Storyhouse in Chester continues to blossom as more fantastic shows are confirmed for its spring season 2019.
Headline musicals, comedy, dance, drama and opera are set to wow audiences in the new year.
Actor Brian Blessed, dancer Brendan Cole, comedian Jason Manford, Avenue Q, comedy improv group The Noise Next Door, writer and illustrator Nick Sharratt, and English Touring Opera have all been announced for the spring season.
The announcement sees the new shows join an already strong programme including Annie, Ghost – The Musical, Wise Children, Collabro, Dara O’ Briain, Comedy About A Bank Robbery, Moscow City Ballet, Julian Clary, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat, BalletBoyz, and Zog.
The season gets off to a fun start with The Comedy About a Bank Robbery from Tuesday 29th January to Saturday 2nd February. Following the phenomenal sell-out success of their multi award-winning The Play That Goes Wrong, Mischief Theatre return to Storyhouse with their latest West End smash hit, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery. Audiences can look forward to Ocean’s Eleven meets the Marx Brothers in this dynamite new comedy.
Fans of musicals will be spoilt for choice this spring with four headline shows not to be missed – Avenue Q, Ghost – The Musical, Annie, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Avenue Q comes to town between Monday 25th February and Saturday 2nd March. This Tony Award-winning musical tells the charming tale of the loveable characters on a downtown New York street, trying to make sense of life’s burning issues with mischief, bad behaviour and political incorrectness. Hilarious and cheeky, with a cast of 11 hugely talented performers and puppets, Avenue Q is a musical like no other.
Ghost – The Musical is based on the blockbuster 1990 film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. This moving stage production will pull on the heartstrings during its run from Tuesday 5th March to Saturday 9th March. As well as classic songs featured in the movie including The Righteous Brothers’ iconic Unchained Melody, the musical includes songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.
With memorable songs and heart-warming message, Annie runs from Monday 25th March to Saturday 30th March. The West End smash hit stars actress Anita Dobson (EastEnders, Wicked, Chicago) in the role of Miss Hannigan, and includes unforgettable songs Hard-Knock Life, Easy Street, and Tomorrow.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat retells the Biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers, and the coat of many colours – as well as iconic songs Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me. The show runs from Tuesday 16th April to Saturday 20th April.
Direct from the West End, visionary director Emma Rice presents the new theatrical production of novelist Angela Carter’s Wise Children at Storyhouse from Tuesday 19th March to Saturday 23rd March. The carnivalesque tale of the tangled fortunes of two theatrical families is packed with pairs of twins, mistaken identities, scandal, music and mischief – and is inspired by Shakespeare’s greatest comedies.
Storyhouse continues to attract comedy giants, who will have you laughing your way through the new season.
An Evening with Brian Blessed is on Wednesday 6th February, when the actor brings his larger than life show to the stage for one night only. Jason Manford returns to Storyhouse for two nights with his Muddle Class show on Wednesday 13th February and Thursday 14th February.
Risque comedian Julian Clary brings his hilarious new show, Born To Mince, to Storyhouse on Sunday 31st March – not to be missed. Dara O’ Briain is the Voice of Reason for three nights from Monday 1st April to Wednesday 3rd April.
There is a double bill for The Noise Next Door, the U.K.’s premier improv comedy troupe who have taken the comedy world by storm. They come to Storyhouse on Wednesday 20th February with two performances; new family show The Noise Next Door At Sea at 2pm, featuring mermaids, magic, sea-shanties and swords in a show audiences will treasure.
The Noise Next Door return later that day at 8pm with a brand new full-length adult show called Remix. Edinburgh Fringe Festival veterans, they are one of the country’s most sought after comedy club headliners with their quick wit and distinctive brand of off-the-cuff comedy. Taking audience suggestions, the cheeky and charming quartet, transform them into fantastically funny scenes and songs in the blink of an eye with a perfect blend of ludicrous characters, witty one-liners, epic stories, and explosive physicality.
Highlights for dance enthusiasts include return visits to Storyhouse for Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole and BalletBoyz.
Moscow City Ballet perform at Storyhouse for the very first time this spring, presenting two shows over three dates. The company perform The Nutcracker on Thursday 21st February and Friday 22nd February, followed by Sleeping Beauty on Saturday 23 February.
Brendan Cole is back with new stage production Show Man on Sunday 24th February. The very first winner of B.B.C.’s Strictly Come Dancing is joined by an amazing team of professional dancers, singers and a live band. The show promises an evening of beautiful ballroom magic and high energy Latin passion, all brought together by the charismatic Brendan Cole himself.
BalletBoyz are back with two brand new works, Them & Us, both set to original scores by world-class composers. A first for BalletBoyz, Them is the choreographic debut of the company dancers, under the direction of Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, and set to a score by emerging composer Charlotte Harding. Us, from Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, takes its inspiration from his achingly beautiful and critically acclaimed duet which featured in the company’s last show, Fourteen Days. BalletBoyz perform on Thursday 4th April.
Music comes in the genres of classical and opera. Collabro have gone to become the world’s most successful musical theatre group after wowing Britain’s Got Talent judges and audiences. The group’s Road To The Royal Albert Hall Tour comes to Storyhouse on Monday 11th February.
English Touring Opera return to present a season of Kings and Queens in the battle for love, loyalty and power. The double bill of Verdi’s Macbeth on Friday 15 March and Mozart’s Idomeneo on Saturday 16th March both feature a large chorus and live orchestra.
Macbeth will be King. But Royalty comes at a price. The cost of power is betrayal, murder and revenge. Idomeneo remains one of Mozart’s greatest “opera seria” (serious operas). It explores Royalty, high ideals and deep emotions.
Highlights for youngsters include acclaimed children’s writer and illustrator Nick Sharratt brings his Right Royal Drawalong show to Storyhouse on Saturday 16th February. Nick will be showing audiences how to sketch their favourite characters and top tips to create creatures including dragons and unicorns. Nick has illustrated close to 260 books including Tracy Beaker, and this is a chance to see a master at work.
This is followed by the story of young dragon Zog, who flies into Storyhouse from Friday 5th April to Sunday 7th April, as part of its world premiere stage adaptation, based on the book by Julia Donaldson with illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Large in size and keen in nature, Zog is so eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know – with plenty of adventures along the way. Zog promises to be roaring fun for all ages.
Storyhouse Artistic Director Alex Clifton said: “We’re only just half-way through our fantastic autumn season 2018 – and we’re already excited about the calibre and diverse programme we have to look forward to next Spring. The season is bursting with music, dance and comedy – it promises to be a colourful season, exactly what spring is all about.”
Tickets for all spring season shows at Storyhouse are now on sale. Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.
For full listings, dates and ticket prices, please visit the Chester Storyhouse Theatre website.