street Community Matters

The Wixamtree Trust

ANN D FOUNDATION The Atkin Foundation

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

To find out more about the work we do and how you can support us, contact the Development Department 0n 01223 578935 or development@cambridgeartstheatre.com

01223 503333

SUNDAY 8 SEPTEMBER

AN EVENING WITH SIMON RUSSELL BEALE

PLAYING SHAKESPEARE & OTHER STORIES

Spend an evening with Olivier Award-winning actor Sir Simon Russell Beale as he delves into his life and career to celebrate his new memoir, A Piece of Work.

Was Shakespeare an instinctive ‘conservative’ or, rather, gently subversive? How collaborative was he? Did he add a line to Hamlet in order to accommodate his ageing and increasingly chubby principal actor, Richard Burbage? Did he suffer from insomnia and experience sexual jealousy?

In conversation with a special guest, Simon will share what it’s like to approach and live with some of Shakespeare’s most famous characters.

Drawing on the range of his experiences as a man who has played many parts – from his early days as Desdemona in a school production of Othello, to the title roles in Hamlet and Macbeth, as well as his on-screen highlights in films such as The Death of Stalin – Simon will share stories about where he finds his inspiration and divulges some surprising sources.

He’ll also share funny and touching anecdotes from his friends, including Sam Mendes, Nick Hytner, Stephen Sondheim and Lauren Bacall. Come ready to savour a night with one of the finest actors of his generation.

7.30PM: £31/£33/£47

(Top price tickets include a signed hardback copy of Simon Russell Beale’s new book A Piece of Work).

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

WEDNESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

DAD’S ARMY RADIO SHOW

‘Benson and Lane’s two-man Army are a comedy force to be reckoned with’ RADIO TIMES

The nation’s favourite sitcom returns! The boys are delighted to head to Cambridge with three new episodes.

Two actors, two microphones, over twenty-five characters – and lots of sound effects! Dad’s Army Radio Show brings Perry and Croft’s classic BBC comedy to life in this highly acclaimed stage production.

Three episodes of the popular sitcom - adapted for radio for the very first time - are hilariously and lovingly enacted on stage by two master performers - complete with sound effects, vintage music and all your favourite Perry and Croft characters and catchphrases.

DAD ’ S ARMY

RADIO SHOW

7.30PM: £25

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

AN AUDIENCE WITH ROBERT LINDSAY

Throughout his glittering career, Robert Lindsay has been asked, “What made you want to be an actor?”. The question he asked himself was what kind of actor he wanted to be. While filming Citizen Smith, BBC producer Dennis Main-Wilson asked him, “Are you an actor or a performer?”. In his new solo show, the BAFTA, Olivier, and Tony award-winning actor playfully seeks to answer these questions.

Featuring special clips and behind-the-scenes imagery from his West End and Broadway triumph in Me & My Girl, his iconic role as Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith, the dark comedy of G B H, and the hilarity of My Family, to his many iconic stage performances including Hamlet, Richard III, Cyrano De Bergerac and The Entertainer, as well as the odd misfire, Robert packs this intimate show with unforgettable stories and anecdotes.

As Robert puts it, “Acting allows you to live a thousand lives in one lifetime”. Honest, surprising, and often hilarious, with the chance to ask Robert your own questions — don’t miss this opportunity to share and relive Robert’s many lives with the man himself.

7.30PM: £29/£37/£43

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

SUNDAY 29 SEPTEMBER

SANDI TOKSVIG FRIENDS OF DOROTHY

Following the sell-out 2022 tour of Next Slide Please, the comedian, broadcaster, writer and campaigner Sandi Toksvig returns to theatres with an evening to celebrate the publication of her new novel. The show will be packed with silly stories, profound truths, fascinating facts, readings from the book and a quick-fire Q&A. Life affirming, wise and funny, Sandi investigates what it really means to be a ‘Friend of Dorothy’.

This event marks the publication of Sandi’s brand-new novel Friends of Dorothy, and each ticket includes a hardback copy of the book (RRP £22.00).

Age guidance: 14+

SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER

RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB THE

RONNIE SCOTT’S

STORY

7.30PM: £41

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

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

Direct from London’s world-famous jazz club and combining world class live jazz, narration and rare archive photos and video footage, The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars return to Cambridge with a brand new programme of music celebrating ‘The Ronnie Scott’s Story’.

Mixing classic music from the jazz greats who have performed at Ronnie Scott’s over its incredible 65 year history, alongside tales of old Soho, miscreant musicians and police raids, this is a unique evening celebrating one of the world’s most famous jazz venues, its music, and history.

7.30PM: £25/£30

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE PRESENTS THIS YEAR’S TRADITIONAL FAMILY PANTOMIME

AW ARDS 2024 THE WINNER

STARRING CAMBRIDGE LEGEND MATT CROSBY

Your carriage awaits… The Arts Theatre’s spectacular family pantomime returns with the most magical rags-to-riches tale of all: CINDERELLA.

Starring Cambridge favourite Matt Crosby as the lovable Buttons, expect side-splitting jokes, sensational song and dance numbers and a sprinkling of glitter that the whole family can enjoy. Further casting to be announced!

Cinderella’s humdrum life is turned upside down after a surprise visit from her Fairy Godmother whisks her into a glittering world of glass slippers, handsome princes and enchanted pumpkins. But magic just doesn’t happen to girls like Cinderella! Can she escape the evil schemes of her two cruel stepsisters and live happily ever after?

The creative team behind last year’s ★★★★★ ‘feathered extravaganza’ Mother Goose put a brilliantly fun Cambridge twist on the timeless tale, putting the Arts Theatre firmly on the map as the biggest and best Christmas show in town. Book today!

‘MUSIC AND LAUGHTER… LOVE AND ROMANCE, AND A LITTLE BIT OF FESTIVE RAZZLE-DAZZLE’

CAMBRIDGE INDEPENDENT on Mother Goose, 2023

‘I COULDN’T FAULT IT… THE BEST PANTO I’VE SEEN IN YEARS’

CAMBRIDGE 105 RADIO on Mother Goose, 2023

DIRECTED BY

MICHAEL GATTRELL WRITTEN BY AL LOCKHART-MORLEY

NOVEMBER 2024

Thu 28 7pm

Fri 29 7pm

Sat 30 1pm 5pm

DECEMBER 2024

Sun 1 1pm 5pm

Mon 2 10.30am 7pm

Tue 3 PRESS NIGHT 7.30pm

Wed 4 No performances

Thu 5 10.30am 2pm

Fri 6 10.30am 2pm

Sat 7 10am ✻ 2pm ● 6pm ●

Sun 8 11am 3pm ●

Mon 9 No performances

Tue 10 10.30am 2pm

Wed 11 10.30am 2pm

Thu 12 10.30am 6pm

Fri 13 10.30am 7pm ●

Sat 14 2pm ★ ✻ 6pm ●

Sun 15 11am ● 3pm ★ ✻

Mon 16 No performances

Tue 17 10.30am 2pm

Wed 18 10.30am 6pm ● Thu 19 10.30am 6pm ●

Fri 20 No performances

Sat 21 2pm ★ 6pm ★ Sun 22 11am ★ ✻ 3pm ★ Mon 23 10am ★ 2pm ★ 6pm ★

Tue 24 11am ★ 3pm ★

Wed 25 No performances

Thu 26 2pm ★ 6pm ★

Fri 27 2pm ★ 6pm ★ Sat 28 11am ★ 3pm ★ 7pm ★ Sun 29 11am ★ 3pm ★ Mon 30 2pm ★ 6pm ★ Tue 31 11am ★ 3pm ★

JANUARY 2025

Relaxed performances: Sat 7 Dec, 10am & Sun 22 Dec, 11am

Wed 1 No performances Thu 2 2pm ● 6pm ● Fri 3 3pm ● 7pm ● Sat 4 11am 2pm ● 6pm ● Sun 5 1pm ● 5pm ● stage stalls circle

Audio Described performance: Sat 14 Dec, 2pm (Touch Tour available)

Captioned performance: Sat 14 Dec, 2pm

BSL Interpreted performance: Sun 15 Dec, 3pm

TICKETS FOR ACCESS SCHEME MEMBERS ON ASSISTED PERFORMANCES ONLY: £20

PREVIEW: ALL TICKETS £25. SCHOOLS PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW – SCHOOL TICKETS: £20 ALL

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

THURSDAY 29 AUGUST – SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

DANIEL SCHUMANN, LEE DEAN AND CAMBRIDGE ARTS THEATRE PRESENT

‘Rebus is an outstanding creation’

Daily Telegraph

A splendid dinner party in an Edinburgh mansion concludes with a murder mystery game created by the hostess. A murder needs to be solved. But the guests have secrets of their own, threatened by the very game they are playing. And among them is Inspector John Rebus. True crime is his calling. Is he playing an alternative game, one to which only he knows the rules? There are suspects, clues and danger with every twist and turn – and a shocking discovery will send this game called ‘Malice’ hurtling towards a gasp-inducing conclusion.

Sir Ian Rankin is the multimillion-copy award-winning bestseller of over thirty novels worldwide and creator of John Rebus. His books have been translated into thirty-six languages and have been adapted for radio, the stage and the screen. His Rebus novels have dominated the detective fiction market with the recent BBC television series ensuring the detective’s legendary status.

You’ve loved the books, been at the edge of your seat with the new TV series, now come and see Rebus live on stage.

THURSDAY 29 AUGUST –SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 7.30PM

SATURDAY 31 AUGUST, THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER & SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER: NO PERFORMANCES

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Gray O’Brien

Abigail Thaw

Billy Hartman

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

Horrible Histories is back with revolting rulers and mad monarchs from Britain’s barmy past!

Would you be wooed by Richard the Lionheart? Are you ready for a date with King Edward I? Would you be shaken or stirred by Richard III? See Mary Tudor knock the spots off Mary Queen of Scots! Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Will you be hanged by King James for being a witch? Clap along with crazy King Charles and move to the groove with party Queen Victoria!

It’s history with the nasty bits left in!

Age guidance 5+

There are parking spaces for customers with disabilities in

and

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.

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.

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.

FRIDAY: 6.30PM

SATURDAY: 2PM & 6.30PM

CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES; words will appear, as they are spoken or whenever on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage.

SUNDAY: 11AM & 2PM

ADULTS: £25

CHILDREN: £20

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.

RELAXED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

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

four locations near Peas Hill; two on Wheeler Street; seven on King’s Parade

thirty six in the

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

‘SO POLISHED, IT DEFIES BELIEF’ DAILY TELEGRAPH

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

‘ACHINGLY FUNNY… WORTH SEEING AGAIN AND AGAIN’ TIME OUT CRITIC’S CHOICE

With fifteen 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 – and it’s all made up on the spot!

So whether you fancy Hamilton in a hospital, Sondheim in the Sahara or Kinky Boots at King’s College, you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!

Age guidance 12+

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

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Sebastian Faulks’s epic tale of love and loss returns to the stage marking the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel.

The critically acclaimed show returns in a brand-new production for 2024. Telling the story of one man’s journey through an allconsuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War.

A mesmerising story of love and courage. Set both before and during the Great War. Once seen never forgotten.

Starring award-winning actor Max Bowden, best known for the role of Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, adapted by Rachel Wagstaff (The Girl on the Train, Flowers for Mrs Harris, The Da Vinci Code, The Mirror Crack’d) and produced by the award-winning Original Theatre, who brought you the smash hit productions of The Mirror Crack’d by Agatha Christie, Murder in the Dark and The Habit of Art.

Age guidance 14+

access

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

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.

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

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

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. CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES; words will appear, as they are spoken or whenever on a screen positioned above or to the side of the stage.

The 20th anniversary production of Alan Bennett’s brilliant modern classic, winner of 30 major awards, and voted The Nation’s Favourite Play in 2013.

A-Level results day. Cutlers’ Grammar School. 1980s Sheffield. Eight unruly teenagers burst into adulthood with the best grades their school has ever seen, but their sights are set on something higher: to study at the most famous academic institutions in the world – Oxford and Cambridge. But their teachers can’t agree how best to tutor them. There’s Hector, the maverick English teacher who believes in culture for its own sake; Irwin – the shrewd supply teacher full of soundbites; Felix - the headmaster obsessed with league tables and Mrs Lintott –the History teacher who thinks her colleagues are all fools.

The History Boys follows this bright bunch of boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university, lifting the lid on staffroom rivalries and the anarchy of adolescence.

This timely revival, directed by Seán Linnen, asks what is the purpose of education? And who is it for?

Age guidance 14+

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Alan Bennett

‘A COMPELLING

AND

HEARTBREAKING STORY’

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL MAGAZINE

Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.

Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

The show has played nationally and internationally to standing ovations from Shanghai and New York to Edinburgh and London’s West End. It recently toured Australia and won the Best Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024.

Age guidance 12+

‘NOTHING SHORT OF SENSATIONAL’

BROADWAY BABY

access

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

7.30PM: £25/£30 ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

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

MONDAY 14 – SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER

REGAN DE WYNTER WILLIAMS PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

Sasha Regan’s The Pirates of Penzance makes a welcome return to the UK this winter!

In this maddest of times let two of Britain’s barmiest storytellers, Gilbert and Sullivan, take you on an adventure with their muchloved tale of The Pirates of Penzance. Sasha Regan’s ability to bring out the inherent humour and fun creates an award-winning, all-male and exquisitely funny new take on the classic.

Pure joy!

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

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

STARRING keith allen

The novel which has most influenced the 21st century is brought to the stage in a thrilling new version by Ryan Craig.

Starring actor, comedian and musician Keith Allen (The Young Ones, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Pinter 3 in the West End).

On 4th April 1984, Winston Smith, comrade 6079, starts a diary. In a world where every action is painstakingly monitored and controlled, this simple act puts Winston’s life in jeopardy. A clandestine love affair with co-worker Julia further enrages the authorities, but can they truly trust each other? And what of the mysterious O’Brien? Will he help them overthrow the regime, confront them with their most terrifying fears, or worse…?

Shocking and fantastical when first written in 1949, Orwell’s novel has remained one of the most chillingly prescient novels of the last century.

Ryan Craig’s recent work includes Charlotte and Theodore. Nominated as Most Promising Playwright at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in 2005, he has gone on to win acclaim for The Holy Rosenbergs and Our Class at the National Theatre, The Glass Room and Filthy Business at Hampstead Theatre.

Director Lindsay Posner is one of the UK’s most sought-after directors whose most recent credits include West End runs of Noises Off and A View From The Bridge.

Age guidance 14+

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

PRE-SHOW TALK, SEE PAGE 32

AGATHA CHRISTIE RETURNS

TO CAMBRIDGE…

Winter 1934 and an avalanche stops the Orient Express dead in its tracks. A murder. A train full of suspects. An impossible case. Trapped in the snow with a killer still on-board, can the world’s most famous detective, Hercule Poirot, crack the case before the train reaches its final destination?

Starring Michael Maloney (Belfast, Young Victoria, The Crown) as the celebrated Belgian sleuth, Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie’s greatest literary achievements, with a final twist that is amongst her very best. Gripping, tense and masterfully cryptic, this brand-new production is a deliciously thrilling ride and an ingenious murder mystery, guaranteed to keep you guessing until the end of the line.

Following a sell-out tour of the best-selling crime novel of all time, And Then There Were None, Fiery Angel and Lucy Bailey (Director of West End Witness for the Prosecution) will bring Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of another Agatha Christie classic to the stage in 2024.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Michael Maloney as Hercule Poirot

Amidst the heat of a Neapolitan summer, Filumena (Felicity Kendal) lies on her deathbed, waiting to marry Domenico, the man who has kept her as his mistress for twenty-five years.

But no sooner than they are married, she makes a miraculous recovery, much to the surprise of her new, unwilling husband and his younger lover!

Filumena holds on to a secret from her past life, revealing one of her three grown-up sons is Domenico’s. But which one? Will he accept all three?

Eduardo De Filippo’s classic Italian comedy sparkles with optimism, affection, acerbic wit and a fierce determination for family, no matter what it takes.

Felicity Kendal leads an exceptional cast including Julie Legrand (Footballers’ Wives, Wicked), George Banks (Coronation Street, The Mousetrap), Gavin Fowler (RSC, Penny Dreadful), Jamie Hogarth (Slow Horses, Bad Education), Ben Nealon (Soldier, Soldier, Twelve Angry Men), Lee Peck (Sleuth, Looking Good Dead), Fabrizio Santino (Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger, Hollyoaks), Jodie Steele (Mallory Towers, Heathers the Musical), Hilary Tones (RSC) and Eliza Le Touzel Teale, with further casting to be announced.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Summer, 1954. The atmosphere at The Beauregard Private Hotel, Bournemouth is one of repressed emotions and post-war gentility. In this world of hushed conversations and quiet anonymity, an unlikely friendship develops between a shy spinster and a retired Army officer. But when a newspaper threatens to reveal the Major’s long-held secret, will the other residents cast him out for good?

Meanwhile, in the heart of the Midlands, a long-serving teacher is on the verge of retirement from his distinguished public school. Diminished by poor health, a crumbling marriage, the disdain of his colleagues and the derision of his pupils, he is given cause to re-examine his life when a young student offers an unexpected gesture of kindness. Britain is changing. Nothing will ever be the same again.

Terence Rattigan’s one act masterpieces Table Number Seven (from Separate Tables) and The Browning Version are paired for the first time, capturing one quietly momentous evening seventy years ago.

Stage and screen stars Nathaniel Parker and Dame Siân Phillips lead an ensemble cast, directed by Olivier Award winner James Dacre, in this double bill from one of Britain’s most popular 20th century playwrights.

TUESDAY – SATURDAY, 7.30PM AND THURSDAY & SATURDAY, 2.30PM: £25/£35/£40/£45

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

Greetings and salutations!

Following smash hit runs in London’s West End and two recordbreaking national tours, the WhatsOnStage ‘BEST NEW MUSICAL’ winner, Heathers the Musical is coming to Cambridge.

This high octane, black comedy, rock musical based on one of the greatest cult teen films of all-time is back with a bang!

Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true.

That is until JD, the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but its murder being a somebody.

Age guidance 14+

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

TUESDAY: 7.30PM

WEDNESDAY: 2.30PM & 7.30PM

THURSDAY: 7.30PM

FRIDAY: 5PM & 8.30PM

SATURDAY: 2.30PM & 7.30PM

£25/£35/£42/£49

ALL TICKET PRICES INCLUDE A £3 PER TICKET BOOKING FEE

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE, SEE PAGE 32

We also offer RELAXED PERFORMANCES, specifically designed to welcome

spectrum condition, learning disability and sensory or communication

with very young children.

assisted performances

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: ROTTEN ROYALS

Relaxed Performance Sunday 15 September, 11am

BIRDSONG

BSL Interpreted Thursday 26 September, 7.30pm

BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY VOICE

Audio Described Friday 11 October, 7.30pm (Touch Tour available)

HEATHERS THE MUSICAL

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

CINDERELLA

Relaxed Performance Saturday 7 December, 10am & Sunday 22 December, 11am

Audio Described Saturday 14 December, 2pm (Touch Tour available)

Captioned Performance Saturday 14 December, 2pm

BSL Interpreted Sunday 15 December, 3pm

pre-show talks post-show talks

1984 Thursday 24 October, 6.30pm

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Tuesday 15 October, 7.30pm

More talks may be added after publication – please check our website for an up-to-date list.

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.

CINDERELLA

Thursday 28 November 2024 –Sunday 5 January 2025

We welcome thousands of pupils every year for our dedicated school pantomime performances. The most magical rags-to-riches tale of all, Cinderella is given a brilliantly fun Cambridge twist. The Arts Theatre pantomime is the perfect introduction to live theatre, and performances will fill up fast. Education packs available upon request.

Age guidance 1-101!

BIRDSONG

Monday 23 – Saturday 28

September

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: ROTTEN ROYALS

Friday 13 – Sunday 15

September

Age guidance 5+

Sebastian Faulks’s best-selling novel and epic story of love and loss Birdsong depicts one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair into the horror of the First World War. Set before and during the Great War, Original Theatre’s production is ideal for both History and English students.

Age guidance 14+

THE HISTORY BOYS

Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 October

The 20th anniversary production of Alan Bennett’s modern classic will provide fascinating insight into the education system for all students. Following eight unruly teenage boys in the pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university, The History Boys asks what is the purpose of education? And who is it for?

Age guidance 14+

1984

Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 October

Shocking and fantastical when first written in 1949, George Orwell’s 1984 has remained one of the most chillingly prescient novels of the last century, and is now brought to the stage in a thrilling new stage adaptation perfect for English students.

Age guidance 14+

SEBASTIAN FAULKS’S

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.

access

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

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.