While the curtain goes up each night on this year’s Panto, Robin Hood, staff at East London’s Theatre Royal have found a moment to present their programme for next year. It’s also been announced that the theatre achieved 86% capacity last year – which confirms that the theatre is managing to run a varied programme which offers something for everyone.
Kerry Michael, Artistic Director of the Theatre Royal Stratford East, said: “We have some of the most diverse audiences attending our shows at Theatre Royal Stratford East compared to other theatres in the UK; we celebrate this by producing work that’s varied, inclusive and accessible to all. This season is no exception.”
Currently playing at the Theatre Royal, until 23rd January, is this year’s Christmas panto: Robin Hood. Here’s what’s on offer for the result of 2016: if you’re having a bit of time off over Christmas, why not have a look through and book up some shows in advance, to have something to look forward to next year? For more information, go to: Web: www.stratfordeast.com Facebook: /theatreroyalstratfordeast Twitter: @stratfordeast Instagram @theatre_royal_stratford_east
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An Evening with Stratford East Singers Sunday, 31st January Finalists in Gareth Malone’s 2015 hit BBC show “The Naked Choir”, Stratford East Singers will power through their unique repertoire and take audience members on an emotional journey through music. The performance includes songs from Bob Marley, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Take That, Bruno Mars, Motown Records, Byron Gold as well and traditional African folk songs. The choir aims to get audience members off their feet and becoming a Stratford East Singers member for the night!
Janis Joplin: Full Tilt 10th February-5th March This production – a sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it picked up the Edinburgh Arts Guild Award for best production – is presented by Theatre Royal Stratford East and Pacha Mama Productions. It was created by Peter Arnott and Cora Bissett, who last worked with Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2013, with the Olivier award-winning Roadkill. Blending theatre with the feel and atmosphere of a rock gig, Full Tilt tells the story of Rock icon Janis Joplin, featuring her finest songs. Audiences are taken on a rollercoaster of mixed emotions that express Janis’s exceptional life.
Americana: In Concert 31st March-2nd April Winners of The Cameron Mackintosh Award for Musical Theatre and the West End Producers’ Twitter Composer (2014), writing duo Graham Mercer (Book, Music and Lyrics) and Conway McDermott (Book) present a love story between a rebellious stoner punk and an All-American football player. High School Musical meets All-American Nightmare in a town where schoolkids stay in their stereotypical cliques. Just how far will our teenage rebels go in their fight for freedom, love and high school justice?
The House of In Between 8-30th April 2016 What if the thing you most wanted meant giving up everything you are and believed in? Once revered across Ancient Asia and Arabia, the third gender is now feared, reviled and discriminated against. Uma is the leader of one such clan in India, desperate to protect her house and preserve her millennia-old traditions and way of life. One day a stranger arrives in need of help and the community opens their doors. Will this act of charity jeopardise all the clan hold dear? The House of In Between is written by Sevan K Green in his stage debut and directed by Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Resident Director, Pooja Ghai.
The Government Inspector 18-28th May A pioneering partnership between Theatre Royal Stratford East and six other National portfolio theatres has established Ramps on the Moon, a network aiming to create theatre that is committed to offering opportunities to disabled people by putting disabled artists and audiences at the centre of their programmes. Ramps on the Moon, in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, now presents its first piece of work, The Government Inspector. The Mayor is in a cold sweat. News has reached him of an imminent visit from a Government Inspector. His fear is well-founded as he has been somewhat lacking in his official duties. Surely the only answer is bribery: it seems to have resolved many a sticky situation for the Mayor and his team in the past! But a simple case of mistaken identity leads matters to spiral hysterically out of control. Could it be that they have met their match in the complicated business of deception?
Love N Stuff 3rd-25th June After its successful sell-out run in 2013, the hilarious Love N Stuff returns to Theatre Royal Stratford East in 2016 for a strictly limited run. Love N Stuff is a comedy by Tanika Gupta, writer of East End meets Bollywood musical Wah! Wah! Girls and, more recently, writer of the stage adaptation of Meera Syal’s novel Anita and Me, which played at Theatre Royal Stratford East earlier this year. The show will be directed by Theatre Royal Stratford East’s Artistic Director, Kerry Michael. Based on a married couple who are debating whether to leave the cold streets of Stratford for a sun soaked Delhi, audiences are joined by both characters in the departure lounge for this laugh-out-loud comedy featuring more than 20 characters played by just two actors.
Sinbad the Sailor 3rd December 2016-21st January 2017 Keeping to Theatre Royal Stratford East’s tradition of pantomime with a twist, the theatre will be producing Sinbad the Sailor as the 2016 pantomime. Full of jam-packed laughter, audience participation and original music, this vibrant production will be directed by Kerry Michael. Sinbad the Sailor is by Paul Sirett, with music and lyrics by Wayne Nunes and Perry Melius.
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