HAMLET "Though this be madness, yet there is method int! Join the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company as they put on a frantic disposition to tackle Shakespeares greatest tragedy in their own anarchic style. When he discovers that his uncle has murdered his father, married his mother and traitorously taken the crown of Denmark theres only one course of action for Hamlet: feign madness, frequently monologue and take swift revenge. But outrageous fortune has other plans for the poor Prince of Denmark... With live music, audience interaction, brevity-boosting abridgements, comic turns and tragic twists theres only one question: To be there, or to be square? If Shakespeare chose a modern company to perform his work then it would undoubtedly be The Pantaloons. (North West End) Tickets:- 16 Adults, 21yrs & under and unwaged 13 (a small booking fee applies)Start time 7.30pm, and there is a 20 minute Interval. Group rates (10+) and other ticket enquiries here.

In 1988, two Birmingham school friends tentatively come out to one another: Edward as gay; Peter, even more daringly, as anABBA fan. Nearly thirty years later, they meet again and take a chance by forming the worlds first ABBA tribute band in drag. Its a riot of platform boots and dodgy beards, Waterloos and Chiquititas , and they couldnt escape if they wanted to. But can Edward and Peters friendship survive the tribulations of a life on the road? Camp, funny and jolly good fun Sunday Times A super-trouper of a show that reminds us all of the part music can play in our lives and our friendships Hallards script is keen-edged and perceptive, rapidly creating characters and imbuing them with life views that make the audience both laugh and feel a tinge of sadness - WhatsOnStage Hilariously funny a positive joy to watch from start to finish bang on the Money, Money, Money - Reviews Hub Side-splittingly funny the easy comedy of the first act gives way to a dramatic series of genuinely surprising twists in the second ahead of a touchingly sentimental conclusion a genuine love letter to ABBA with plenty for the die-hard enthusiasts to enjoy, but when all is said and done it is ultimately a story about enduring friendship - Broadway World A gorgeously realised super trouper of a play thats well worth taking a chance on - West End Best Friend A fun, frothy comedy with heart-stopping moments incorrigibly entertaining [Hallard is] a comic writer who brings big dollops of warmth to his work, and abounding joyfulness too. A must-see for Abba fans; fun and laughs for the rest of us - Guardian Hilarious you dont have to be an ABBA aficionado to enjoy it - British Theatre Guide Wonderfully funny - LondonTheatre1 A sweet, juicy, peach of a show that is physically impossible not to savour a veritable goldmine of deliciously funny one-liners. But it also a touching, tender, and brilliantly executed meditation on the nature of enduring friendship, and of the challenges involved in coming out late in life this show really is an awful lot of fun - Reviews Hub Full of heart, and enough witty one-liners to lift the spirits, whether or not youre an ABBA fan - The Stage Ian Hallards The Way Old Friends Do is a tender, laugh-out-loud comedy about devotion, desire and dancing queens. Tickets:- 16 Full Price , 13 21yrs & under . First Night Special and Matinee, Saturday 6th , 13 (a small booking fee applies)Start time 7.30pm (2.30 matinee on Saturday 6th). Run time is approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, including a 15 minute interval. Group rates (10+) and other ticket enquirieshere. This production is presented by arrangement with Nick Hern Books. (The Way Old Friends Do deals with adult themes and humour.)

FRESH KNICKERS (and a Gin & Tonic) At 50, Cheryl thought life might slow down. What she didnt expect was the rollercoaster of Perimenopause - a baffling barrage of symptoms no one warned her about. As she and her lifelong friend Sandra navigate the ups, downs, fun and downright weird moments of midlife, their husbands try and make sense of it all from the safe haven of the local pub. This empowering, and side-splitting musical takes us on a journey of friendship, change and self-discovery. Along the way, Cheryl encounters a parade of eccentric characters, from nosy waiters, to spa therapists with more sass than skill - but none as unexpected as the rappin lifestyle guru Fuzzy B (Davina McCall was, regrettably, unavailable). With a cheeky nod to Cinderella and a very messy spa day that leaves more questions than answers, FRESH KNICKERS (and a Gin & Tonic) asks: will Cheryl make it to the ball, or will her hot flushes get there first? So, hold onto your knickers and have the ice cubes ready - youre going to need a G&T after this show! Creator Heather Davis was inspired to write this show as she saw a gap - not just in theatre, but in societys understanding of what it really means to go through this transition. The physical and emotional changes, the confusion, the invisibility, the humour - and most importantly the need for support and solidarity. This play is for everyone whos ever felt blindsided by their own body, and for the friends and family members who go through it right alongside them. Through music and comedy FRESH KNICKERS (and a Gin & Tonic) invites audiences to laugh, cry and see themselves in Cheryls journey. Because, if lifes going to throw us hormonal chaos, the least we can do is turn it into a musical. Were thrilled to be ACE Funded and will be offering an outreach programme which includes creative workshops in the community, to educate and give voice to the effects of menopause. Make sure you check our event programme to attend workshops. More info:-www.freshknickersplay.com [http://www.freshknickersplay.com] Tickets: 16 & 14 concessions (a small booking fee applies) Trigger Warnings / Content warnings: Discussion of Perimenopause health symptoms and some swearing. Appropriate for age 16 + Running time 120mins (including an interval of 20 minutes) There will be a 20 minute Q & A after the performance for those that would like to stay behind.

Opening their autumn Tour at the Gallery Studio Theatre:- COMMON GROUND THEATRE COMPANY present THE TALES OUR MOTHER TOLD! by Pat Whymark "What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive" At their mother's memorial service, estranged brothers Brian and Dennis Cox remember the tales she told them as children - and as adults. Some were fables of homespun wisdom, some were her own versions of the grimmest fairy tales. Did they help the brothers in their life path, or did they make the forest darker and the way less clear? Were her stories just for fun, or a kind of smokescreen, an enchanted mist that enticed them to strange parts, then left them without Google maps? Untangling the web of her imagination could either bring the brothers closer, or shatter their uneasy peace for ever. Common Ground are committed to keeping small-scale theatre alive and well in East Anglia, presenting shows that are, first and foremost, entertaining. Featuring live music, performed by our company of skilled actor-musicians, our productions are theatrically inventive, character-based and always emotionally engaging. "One of the best things on the road in East Anglia right now, the ever-inventive Common Groundpathos, humanity and dry humour. A proper treat." - Libby Purves Running time:- 2 hours (including a 15 minute interval). Age guidance :- 10 years and above. www.commongroundtc.co.uk [http://www.commongroundtc.co.uk] Tickets:- 15 Adults, 21 & Under 10 (plus a small booking fee) Ticket enquiries here.

COMMON GROUND THEATRE COMPANY present SHERLOCK HOLMES SMELLS EVIL! by Pat Whymark DARK DEEDS AT THE QUEASY PINES SANITORIUM. HOLMES & WATSON RISK MORE THAN THEIR HEALTH TO INVESTIGATE! Holmes has booked Watson a two week stay at a health spa, high in the Sproughton Mountains, near Ipswich. Though Watson insists he doesnt require steam baths and carrot soup, Holmes persuades him to take the cure and return to his duties well rested and refreshed. But something is amiss at Queasy Pines Sanatorium. Having no contact with the outside world except phone, post, telegram and carrier pigeon, Watson must wait for Holmes visit to tell him of the mysterious disappearances at Queasy Pines and its strange one legged Superintendent, Professor Eintrouser. Created by the team well known for their many Christmas shows both for Common Ground & Eastern Angles, dont miss this classic comedy mystery peppered with Common Grounds trademark sparkling wit, ingenious staging and hilarious songs. Common Ground present another of their much-loved festive comedy and have been touring the Eastern region for many years now with their unique brand of music theatre. "One of the best things on the road in East Anglia right now, the ever-inventive Common Groundpathos, humanity and dry humour. A proper treat." - Libby Purves Suitable for adults and children aged 8 and over. Running time:- 2 hours (including a 20 minute interval.) www.commongroundtc.co.uk [http://www.commongroundtc.co.uk] Tickets:- 16 Adults, 21 & Under 10 (plus a small booking fee) Ticket enquiries here.