Alnwick Playhouse reveals final programme before it shuts for redevelopment

The Alnwick Playhouse has revealed its final programme before it closes for a year for redevelopment, essential maintenance work and conversion into a community hub.
Alnwick Playhouse manager Jo Potts with the last programme to be printed before the refurbishment break.  Picture by Jane ColtmanAlnwick Playhouse manager Jo Potts with the last programme to be printed before the refurbishment break.  Picture by Jane Coltman
Alnwick Playhouse manager Jo Potts with the last programme to be printed before the refurbishment break. Picture by Jane Coltman

And audiences for the very last performance before the curtain comes down are in for a real treat.

As theatre manager Jo Potts says in the summer 2018 (June to August) brochure: “I am delighted to announce that for our last event before closing for re-development, we will welcome back Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to perform either The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew or Twelfth Night on August 11 and 12.

Playhouse manager Jo Potts with a banner for the last event before the theatre closes for re-development - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre will perform either The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew or Twelfth Night on August 11 and 12.Playhouse manager Jo Potts with a banner for the last event before the theatre closes for re-development - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre will perform either The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew or Twelfth Night on August 11 and 12.
Playhouse manager Jo Potts with a banner for the last event before the theatre closes for re-development - Shakespeare's Globe Theatre will perform either The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew or Twelfth Night on August 11 and 12.
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“Which play is to be performed? You, our audience, will decide on the night.

“I hope to see as many of our supporters there as possible, to celebrate our final curtain call for 2018.”

Apart from that exciting, not-be-missed finale, there is a veritable cornucopia of shows and films to keep you entertained through those long, hopefully hot, summer days.

The programme kicks off with a must-see performance for lovers of tap dancing. Contemporary tap company Old Kent Road present a journey through quintessential jazz, entangling movement within the graceful perspective of tap dance on Friday, June 1.

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Led by a live band, the show, Fallout, takes an experimental ride attempting to understand the journey of falling out of love.

Renowned poet and performer Pam Ayres pays a visit on Saturday, June 2, with her funny, warm and charming, understated manner belying a rare comic precision.

Mountaineer Simon Yates returns with more of his tales from the edge, on Thursday, June 14.

On the subject of entertainment, TV psychic Derek Acorah, who made it into the final of Celebrity Big Brother last year, presents his show on his Love, Life, Laughter Tour on Saturday, June 30.

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If music is your thing, the programme is packed with gems. Dust down those disco pants as multi-million-selling soul band from the ’70s, The Real Thing, are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut hit single You To Me Are Everything, with the Feel the Force Tour, which is coming our way on Friday, June 8.

Scottish trailblazers, the Peatbog Faeries, land on Friday, June 15, before Alnwick Music Society presents one of the UK’s best-loved pianists Martin Roscoe on Wednesday, June 20.

Tribute act The Take That Experience have been together for a decade and recreate the magic of the iconic band, with their own Greatest Hits Tour 2018, calling in at the Playhouse on Friday, June 22.

The Cavern Beatles recreate the sounds from a slightly earlier era. Their show is a magical history tour through the greatest of all pop music phenomena. They play Alnwick on Friday, June 29.

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Eduardo Niebla, a formidable flamenco jazz guitar virtuoso, will grace the stage on Friday, July 6, and Jackson Live in Concert is a tribute to the incredible King of Pop, Michael Jackson, performed by CJ on Friday, July 20.

There are three live streamings planned: Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband broadcast from London’s Vaudeville Theatre (Tuesday, June 5); The Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake from the Royal Opera House (Tuesday, June 12); and hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, from London’s Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue (Thursday, July 5).

On the local front, several schools from the area collaborate for Opera North’s Big Sing, performing First World War-themed music on Wednesday, June 27; the Duchess’s Community High School, Alnwick, present a Band Night on Wednesday, July 4; the Playhouse Youth Theatre groups perform A Night at the Musicals, a selection of songs from their previous shows, on Tuesday, July 10; and Alnwick Academy of Dance showcase their work in three performances on Saturday, July 14.

Code Breakers: The Story of Enigma is the fascinating story of the Allied codebreakers presented by Dr Mark Baldwin and is followed by a question-and-answer session and demonstration of one of the few surviving Enigma machines, on Tuesday, July 17.

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A liberal scattering of films, from Sir John Hurt’s last leading role in That Good Night to the animated movie Sherlock Gnomes complete the picture.

Films: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (12A), Wednesday/Thursday, June 6/7; That Good Night (12A), Saturday, June 9; The Leisure Seeker (15), Wednesday, June 13; Sherlock Gnomes (U), Saturday, June 16; A Quiet Place (15), Saturday, June 16; McKellen: Playing the Part, Tuesday, June 19; Tully (15), Thursday, June 21; Deadpool 2, Saturday, June 23; Beast (15), Tuesday, June 26; Solo: A Star Wars Story, Tuesday, July 3, and Saturday, July 7; Entebbe (12A), Wednesday, July 11; Edie (12A), Thursday, July 12; On Chesil Beach (15), Friday, July 13; Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Wednesday/Thursday, July 18/19.

For more details, grab a copy of the new brochure or visit the Playhouse website, www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk