Upcoming Theatre you won’t want to miss. After a long hiatus over the pandemic, we are delighted that the world of theatre is once again booming. We have hand picked the best shows coming up at three of our favourite local theatres. The Rose in Kingston, the New Wimbledon Theatre & Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond. Whatever style of entertainment magic you wish to discover, we’re sure you’ll find the golden ticket here!
The Rose Theatre Kingston
CATCH IT SOON: SIX | 17th May – 29th May 2022
DIVORCED ★ BEHEADED ★ LIVE! The international smash hit musical SIX makes its royal return to Kingston! Multi award-winning, with a spectacularly successful soundtrack storming charts across the globe. It’s a sell-out Tudor take-off which has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message. Boundary-pushing, genre-redefining’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (The New York Times).
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red.
DON’T MISS: ALAN CARR & FRIENDS, CHATTY FOR CHARITY | 30th May 2022
Join Alan Carr and his funniest friends for a special night of live comedy, raising funds for Neuroblastoma UK and Rose Theatre. The stellar line-up includes Tom Allen, Rich Hall, and Suzi Ruffell.
Alan’s unique style of humour and effortless stage presence have made him one of Britain’s most successful and treasured comedians. With sixteen series of Channel 4’s Chatty Man under his belt, Alan has won a multitude of awards including the publicly voted National Television Award and a prestigious BAFTA.
Waspish, biting, and deliciously camp, Bake Off star Tom Allen is a wickedly funny treat. Perrier and Emmy Award-winning grouchy American Rich Hall is a master of deadpan comedy and a regular on Live at the Apollo. BAFTA nominee Suzi Ruffell is an ever-delightful stand-up sure to deliver big laughs, who comes fresh from a sold-out nationwide tour and her very own BBC special.
Other funny friends getting chatty for charity include Nathan Caton (Mock the Week), Fatiha El-Ghorri (The Jonathan Ross Show) and BBC New Comedy Award finalist Josh Jones.
COMING SOON: THE GRUFFALO | 24th August – 3rd September 2022
One for the kids and well known favourite, Tall Stories presents, based on the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo. Songs, laughs and monstrous fun for children aged 3 and up and their grown-ups, in the much-loved show that’s toured Britain and the world!Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
New Wimbledon Theatre
COMING SOON: SINGING IN THE RAIN | Mon 27th June – Sat 22nd July 2022
A smash-hit in the West End, Jonathan Church’s critically acclaimed production of Singin’ in the Rain is back and sure to make a splash in 2022. Journey back to the glamour of Hollywood in the roaring 20’s.
Silent movie star Don Lockwood has it all. He has a string of hit films and a studio-engineered romance with the most beautiful actress in town. What he does not know is that the silver screen is about to find its voice. He has a chance meeting with a talented young chorus girl set to steal his heart. She promises to change both Don, and Hollywood, forever.
High-energy choreography and gorgeous set design (including a huge 14,000 litres of water on stage every night) combined with the charm, romance and wit of one of the world’s best- loved films. Singin’ in the Rain features the adored MGM score including, Good Morning, Make ‘em Laugh, Moses Supposes and everyone’s favourite, Singin’ in the Rain
Orange Tree Theatre Richmond
CATCH IT SOON: THE FALSE SERVANT | 9th June – 23rd July 2022
When a man thinks he can cynically take a rich woman’s money and then run off with an even more lucrative potential fiancée, he’d best not tell the fiancée by mistake. Le Chevalier, a woman disguised as the son of an aristocrat, embarks on a plan that will expose the dark heart of this male power-play.
This version by Martin Crimp was acclaimed at its 2004 National Theatre premiere by The Telegraph: “Thrills, chills, and belly laughs – this addictively adult comedy has got the lot.”
Paul Miller directs, following his acclaimed production of Marivaux’s The Lottery of Love. Martin Crimp’s prolific international career began at the Orange Tree Theatre, including our recent hit revival of Dealing with Clair.
“Marivaux’s scepticism, irony and fascination with money and sex make him seem peculiarly modern” The Guardian
“Paul Miller’s fleet-footed production has real charm” Evening Standard on The Lottery of Love
DON’T MISS: THE MISFORTUNE OF THE ENGLISH | 25th April – 28th May 2022
Inspired by true events: a story of (mis)adventure and blind optimism, nationhood, and courage in the face of disaster. On the morning of 17 April 1936, a group of 27 schoolboys, led by their teacher and newly arrived in Nazi Germany, set out on the first of a seven-day walking tour of the Black Forest. By 8pm that evening, local villagers were searching for them in a blizzard. You did say you wanted to take the scenic route.
Writer, Pamela Carter’s work includes The End Of Eddy (Unicorn Theatre), LINES (Yard Theatre), and Paul Bright’s Confessions of a Justified Sinner (National Theatre of Scotland). Following his critically acclaimed, award-winning production of The Sugar Syndrome, Oscar Toeman (Actually, Trafalgar Studios; After October, Finborough) returns to the Orange Tree to direct.
COMING SOON: JONNY AND THE BAPTISTS | 19th June 2022
Oh wow, the last two years have been awful haven’t they? So what do we do now? Just power through? Laugh and pretend it’s definitely fine? Or deal with the trauma of multiple lockdowns, emotional shutdowns and total breakdowns?
In “Dance Like It Never Happened” musical comedians Jonny & The Baptists are gonna try to do it all. Grieve, bounce back, have a cry and then do the macarena. It’ll be the funniest, most joyful and uplifting show you will ever see about feeling totally bereaved.
Through their trademark blend of joyful songs, silly stand-up and riotous storytelling Jonny & The Baptists should help you find meaning, humour and beauty in the worst years of the century (so far).
“Jonny & The Baptists are Flight of the Conchords equals in cleverness and comic value, but their energy is frenetic and focused rather than laid back and zonked” Stewart Lee
★★★★ “Excellent, irresistible and winningly random” The Guardian
★★★★ “Wickedly funny” The Times
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