York Theatre Royal have announced their new season for autumn and winter – with literary delights, a cabaret club, cracking comedians, and award-winning actors.
After the theatre’s spectacular summer show Around the World in 80 Days-ish (Thu 18 Jul – Sat 3 Aug), which puts a circus-themed spin on the literary favourite, two more classic novels will be getting a fresh take on the familiar stories.
Juliet Forster will direct the York Theatre Royal production of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic coming-of-age story Little Women (Sat 21 Sept – Sat 12 Oct), which promises a ‘new look at the story’.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – by Isobel McArthur after Jane Austen – will be “a unique and audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s most iconic love story” (Mon 4 – Sat 9 Nov).
There will be some famous faces in the upcoming season, with actor Paterson Joseph in Sancho & Me (Thu 14 Nov), a show based around his recent novel ‘The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho’. Award-winning actor Simon Russell Beale (Tue 10 Sep) and poet Simon Armitage (Sat 25 Jan 2025) will also have one-night shows.
The Studio will also be taking on a new role as a cabaret club after a makeover and a name change to The Old Paint Shop (Sat 5 – Sat 26 Oct) which will feature regular cabaret nights of comedy, music, improv and burlesque by local artists.
Paul Crewes, CEO of York Theatre Royal said, “We are really looking forward to our upcoming season, and the opportunity to create work for our stage.
“We have some fabulous treats for you made right here in York by our creative teams – including this summer’s circus extravaganza Around The World in 80 Days-Ish!, a stunning new adaptation of Little Women, and our very own pantomime Aladdin.
“Alongside our own work, the drama is excellent and award winning, and the comedy, well what can I say except Stewart Lee!”
The comedian will bring his show Stewart Lee vs The Man Wulf to York from Tuesday 28 Jan to Saturday 1 Feb 2025. More comedy coming up is Ivo Thomas: Grand Design (Wed 20 Nov).
Dance will also feature strongly in the season, with performances from the London City Ballet (Sat 6 & Sun 7 Sep), Company Wayne McGregor (Sat 25 & Sun 26 Oct), and the Everybody Dance Festival (Wed 12 & Thu 13 Nov).
The ‘roarsome’ interactive show Dinosaur World Live (Tue 21 & Wed 22 Oct) – which has won an Olivier award as best family show – will bring to life some very big creatures.
Of course, 2024 will finish with the family pantomime Aladdin, oh yes it will! Robin Simpson and Paul Hawkyard are returning as the dame and baddie, and are joined by CBBC and CBeebies star Evie Pickerill with BBC Let It Shine winner Sario Solomon in the title role.
Tickets for the upcoming season go on general sale from 1pm on Monday 8 July. Priority booking for members is already open.
Tickets will be available online via the York Theatre Royal website or from the box office at 01904 623568.