The Dukes Theatre present their Autumn 2021 Season

The Dukes Theatre celebrates 50th Birthday year with exciting new season

1971 –2021

The Dukes is back to delight audiences with its Autumn 2021 season – ushering in a celebration of The Dukes 50th Anniversary!

Beginning a year of celebration until Summer 2022, the new Autumn season is packed with imaginative storytelling, gripping drama, heart-warming family shows, fantastic film, and cracking comedy.

Since opening the doors in 1971, The Dukes has been committed to placing arts and culture at the heart of the Lancashire and Lancaster City region. As Lancashire’s only producing theatre, over the years The Dukes has welcomed the likes of Dame Harriet Walter, Gloria Grahame, Andy Serkis and most recently, Sir Ian McKellen.

In 1987, The Dukes broke new ground with the firstever Play in the Park, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Every year, audiences are dazzled in Lancaster’s beautiful Williamson Park with the annual promenade production.

This year The Dukes has taken on the stories of Grimm Tales: Witches, Wolves, Fairies and Frogs, a sell-out production which has received rave reviews from audiences.

In 2016, The Dukes Park Show won Best Show for Children and Young People at the UK Theatre Awards.

In 1995 The Dukes opened a second building, now known as Moor Space, further up from the main theatre and cinema on Moor Lane. The building was completely reimagined, transforming it from an empty shell into the home of participatory work with the local community and a new performance space welcoming new artists to Lancaster.

The Dukes 50th Year celebration Autumn season includes many fantastic pieces of live performance, including newly commissioned work focusing on Lancaster stories. Belle & Mary is a new retelling of an infamous Lancaster true-crime tale.

But The Dukes is not just focusing on local themes - it will welcome companies from across the UK with great family productions such as Tarzanna and Protein Dance’s Little Prince.

There is also tremendous comedy and drama with La Navet Bete Theatre’s The Three Musketeers: A Comedy Adventure and Dracula: The Untold Story by innovative Lancaster theatre company, imitating the dog.

The ever expanding and exciting Moor Space programme will showcase pioneering work, including Too Pretty to Punch and Finding Folk, bringing new voices to The Dukes stage. And finally, to finish the year a magical festive family production of Beauty and the Beast – done The Dukes way!

You can download The Dukes season brochure from the website: dukeslancaster.org

Happy Birthday The Dukes. Here’s to the next 50 years!

M The Dukes, Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE D Website: www.dukeslancaster.org E Booking Enquiries: tickets@dukeslancaster.org E General Enquiries: ask@dukeslancaster.org N Box Office: 01524 598500

A stunning line-up of gripping drama to heart-warming family shows. The Dukes Theatre present their Autumn 2021 Season

Kicking off a year of celebration for the 50th Birthday for the Dukes theatre, their new Autumn season is packed with imaginative storytelling, gripping drama, heart-warming family shows, fantastic film and cracking comedy, bringing some of the biggest names in theatre, comedy and film to the audiences of Lancashire.

We’ve compiled a small selection of highlights during October and November, a full line-up of whats-on can be found on their website: www.dukeslancaster.org.

DRACULA: THE UNTOLD STORY WHEN: Fri 29 October: 7.30pm Sat 30 October: 2.30pm & 7.30pm TICKETS: £16

Unfolding on stage as a live graphic novel, Dracula: The Untold Story is a chilling new version of the classic gothic vampire tale that you thought you knew so well. Using the latest digital technologies, imitating the dog engage with the dark landscape of the gothic with a renewed energy and political insight.

Fresh from their critically acclaimed adaptations of Heart of Darkness and Night of the Living Dead (TM) REMIX and 123 years after its publication, imitating the dog take Bram Stoker’s seminal gothic novel as the starting place for their radical exploration of our fascination with the most enduring manifestation of evil in literature and cinema. Recommended for 14+

BELLE & MARY WHEN: Thu 18 & Fri 19 November: 7.30pm Sat 20 November: 2pm & 7.30pm TICKETS: £18 - £14

A brand new play about the infamous Buck Ruxton case Written by Adam Z. Robinson Directed by Martha Simon

When several wrapped bundles containing human remains are discovered in Moffat, Scotland in 1935 a landmark police investigation begins that will eventually lead back to two women in Lancaster and to the man who killed them.

This brand-new production, staged as if it was a radio play, tells the story of the murders of Isabella “Belle” Ruxton and Mary Jane Rogerson and explores why the notorious Buck Ruxton case is still so resonant and relevant today. Still regarded as one of the most shocking crimes of the last century, this infamous case also marked a pivotal moment in forensic detection.

ROMEO & JULIET WHEN: Thu 14 October: 7.30pm Fri 15 October: 7.30pm Sat 16 October: 2.30pm & 7.30pm TICKETS: £18 - £14

Three actors cooped up together during lockdown. Fuelled by cabin fever and with a bookshelf full of Shakespeare, they did what they do best and created an unhinged and bonkers, laugh-out-loud version of Romeo & Juliet. With music, mayhem and more costume changes than you can shake a spear at, expect the HandleBards usual irreverent, charming and hilarious style to come bursting onto the stage at The Dukes. Forget the tears and tragedy, and get ready for some live and wired Shakespeare as you’ve never seen it before.

“AN EXCEPTIONAL TOURING PRODUCTION… EXPLODES WITH ENERGY AND IS A GENUINE TREAT FROM START TO FINISH” - THE STAGE, ON THE HANDLEBARDS’ TWELFTH NIGHT

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR WHEN: Sat 6 November: 1pm & 3.30pm Sun 7 November: 11am & 2pm TICKETS: £14

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by author/illustrator Eric Carle has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969, selling more than 43 million copies worldwide. Eric’s well-known books captivated readers with his iconic colourful hand-painted tissue paper collage illustrations and distinctively simple stories, introducing generations of children to a bigger, brighter world–and to their first experience of reading itself. The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage.

Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, the critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly and of course, the star of the show,The Very Hungry Caterpillar who celebrated its 50th Birthday in 2019.

The Dukes Announce ‘Beauty & the Beast’ as their 2021 Christmas Production

BEAUTY & THE BEAST WHEN: Fri 3 December - Fri 31 December TICKETS: £16 - £20. Family Tickets Available

Written & directed by Daniel Bye

Join The Dukes this Christmas as they bring Beauty & The Beast to the intimate Round theatre.

Created by the team who brought you our highly acclaimed productions of Cinderella: A Fairytale and Sleeping Beauty, this brand-new production is a thoroughly festive adventure that all the family will love.

Bella and her mother live alone in the countryside, scrimping and saving to make ends meet. But, not far from their farm, in the forest, there is a terrible secret waiting to be uncovered that has made the land barren.

Kidnapped by the fearsome Beast, Bella discovers that he might not be the mean-spirited creature that she has been told about – and that the curse he is under can be broken.

Filled with magic, dancing and songs that you’ll love to sing along to, this is Beauty & The Beast done Dukes-style.

“A DELIGHT” - NORTHERN SOUL ON CINDERELLA: A FAIRYTALE

“CLEVER, COMPACT AND THOROUGHLY-COMIC” - THEATRE REVIEWS NORTH ON CINDERELLA: A FAIRYTALE

Moving Tribute to Theatre Supporter

Above Left: The Dukes newly restored milk float named after Bernard Gladstone. Above Right: Bernard Gladstone’s daughter, Karen Chandisingh, unveils the restored milk float named after him, watched by The Dukes technical team.

Lancaster’s Dukes theatre has paid an unusual tribute to a much-loved volunteer and supporter of their outdoor walkabout shows.

Bernard Gladstone, who died in March, had seen every Dukes production in Williamson Park since 1987 and had volunteered at them for decades. He was also the theatre’s honorary archivist for more than 40 years.

In honour of his support, The Dukes has named the milk float after him which travels around the park during shows. It carries the essential lighting and sound control panel, so Bernard’s presence will be felt there for many summers to come.

After months of work, the newly restored milk float with its special name was unveiled by Bernard’s daughter, Karen Chandisingh, who is The Dukes box office manager.

“My dad’s two passions were The Dukes and his garden so when the theatre decided to present shows outdoors in Williamson Park, it was a dream come true,” said Karen.

“As The Dukes archivist, it was important to dad to retain its history so he would be made up by this tribute. His family are immensely proud of him and it’s so nice that his memory lives on in this way.”

Bernard looked after the cast and crew in the Williamson Park dressing rooms during The Dukes summer promenade season for 25 years and in 2011, won a Making A Difference Award at Lancashire & Blackpool Tourism Awards for his dedication.

He even had an award-winning garden packed full of props and memorabilia from Dukes park shows which was filmed by BBC NW Tonight in 2017.

The float, which began life delivering milk for the Express Dairy in Farnworth 54 years ago, was restored following a fundraising effort to pay for its long overdue repairs and the replacement of worn and outdated park show lighting and sound equipment.

The fundraising was supported by many generous individuals, the Foyle Foundation, and proceeds from Sir Ian McKellen’s 80th birthday tour which called into The Dukes in 2019.

Refurbishment of the electric controllers and batteries began in January 2020 with the help of milk float specialist, Steve’s Electrics, based in south Wales. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, all work ceased.

In May, the electrics were eventually completed and repairs to the bodywork, access panels and technical controls could be done while still retaining the character and historic features of the vehicle which has become a familiar sight to park show audiences over the years.

The finishing touch - Bernard’s sign - was painted by Rachel WaltonDaniels, a former park show stage manager.

Bernard’s milk float can be seen throughout this year’s show - Grimm Tales: Witches, Wolves, Fairies and Frogs - which has now SOLD OUT - if you have missed out you can book now for the ever popular Dukes Christmas Show, Beauty & the Beast.

Tickets can be booked in advance by visiting www.dukeslancaster.org or ringing The Dukes Box Office on 01524 598500