FANTASTIC THINGS TO WATCH AT THE DUKES THIS JUNE From stories about the most successful woman you’ve probably never heard of, to innovative award winning theatre with music by UK music sensations The Staves, The Dukes, Lancaster has entertainment in its plentiful this June. Full English - Fri 3rd June Tickets £8-£15 WINNER: Best Stage Production 2021 - Asian Media Awards ‘Us kids aren’t English, they aren’t Pakistani. They’re ours. And we love ‘em for it” Full English explores personal histories from the Canterbury Estate, where Natalie Davies grew up, along with her mother and her Nan, Cath - a reggae loving, dance enthusiast. Back in the late fifties, migrant workers started to arrive from Pakistan and Bangladesh. These young men soon met and started to fall in love with local lasses, including Natalie’s Nan - Cath. Using first hand stories, Full English is a poignant, funny and life-affirming homage to the strength of women. Those who married Pakistani men and brought up mixed race children. Those who struggled with their identity. Those whom never really belonged to any particular culture or race. Those who constantly had to stand up against racists. Those who just didn’t care. Because, let’s face it, who is full English anyway? Just as Natalie becomes a mother herself, her beloved Nan is diagnosed with dementia. Full English charts Natalie’s journey as she attempts to piece together the fragments of her own identity through understanding the courage & tenacity of her Nan’s story. What emerges is a love letter between young people who loved across the boundaries, to Natalie’s Nan, to Bradford and to the courage of women everywhere facing prejudice.
As a child, doctors told Beryl that she could never take part in strenuous activities due to a heart condition. When she met future husband Charlie, and he introduced her to the local cycling club, her life changed forever. Proving that she can do anything she put her mind to, Beryl went on to become the greatest woman on two wheels, dominating the sport in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s: five times world-pursuit champion, thirteen times national champion, twice road-racing world champion, twelve times national champion, British record-holder, world-record holder, MBE, OBE. Sometimes it’s the stories that are true that are the most unbelievable. By Maxine Peake. An Oldham Coliseum Theatre production directed by Chris Lawson.
We’ve Got Each Other - Sat 16th June Tickets: £12 The almost entirely imagined Bon Jovi Musical. With the modern jukebox musical traditionally comes a multitalented cast, a live band (or orchestra if you are lucky), opulent sets and decadent costumes, extravagant dance routines, dramatic key changes and the odd hydraulic lift or two. We’ve Got Each Other has none of these things (they cost a lot of money), but Paul still tries to create this all singing, all dancing spectacle using the powers of your imaginations. We’ve Got Each Other is a laugh out loud show celebrating jukebox musicals, Bon Jovi, and the community that is formed when people come together and… believe. After all, we’ve got each other… and that’s a lot for love!
Beryl - Tue 7th - Sat 11th June Tickets: £10-£18 Beryl Burton: quite possibly the most successful woman you’ve never heard of. When actress Maxine Peake was given cyclist Beryl Burton’s autobiography as a gift she questioned why no one had ever written a play about Britain’s unsung sporting legend, and so she wrote it herself. The result is an inspirational tour de force fuelled by rhubarb, northern charm and fierce determination. 42
LANCASHIRE & NORTH WEST MAGAZINE
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