Nominated for 5 Olivier Awards including Best New Musical, the sell-out London smash hit Six is the phenomenon everyone is losing their head over! From Tudor queens to pop princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII finally take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. Think you know the rhyme, think again… Divorced. Beheaded. Live!

When fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to swipe all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, there’s trouble ahead for Pongo and Perdi and their litter of adorable, tail-wagging young pups.

Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery and treachery…all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts.” So begins the international multi-award-winning musical, Chicago. Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Chicago is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today's tabloids.

West End mega-hit Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, comes as part of its first ever UK & Ireland tour. From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her triumphant transformation into a multi award-winning global superstar, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them, winning 12 Grammy Awards and selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer in music history. Set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her iconic hits, including The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, discover the heart and soul behind the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Experience her inspiring story live on stage as this exhilarating celebration reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to dream fiercely, shatter barriers and defy the bounds of age, gender and race to conquer the world against all odds. This is a tribute performance.

Direct from London, step through the wardrobe this winter into the magical kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and say hello to a talking Faun, an unforgettable Lion and the coldest, cruellest White Witch. The nations favourite novel, now on the stage.

The long-running West End hit returns! When Professor Goodman, arch-sceptic out to debunk the paranormal, embarks on an investigation of three apparent hauntings – as recounted by a night-watchman, a teenage boy, and a businessman awaiting his first child – Goodman finds himself at the outer limits of rationality, and fast running out of explanations. Enter a world full of thrilling twists and epic turns, where the ultimate love-letter to horror is imagined live on stage. A fully sensory and electrifying encounter, Ghost Stories is one of London’s best reviewed plays of all time and will keep you on the edge-of-your-seat. This is a theatrical experience like no other. After exhilarating audiences across the world with record breaking, sell-out productions and a smash hit film, Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson’s Ghost Stories is genuine scary fun, a worldwide phenomenon more spine-tingling and fantastically terrifying than ever.

Craig Revel Horwood is a national treasure. The longest-serving judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing is the master of the Glitter Ball. After starting as a dancer, he worked on the nation’s biggest musicals and became a choreographer, director, and best-selling author. Craig’s also a remarkable singer, and to celebrate the release of his debut solo album, Revelations, he’ll reveal his own, hidden talent during a Fab-U-Lous night of big songs, tall tales, and glamour.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show returns to the UK as part of a sell-out worldwide tour, having been seen by over 30 million theatregoers. Directed by Christopher Luscombe and featuring timeless classics, including Sweet Transvestite, Damn it Janet, and of course, the pelvic-thrusting Time Warp. The Rocky Horror Show is the story of two squeaky clean college kids – Brad and his fiancée Janet. When by a twist of fate, their car breaks down outside a creepy mansion whilst on their way to visit their former college professor, they meet the charismatic Dr Frank’n’Furter. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, filled with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity.

The incredible ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’ have announced more tour dates and West End shows throughout 2025! Spontaneous musical comedy at its finest, this is the first ever long-form improv show to have a full West End run and to be nominated and win an Olivier Award. For those who haven’t yet experienced the live phenomenon that is ‘Showstopper! The Improvised Musical’, the show is a fully-realised musical created on the spot from audience suggestions. The cast take ideas for settings, genres, musical styles and the show title and weave it into ingenious storylines with hilarious characters. From Lin Manuel Miranda to Stephen Sondheim, whether it’s set in a primary school, Ancient Egypt, or a mattress shop – if the audience thinks it, The Showstoppers can turn it into a hit musical. The majority of the cast also have much acclaim with founder member Ruth Bratt being part of the famous Comedy Store Players, the longest running impro show in the country; Pippa Evans being a regular on BBC Radio 4, has toured with I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue and wrote ‘Now That's What I Call A Musical!’ (that’s currently on UK tour). The pilot of Hopping, a new comedy from Lucy Trodd and Susan Harrison, aired on BBC Radio 4 and Matt Cavendish appeared on this year’s Royal Variety Performance with Mischief Theatre's ‘A Comedy About Spies’. Co-founder Adam Meggido directed the West End and Broadway hit show Peter Pan Goes Wrong. The incredibly talented West End star Miracle Chance (Roald Dahl’s The Witches at the National Theatre, Veronica Sawyer in Heathers at The Other Palace) has just joined the cast. The Showstoppers also regularly run improvisation workshops and courses for beginners and professionals and have a successful podcast - The Showstopper! Podcast, with recent guests including Zizi Strallen, Rufus Hound and Reuben Kaye. The Showstoppers have performed created more than 1,000 brand new musicals since they were formed in 2008 but they don’t stop working hard at their craft – they have to learn to improvise in the style of every hit show that comes to town, and they always encourage audiences to challenge them and keep them on their toes. As a result, they continue fill theatres, delight audiences and win awards. In 2024 they were in the Top 10 best reviewed shows of entire Edinburgh Fringe – for the second year running - no mean feat in their 15th year selling out the Pleasance Grand once more!

This joy-filled sensation, based on a true story and hit movie, features Tony and Grammy winning music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and is taken from the hilarious and life-affirming book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein. After inheriting his family's failing shoe factory and with a relationship on the rocks, life is proving to be very challenging for Charlie Price. That is until he meets Lola, a drag queen whose sparkle and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to saving the struggling business...

Back home in Brighton, DSI Grace investigates a cold case that leads him to the rarified air of fine art but beneath the respectable veneer lurks a dark underworld of greed, deception and murder. When one unsuspecting couple unearth a potentially long lost masterpiece, they discover that their dream find is about to turn into their worst nightmare and only Grace can stop them from paying the ultimate price. With a total of 20 Sunday Times best sellers to his name, as well as the acclaimed ITV series, Grace, this latest thrilling stage adaptation cements Peter James’s Grace Series, as the most successful modern day crime stage franchise, since Agatha Christie.

Everyone’s favourite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacular based on the Oscar-winning, smash hit film. “Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a bad-tempered short guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek. Performed by Newcastle Musical Theatre Company, this smash hit musical is a fun night out for the whole family. Please note this is an amateur production.

The crowning glory of Broadway, the West End and beyond, the international smash hit musical SIX makes its royal return to Newcastle Theatre following its previous sold out run! Winner of over 35 international awards including the Tony Award for ‘Best Original Score’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, double winner of the Whatsonstage Award for ‘Best West End Show’ and a Gold-Disk winning album, this sell-out Tudor take-off has ‘an incredibly strong and powerful message’ (The Australian) and is ‘pure entertainment’ (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. Think you know the rhyme, think again… Divorced. Beheaded. LIVE!

The New York Times calls it 'The best musical of this century.' The Washington Post says, 'It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.' And Entertainment Weekly raves, 'Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.' It's The Book of Mormon, the nine-time Tony Award and four-time Olivier winning Best Musical. This outrageous musical comedy from creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Bobby Lopez co-writer of Avenue Q and Frozen, follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent on a mission to a place that’s about as far from Salt Lake City as you can get. Now with sold out productions in London, on Broadway, North America, Melbourne and Sydney, The Book of Mormon has become a worldwide sensation.

The new stage phenomenon that has taken the West End by storm now on tour. Winner of Best New Play at the Whatsonstage Awards, this edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller is written by Danny Robins, creator of the hit BBC podcasts Uncanny & The Battersea Poltergeist, and comes fresh from record-breaking seasons at four West End theatres with a host of acclaimed star performances (including among others Lily Allen, Cheryl, Stephanie Beatriz, Tom Felton, Jake Wood and James Buckley). It’s a brilliantly funny and adrenaline-filled night where secrets emerge and ghosts may or may not appear… What do you believe? And do you dare discover the truth? 'There's something in our house. I hear it every night, at the same time'. Jenny believes her new home is haunted, but her husband Sam isn’t having any of it. They argue with their first dinner guests, old friend Lauren and new partner Ben. Can the dead really walk again? Belief and scepticism clash, but something feels strange and frightening, and that something is getting closer, so they’re going to stay up… until 2:22… and then they’ll know. This edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller stars Joe Absolom (A Confession, Doc Martin), Charlene Boyd (Mayflies, River City), Nathaniel Curtis (It’s A Sin, The Witcher) and Louisa Lytton (Eastenders, The Bill).

Enter a whole new world of pantomime with a brand-new version of Aladdin celebrating Danny and Clive’s 20th year as the stars of the Theatre Royal panto! Michael Harrison’s retelling of the legendary story is set in the Royal Kingdom of Pantomania, where a whole host of fairytale characters come together in a pantomime for the 21st century. Wicked witches meet dancing geese, colliding with one very magical flying carpet! Join your favourite stars as they embark on an adventure to find the magical lamp and see good triumph over evil, as only pantomime can. Chris Hayward once again dons the Dame’s frocks as Aladdin’s mum, Mother Goose, Joe McElderry returns as The Spirit of the Ring and Mick Potts joins the cast once again, this time as The Genie of the Lamp. This is Aladdin as you’ve never seen it before – with a Tyneside twist! With brand-new sets and costumes designed especially for the Theatre Royal, Aladdin promises to be a Genie-us of a pantomime. We want to make the experience accessible for all our audiences, thanks to two relaxed performances. Relaxed performances are perfect for any theatregoer or family who would benefit from a more relaxed environment. These performances allow for noise and movement in the auditorium, re-entry when needed and a special chill-out space for patrons who may need time away during a show. Many theatregoers find these performances more relaxing and enjoyable for lots of reasons. This would include families with young children, as well as customers with autism, a learning disability, dementia, anxiety or other medical condition which mean sitting or concentrating for long periods of time without moving can be difficult. Lighting and special effects are slightly altered, with strobe and flashing lights being removed and very loud noises being dulled or omitted, however the content of the show remains the same. “Many disabled children and particularly those with autism are more sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights and generally too much unexpected stimulation. The pantomime can be an experience they long for but they can be disturbed by sudden sounds. By providing a relaxed performance these children and their families have the opportunity to enjoy the magic of pantomime without the anxiety of the unexpected.” Helen Milner, Chief Executive, Northeast Special Needs Network “I am absolutely delighted that Newcastle Theatre Royal are taking this step towards making the theatre an experience that can be enjoyed by more and more people including those on the autistic spectrum and those who have communication, learning or sensory needs. Going to a pantomime is an experience that many children and adults look forward to and enjoy during the winter season and this relaxed and supportive session should make it possible for even more to take part.” Angela Slater, Equalities Coordinator at Time To Change The Theatre Royal is very proud to announce that we are the first UK Theatre to have been honoured with the Autism Access Award by the National Autistic Society.

Enter a whole new world of pantomime with a brand-new version of Aladdin celebrating Danny and Clive’s 20th year as the stars of the Theatre Royal panto! Michael Harrison’s retelling of the legendary story is set in the Royal Kingdom of Pantomania, where a whole host of fairytale characters come together in a pantomime for the 21st century. Wicked witches meet dancing geese, colliding with one very magical flying carpet! Join your favourite stars as they embark on an adventure to find the magical lamp and see good triumph over evil, as only pantomime can. Chris Hayward once again dons the Dame’s frocks as Aladdin’s mum, Mother Goose, Joe McElderry returns as The Spirit of the Ring and Mick Potts joins the cast once again, this time as The Genie of the Lamp. This is Aladdin as you’ve never seen it before – with a Tyneside twist! With brand-new sets and costumes designed especially for the Theatre Royal, Aladdin promises to be a Genie-us of a pantomime.

Happiness is only a heartbeat away with HERE & NOW, the hilarious and heart-warming new musical based on the songs of the multi-million-selling pop phenomenon, Steps. Don’t miss this sparkling celebration of love and friendship when it comes to Southampton after its record-breaking world premiere this year! Welcome to seaside superstore Better Best Bargains, where it’s Friday night, the vibe is right, and everyone’s dancing in the aisles. But when Caz discovers the shelves are stocked with lies and betrayal, the summer of love she and her friends dreamed of suddenly feels like a tragedy. Have they all lost their chance of a ‘happy ever after’? Or does love have other plans in store…? Directed by the award-winning Rachel Kavanaugh (Half a Sixpence, The Great British Bake Off Musical) and written by Shaun Kitchener (Hollyoaks), HERE & NOW features many of Steps’ iconic hits, including 5, 6, 7, 8, Stomp, Better Best Forgotten, and Last Thing On My Mind. This brand new musical is produced by Steps themselves, ROYO and pop legend Pete Waterman. Book your tickets now – it’d be a tragedy to miss it!

In 1930s London ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption. Inspired by the great English novelist Patrick Hamilton (Twenty Thousand Streets Under The Sky, Hangover Square) who created some of the most authentic fiction of his era; stories borne out of years of social interactions with the working man and woman at his favourite location-the London Pub. Hailed by The Observer as ‘the undisputed king of dance theatre’, master storyteller Bourne has produced some of the most successful dance theatre productions of the last 30 years including Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Edward Scissorhands.

Direct from a sell-out run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Last Laugh is a brand new laugh-a-minute play which reimagines the lives of three of Britain’s all time greatest comedy heroes – Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe and Bob Monkhouse. Filled with great gags and touching stories, The Last Laugh is nostalgic and poignant and guaranteed to be the ultimate comedy night out. The Last Laugh is written and directed by the award-winning Paul Hendy, and stars Bob Golding as Morecambe, Simon Cartwright as Monkhouse and Damian Williams as Cooper.

The ‘Greatest British Sitcom of All Time’ (Radio Times) is back – this time on stage! Nearly 50 years since it first graced our TV screens, Fawlty Towers is now a brand-new stage play adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. Fresh from a sold-out West End season, this laugh-out-loud production was universally acclaimed by every London and national critic, selling out every single performance during its record-breaking West-End run. Join Basil, Sybil, the delightfully bumbling Major, and an 18-strong cast as they bring to life all your favourite moments from the show’s unforgettable twelve episodes. With sharp wit, chaos, and calamity at every turn, this is the comedy event of the year! Secure your tickets now and relive the madness of Fawlty Towers live on stage. It’s a staycation you’ll never forget!

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo Adapted by Nick Stafford In association with the award-winning Handspring Puppet Company THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS The National Theatre’s acclaimed production returns in an all-new UK and Ireland tour. War Horse is an unforgettable theatrical experience which takes audiences on an extraordinary journey from the fields of rural Devon to the trenches of First World War France. Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a show of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage. At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the Cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in No Man’s Land. Albert, who remained on his parents’ Devon farm, cannot forget Joey. Though still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find Joey and bring him home.

Successful lawyer, Atticus Finch, encourages kindness and empathy in his children, but is pushed to the limits of these qualities himself when he resolves to uncover the truth in a town that seems determined to hide it. Set in 1934 Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird was inspired by novelist Harper Lee’s own childhood and has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature and was long at the top of the banned book lists.

When it premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1995, Matthew Bourne’s triumphant modern re-interpretation of Swan Lake turned tradition upside down, and took the dance world by storm. Now firmly established as a modern day classic, this iconic production is perhaps best-known for replacing the traditional female corps de ballet with a menacing male ensemble. A Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, Matthew Bourne blends dance, humour and spectacle with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston, to create a provocative and powerful Swan Lake for our times. Collecting over 30 international theatre awards including three Tonys, Swan Lake has been acclaimed as a landmark achievement on the international stage. It has become the longest running ballet in the West End and on Broadway and enjoyed four hugely successful tours in the UK and thrilled audiences all over the world.

Michael Harrison in association with Cameron Mackintosh presents a new production of MISS SAIGON as Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical is reborn.The soaring score features original hit songs including; “The Heat is On in Saigon”, “The Movie in My Mind”, “Last Night of the World” and “The American Dream”. In the last days of the Vietnam War, 17 year-old Kim is forced to work in a Saigon bar run by a notorious character known as The Engineer. There she meets and falls in love with an American GI named Chris but they are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For 3 years Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he's fathered a son. Age guidance: 14+ Content Warnings: Please note, this production contains scenes of a sexual and violent nature, wartime themes, firearms, derogatory and coarse language, drug use and the simulated smoking of cigarettes. The production also contains strobe lighting, gun shots, loud sound effects, theatrical haze, and pyrotechnics.

Danny Robins and his team of experts are back with a brand-new show, with thrillingly new and terrifying real-life stories and witness accounts that will have you utterly gripped. This is not an ordinary podcast show. This is story-telling and paranormal investigation at its peak. Using a unique backdrop of sound, video projection and theatrical magic, Danny will bring to life accounts of hauntings, apparitions, poltergeists, UFOs and events that seem to defy logical explanation, examining them with the help of experts Ciarán O’Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow and input from you, the audience, as you get the chance to share your theories and your own experiences. As always, whether you are Team Sceptic, Team Believer or somewhere in between, everyone is welcome. So… do you have a fear of the dark? Or are you brave enough to try to solve these chilling, intriguing mysteries?

When 16 year old Percy Jackson discovers that he is the half-blood son of the Greek God, Poseidon, his life takes a dramatic turn as he is plunged into a world much bigger than he could possibly have imagined. With newly-discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want and a whole mythology textbook’s worth of mythical monsters on his tail, Percy must learn what it means to be a hero. The future of the world hangs in the balance as Percy and his friends embark on an epic adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat. Over the past 20 years, Percy Jackson has become a worldwide phenomenon. First there was the best-selling series of books, then two incredible films and a Disney TV series. Now the adventures of Percy Jackson will burst onto the stage at VENUE. It’s the perfect adventure for gods and mortals of all ages with a gripping story that shows that ‘normal’ really is a myth!

UK tour of the stage adaptation of the 1994 movie by the same name. Starring Strictly Come Dancing winner Joe McFadden, Priscilla is the hilarious adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime. Their epic journey is a heart-warming story of self-discovery, sassiness and acceptance. With more glitter than ever before, this smash-hit show features a dazzling array of stunning costumes, fabulous feathers and a non-stop parade of dance-floor classics including It's Raining Men, Hot Stuff, I Will Survive, I Love the Night Life, Finally and many more!

Join us at Mamma Mia! and enjoy the ultimate feel-good factor at the world’s sunniest and most exhilarating smash-hit musical in Leicester! Set on a Greek island paradise, a story of love, friendship and identity is cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA . Sophie’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings her mother face to face with three men from her distant romantic past on the eve of a wedding they’ll never forget. This irresistibly funny show has been thrilling audiences all around the world and now there’s never been a better time to see this unforgettable musical in Leicester. Whatever age you are, you can’t help but have the time of your life at Mamma Mia! Age guidance: 5+ Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes (including a 20 minute interval) Show warnings: Occasional use of moderate language, theatrical haze used throughout, low fog, flashing lights used on stage throughout the show.

Double, double toil and trouble! This electrifying pop-powered musical reimagines Shakespeare’s Macbeth through the eyes of the fiercely fabulous and fun three witches, The Weird Sisters! Featuring an unforgettable soundtrack bursting with pop anthems, Weird is the new British musical packed with witchcraft, mischief and mayhem! This spellbinding reinvention is breaking all the rules – don’t miss your chance to experience the magic and something wicked this way comes.

From Paris with love comes a tale of friendship and romance that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. When struggling poet Rodolfo meets Mimì, a quiet seamstress who lives upstairs, it’s love at first sight. But life isn’t easy when it’s freezing outside and the only fuel for the fire is a page from your latest poem. With empty pockets but full hearts, will their love be enough to see them through? This acclaimed production from director Phyllida Lloyd is a must-see whether you’re a big-time opera fan or are dipping your toe into opera for the first time. Puccini’s glorious music, performed live by the Orchestra of Opera North, speaks straight to the heart of anyone who has ever been young and loved and lost.

An exciting new collaboration between Opera North and Phoenix Dance Theatre based on one of the most operatic of Handel’s English oratorios. Handel’s touch is light, but this is a story with a dark heart and strong contemporary resonance: Susanna is the victim of two powerful, predatory men out to destroy her reputation; yet her strength and steadfastness win out in the end. Choreographed by Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director, Marcus Jarrell Willis, in collaboration with Director Olivia Fuchs, dance and opera combine in a reimagining of the Susanna and the Elders biblical story, from which emerges a biting parable for our times. There is a free pre show talk in the Olivier Suite at 6pm. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked.

A family-friendly show for children aged 5-12 years old. An expert thief is on the loose, and only you can catch them! Bring your thinking-caps, your magnifying glasses and all your crime-solving skills: this is a mystery like no other, where the suspects are some of the greatest opera characters of all time – and the detective is YOU! Featuring live music from the Orchestra of Opera North, this is the perfect first encounter with opera for the whole family.

Mozart’s comic masterpiece is a match made in mayhem! It’s supposed to be the happiest day of Figaro and Susanna’s lives, but this is opera, so there’s plenty of time for some plot twists before they say ‘I do’. With Count Almaviva looking set to make a move on the bride-to-be, the young couple must hatch a shrewd plan to secure their happy ending. Cue a whirlwind of secret scheming and surprise revelations. This brand-new production of The Marriage of Figaro reimagines the mischief in a quintessential modern country home. Mozart’s music, performed live by the Orchestra of Opera North, fizzes with fun and plumbs the depths of emotion. It all adds up to an invitation that’s too good to turn down.

Conflict threatens to tear apart a close-knit fishing community on the east coast of England in this searing, sea-swept classic. Fisherman Peter Grimes is an outsider, torn between the dream of a conventional life with Ellen Orford, a local schoolteacher, and the truth of his own nature – at times visionary, at others violent. For the rest of the community, he is a channel for their worst fears and their deepest desires. Britten’s music is rich in emotion as well as brilliantly theatrical. In Phyllida Lloyd’s acclaimed production, it all adds up to an utterly absorbing experience, one which has garnered five-star reviews and won the South Bank Show Opera Award after it was first performed. There is a free pre show talk in the Olivier Suite at 6pm. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked.

The Royal Shakespeare Company returns to Newcastle with a spectacular new production of Hamlet. Hamlet’s mother has married his uncle, and at a less than decent interval too. As he pulls at the threads of his not-so-happy new family, Hamlet unravels a web of deceit and immorality that leads to the ultimate crisis of conscience. Fresh from its run in Stratford-upon-Avon, this gripping production of Shakespeare’s famous revenge drama visits Newcastle Theatre Royal as part of a major national tour. The stellar creative team is led by multi-award-winning director Rupert Goold whose recent work includes Dear England (National Theatre) and King Charles III (Almeida). There is a free post show talk in the auditorium after the Fri 3 Apr performance. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked.

A timeless fairytale and Academy Award winning movie, The Red Shoes has captivated audiences and inspired generations of dancers with its powerful tale of obsession, possession and one girl’s dream to be the greatest dancer in the world. Victoria Page lives to dance but her ambitions become a fierce struggle between the two men who inspire her passion. Matthew Bourne’s magical double Olivier Award-winning production of the legendary Powell and Pressburger film is set to a score orchestrated by Terry Davies, featuring the mesmerizing music of golden-age Hollywood composer Bernard Herrmann, with sumptuous designs by Lez Brotherston (set and costumes), Paule Constable (lighting) and Paul Groothuis (sound). An intoxicating drama where life imitates art with fateful consequences, The Red Shoes will dazzle your senses and break your heart.

A chilling mystery unfolds when a young actress suddenly dies on stage during a performance, and Detective Chief Inspector Morse embarks on a gripping investigation. What begins as a suspicious death inquiry takes a darker turn when the legendary inspector, together with DS Lewis, uncovers a connection to sinister events in his own past, twenty-five years earlier. Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts marks the first-ever stage adaptation of the iconic detective. ITV's long-running Inspector Morse, hailed by Radio Times as 'The greatest British crime series of all time', has inspired equally beloved spin-offs, Lewis and Endeavour. Starring Tom Chambers (Father Brown, Strictly Come Dancing) as Inspector Morse, this original story written for the stage is a must-see for fans of compelling detective stories and thrilling mysteries.

It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. The England men’s team has the worst track record for penalties in the world, and manager Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land. From multi award-winning writer James Graham (Sherwood, BBC) and director Rupert Goold (Patriots, Cold War), this five-star ‘new stage epic’ (Telegraph) tells the uplifting, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately inspiring story of Gareth Southgate’s revolutionary tenure as England manager, in a 'gripping' (The Times) examination of nation and game. A co-production with JAS Theatricals. Casting to be announced.

Gem Arts Masala Festival and Newcastle Theatre Royal present Aakash Odedra Company in association with Manchester Camerata production of SONGS OF THE BULBUL Supported by Dance City Birdsong is ephemeral – like dance, it exists only in the moment— sung once, then lost to time. Nightingales, or “Bulbuls”, hold a special place in Persian culture, with their song representing a spiritual seeker, yearning for union with the divine. Their passionate songs are often directed towards the rose, symbolising both earthly beauty and the divine beloved and highlighting the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. Songs of the Bulbul, a new dance work by Aakash Odedra with choreography by Rani Khanam and music by Rushil Ranjan, is inspired by the ancient Sufi myth of a bulbul captured and held in captivity. The bird was bound ever closer and slowly perished through despair, singing more sweetly as its end drew nearer, until it uttered one final, heartbreaking and piercingly beautiful song just before it departed the mortal world. Thus ended the journey of the mythical bird, a tale of beauty born of loss and of freedom found only in the ultimate sacrifice. The beauty of this songbird’s melody serves as a metaphor for the fleeting moments of dance and an artist’s life. Rooted in the expansive music, dance, and poetry traditions of Sufism, this new work by two of the most outstanding Sufi Kathak artists performing in the world today emerges as a sensitive dialogue between the ferocious physicality of Kathak and the spiritual journey of Sufism, a path seeking unity with the Divine. A sensitive, beautiful dialogue between Sufi Kathak, music that seamlessly blends orchestral and Indian Classical tradition, and Islamic Poetry, Songs of the Bulbul invites audiences to witness a transformation transcending physical boundaries towards enlightenment. Through a journey from Persia to the subcontinent, from freedom to captivity, and the soul’s journey towards divine love and enlightenment, Odedra poses a universal question: Will we, like the caged bird, remain bound to the material world, or will we soar towards a higher existence of liberation, and the divine? GemArts award winning Masala Festival is back from 14th – 20th July celebrating a mix and blend of the finest South Asian Arts and Culture, packed full of performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, talks, pop ups and delicious Indian food in venues, places and spaces across the North East. For full Masala Festival 2025 programme visit gemarts.org

Helloooo, poppets! Mrs. Doubtfire, the West End’s hit comedy musical based on the beloved film is heading to Newcastle in 2026. Out-of-work actor Daniel (played by the critically acclaimed Gabriel Vick, original London company) will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs. Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be a father. Mrs. Doubtfire features all the hilarious moments you love from the movie, plus fabulous new songs and dazzling dance numbers! Put it all together, and you’ve got a ‘surefire hit’ (The Telegraph, Daily Express) that can’t be missed. BOOK NOW, DEARS!

London, 1995. Two of the country’s biggest bands release singles on the same day, commencing the battle of Britpop. On one side, clean-cut, art-school intellectuals from the South. On the other: raw and unapologetic lads from the North. Rivalries flare, friendships fracture and at the centre of it all a mania that would define an era – were you Blur or Oasis? From the chaos of the Brit Awards to the infamous chart war, The Battle is a wickedly funny dive into one of the greatest rivalries in rock history. Featuring legendary personalities and unforgettable clashes, it was never just about the music, but power, pride, and uncontrollable competitiveness. Expect filthy language and razor-sharp dialogue in this cut-throat new comedy that puts you right at the heart of the feuding, the fame, and the fallout. Get ready to roll with it. Age guidance: 15+ Show warnings: Contains strong language

The international, award-winning smash-hit musical The Bodyguard is back! Starring Pussycat Doll, and multi-platinum Grammy nominated Melody Thornton as Rachel Marron. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge – what they don’t expect is to fall in love.

Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical. It’s London’s biggest hit with 77 Five-Star reviews making it the best-reviewed show in West End history. Now also a Tony-nominated Best Musical on Broadway! The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train, Operation Mincemeat is the fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us World War II. Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and – of all people – Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?

The iconic international West End and Broadway smash-hit musical comedy Legally Blonde The Musical is back in fashion with a huge new production. This ultimate feel-good rom-com, based on the award-winning film starring Reese Witherspoon, follows Elle Woods on her transformation from It-girl fashionista to legal ace at Harvard Law School, all in the name of love. Elle must prove she is more than blonde ambition, swap the changing rooms for the courtroom and learn that ‘being true to yourself never goes out of style.’ This must-see show comes from the creative team behind director Nikolai Foster’s phenomenally successful Kinky Boots. Bend and snap up your tickets today.